In your fifties, fat and fed up? Come on in!

[RoosterCogburn]

Anyone want to join me in some motivational supportive chat.

I'm 56 and 3.5 stone overweight. I'm 5'2" and weigh 13 stone

Depressingly I've lost this before - in 2019 I lost 2 stone and felt much better and was really disciplined ... and then I stopped and the weight crept back on.

I feel fat, frumpy, unhappy in my clothes and my middle spare tyre feels awful.

If I could lose 2 stone again I'd be thrilled - 3.5 is the dream.

Last time what worked for me was healthy breakfast, green smoothie for lunch and balanced tea. In between meals veg sticks or an oat cake as a snack.

My downfalls are savoury stuff - crisps, cheese, savoury biscuits.

I've been diagnosed as pre diabetic with high blood pressure which I'm hoping will be the kick up the arse I need.

This time I'm trying to up my game with exercise - I have 'treated' myself to about elliptical machine. Horrifyingly on the first day I could only do 2 minutes - I'm up to 15 mins now - I am aiming for 30 mins a day of elliptical/walking.

Anyone want to join me and share what is working for them?

Plodding along and doing what I can, trying to be sensible over the weekend.

What are you batch cooking? I did a veggie chilli last week and it wasn't very nice 😕

I've made bolognaise, crustless quiche, meatballs, red pepper and tomato sauce, beef casserole and chicken madras.

I've been working on my fitness and decided to challenge myself so I signed up for a month of boot camps. Did my first one this morning and was really pleased with how much of it I managed to do. I've lost 5lbs since new year so it's not speedy but it's still heading in the right direction. I've been losing weight since June 2024 so some slowing down is inevitable.

I was at least a size 26 (probably more if I'm honest) when I started. I'm now buying size 16s with some 18s in jackets and coats. Pleased with that.

The big challenge I'm having is increasing protein. When I track my workouts my protein goal rockets. I'm struggling to eat 120g of protein on 1,300 calories. Not sure what to do

Size 26 to 16 is brilliant - well done.

1206 of protein is a lot - are you vegetarian as that seems to make it even harder

Most of my batch cooking involves the protein - oven roasted chicken and salmon mostly. I eat these over 2-4 days and just add vegetables and/or a salad.

The one thing that I found crucial was to cut out/severely restrict UPF, refined carbs and - especially!! - sugar. All these not only feed cravings but also dull the taste buds. Once I’d weaned myself off them, simple vegetables suddenly started to taste more flavourful.

I also broadened the vegetables I eat and started adding things like herbs, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, lemongrass. I also experiment with salads, both in terms of vegetables and grains as well as different dressings. I often have a bowl of tabbouleh and a flatbread with smoked salmon for dinner.

If I do batch cooking that involves more elaborate meals it’s usually things like boeuf bourgiugnon, chicken chasseur, curries.

NB: Michael Moseley’s The Fast 500 has some simple but tasty recipes, as does Mark Hyman’s The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Diet.

Just sticking my head back in after a few weeks of not being able to keep to any sort of plan. I wasn’t in the right headspace at all. I had some pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and, despite not being remotely religious, drew a line and decided to stay off crisps/chocolate/biscuits and other unhealthy snacks for Lent. I like the fact that it’s limited to 6 weeks, so I don’t feel overwhelmed by the fact that I need to make these changes permanent, even though I do! I hope that by the end of Lent, my body will be accustomed to the healthier choices I make and I won’t want to go back. If successful, I can always set myself another goal of sticking to it until the summer holidays. This kind of strategy has worked for me in the past. I just need to keep it up. So far, so good (4 days in😬)

I have been catching up on the posts and some of you are doing so fantastically well. ALL of you are definitely doing better than me.

Week 1 - 184lb
Week 2 - 184.6lb
Week 3 - 183.6 lb
Week 4 - 180lb
Week 5 - 179lb
Week 6 - 177.8lb
Week 7 - 176.2lb
Week 8 - 174.8lb
Week 9 - 174lb
Week 10 - 172.6lb

1.4 lb loss for me.

It feels soooo slow, but at least it isn't a gain.

Annoyingly I can't see much of a difference in myself - I thought once I was around the one stone mark I'd look different.

I did run a picture of myself through chatGTP and ask it to predict what I'd look like 3 stone lighter so I'm using that as my (hopeful- inspiration)
I had cheek bones and no double chin!

Do you measure your waist…

2" smaller

My first week on the meal replacement shakes wasn't too bad. I lost 1kg. Dinners weren't very healthy during the week due to illness. All better now, so will get back to proper cooking.

I do feel quite hungry between the shakes, so have been eating fruit in between, except one day I had chocolate and crisps. Then my increasingly rare period started! That explains that.

Need to keep at it!

Now how fantastic is that!!

Well done 🌟

I’ve lost my way this weekend!
we were away and I just let my hair down and now I feel bad,
back on it today with fury as we go on holiday in under 3 weeks and I’d like to be down 3 lbs more by then !
so cross with myself but I’m going to be back on track today.
I wasn’t too bad but too many carbs and I feel really sluggish.

