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?

This may be useful for some but M&S sale is 70% off including sports bras, lots of larger sizes in my local one. Non returnable though. So I tried mine on, nothing reminds you how far you have to go than seeing yourself in a bra in a changing room.
DH asked me about clothes shopping but I am in that weird zone where I have gone from bursting out of a 16 to them hanging off me, but I’m not really a 14 yet.
I look much more like myself when I am a 12 on top, 14 bottom.

It is very true, @RoosterCogburn that keeping one’s weight down gets more difficult as one gets older…… At 70+ I can attest to that! There is no getting around the fact that portion control is key, but these are strategies that I found useful:

• intermittent fasting - 2 main meals plus 1-2 healthy snacks (fruit, nuts or a couple of tbsp of Greek yoghurt)
• a Mediterranean style diet consisting mostly of vegetables and lean protein, plus small quantities of complex carbs and dairy
• meal planning and shopping once a weeks, and avoiding the aisles with UPS, sugar and carb-rich boxes and ready meals. If it’s not in the house I can’t eat it!
• very little alcohol….. try not to drink calories.

Regarding exercise….. If you do nothing else, do these…

Thighs and glutes:

Abs (turn down the sound, she’s a chatterbox…):

Plus weight and resistance training is very important for bone health….. start off with 2.5 or 3 kg dumbbells:

And walk, walk, walk…… walk as much as you can . If you can wear a weighted vest (3-5kg) you can more than double the benefit!

I understand that all this can require some difficult adjustments and may seem quite daunting, but it is totally worth it. I’m 72 and still ski, play pickleball, go on long hikes, and much else besides.

ETA: I agree with @petitpasta that the positive effect of morning exercise carries on throughout the day:

exercising first thing in the morning seems to work for me. I start well and it seems to be easier to carry on through the day making healthy choices.

Im a morning exerciser. If I don’t do it then I don’t do it. Too tired in the evenings especially in winter.

That meme about the effort you have to make to remain slightly overweight hits home. I have to make a real effort to be bmi 25 🙄. Dread to think what would happen if I “let go”

ETA: I agree with that the positive effect of morning exercise carries on throughout the day

It depends on your morning routine. I'm up at 6am and leave at 7am to commute to work if I'm in the office, If I'm wfh then I'm walking the dog before I start work. You have to do what works for you - and if you're an owl rather than a lark, the chances of you continuing to exercise early in the morning are minimal.

👋 56 and been overweight all my life.
Im diabetic amongst other things and was put on ozempic. Finally got to a healthy weight but didn't eat great so lost muscle mass.
Still on it but now my appetite is returning and I've put on about 10lbs.
I know what I should be doing but im lazy and get overwhelmed. So this morning I've asked chatgpt to give me a plan for eating healthy with recipes to get me started. Includes healthy snacks.
So my starting weight is 11st 2lbs, I have a lot of belly fat. I also need to get exercising.

Hi all, can I join too. I’m 50, 4ft 11 and weigh over 15 stone (not sure what exactly but I was just over 15 before Christmas and haven’t weighed myself since). So looks like I’ve got more to lose than most of you! Will weigh myself first thing tomorrow for an accurate start weight.

Well, I've started properly today.
Currently not doing as much exercise as I'd like due to a recent injury, but hopefully it will settle in a couple more weeks and I can add in some long walks and weights.

Hi, I’m 59 and 12 stone 8