@Enrichetta Thank you - today I wore a dress I haven't worn for ages and it was definitely not as tight around the waistband area

@topsecretcyclist well done! That's a great loss

@blizymitzy back on track sounds good - I find anything out of routine - time away, holidays, illness can easily set me back and I become less disciplined.

Monday morning check in.
0.8lb loss.

I wasn’t particularly active last week so I need to try and walk more this week.

Week 1 - 184lb
Week 2 - 184.6lb
Week 3 - 183.6 lb
Week 4 - 180lb
Week 5 - 179lb
Week 6 - 177.8lb
Week 7 - 176.2lb
Week 8 - 174.8lb
Week 9 - 174lb
Week 10 - 172.6lb
Week 11 171.8lb

November 25 - 76kg
february 26 - 69 kg

BMI 27 in nov
bmi 24 feb So back in normal zone just.

Pleased with this. Doesn’t actually show yet. Ideally want to lose same again. Goal weight 62kg

I could really use some help.
Bought some new dresses to make me feel beter and they look absolutely dreadful.

I have an event in 8 weeks.
What can I do for a quick fix.
Hate this as feel so low about it and just want to stuff my face.

Defo back to accurate calorie counting tomorow.

Sorry to hear you are feeling down.

In 8 weeks you could lose 1lb a week and that may make a difference to the way your clothes hang. (I've lost 12lb in 11 weeks)
Today three separate people commented on my weight loss which was amazing as I don't think I look hugely different.

I found calorie counting wasn't working for me (it used to, but nowadays doesn't seem to help) so I've started low carb plus exercise every day and the weight started to drop slowly,

Thanks @RoosterCogburn in desperation after I posted I ordered monjaro but just got an email to say I have been declined it, maybe as I disclosed I have had pancreatitis a year ago!

I just don't know what to do anymore..
I don't currently do any exercise, I could stop at local lake on way home from work and do a lap. I will do that tomorrow. I have said it now so I must!

Just struggling with meals

Can anyone who is losing post some typical meals please?

@Sunshineandrainbow it's really hard isn't it. Not sure how old you are but once I was past 35 I found it increasingly hard to lose weight

I've gone low carb so I'll list some of the things I'm eating (each one is a meal, not all of them at once!)

I should add, this isn't following any particular diet - I'm trying to keep my carbs to under 80 a day so it isn't low carb, but it's much lower than it used to be.

Breakfasts

• Half a piece of sourdough with peanut butter
• Fage yogurt with blueberries
• Two boiled eggs and asparagus

Lunch

• Green smoothie
• Sourdough crackers, cheese and an apple
• Cottage cheese and avocado on crackers

Tea

• Curry and rice - lots of curry a tiny bit of rice (or cauliflower rice)
• Fish, veg (lots) and small portion of chickpeas or rice
• Steak, cauliflower cheese and green veg
• Beef stew with green veg
• Small portion of gnocchi with homemade roast pepper and tomato sauce and meatballs
• Any meal where I have pasta I'm now having a tiny bit of pasta and lots of courgetti
• Omlette
• Chicken breasts and veg
• beef stir fry - no rice, lots of veg
• Half a jacket potato with coleslaw, cheese and salad

I'm not eating biscuits/cakes/crisps etc

Snacks are fruit, cheese, nuts, seeds

Well done - I bet people will start to notice soon. You're doing so well

My BMI is still in the obese category - at 31.5 but it was 34 when I started so we are heading in the right direction
I'll be delighted when I drop into 'overweight' as oppose to obsese

Dreading weighing myself tomorrow. Did it today and had put on quite a bit, my period started today so will see.

Re. Dress for your event: ask in the Style & Beauty section - you’ll get some excellent suggestions.

Re. diets that supports weight loss: Michael Moseley’s The Fast 800 has some great recipes.

Re. Exercise: In addition to vigorous walking, check out Lucy Wyndham Read’s short workouts on YouTube. They are perfect for beginners and Lucy is really lovely.

But also get some dumbbells (3-4 kg) and try working out with Growingannanas and/or Heather Robertson. The former also has some great body weight only workouts. Her short (10-20 minutes) Tabata high intensity interval training sessions are a great way to get fit.

Thankyou @Enrichetta I will look those workouts up, I like the idea of something short and manageable.

Funny I have that fast 800 book and have never looked at it!! I will take it to work today.

Today is a brand new day. I have weighed myself and I am up 2 stone since jan last year but this will not send me spiralling it will make me determined to make a better me. No wonder everyone was telling me how much weight I had lost.
Maybe peri does affect weigh gain but I won't use that excuse either I have to do my best.

Today will be
Greek yog, banana and blueberries.
Carrot sticks and hummus.protein shake.
Beans on toast with 2 vege sausages.

I’ve lost a grand total of 2lbs in 5 weeks. It has all been very half hearted to be fair. But I have a wedding to go to in 7 weeks and a holiday in June. So feeling more motivated now I think. Need to drop the wine and all snacking. Let’s see how that goes!

@suneetime 2lbs off id better than on!

Good day had here yesterday, I stuck to my food plan and walked for 20 mins.

I made a vege chilli for the next few nights.

Today will be another good day
Greek yogurt, banana and blueberries
Protein shake and carrot/hummus.
Chilli and broccoli maybe cauliflower.
Yog and grapes if I want it.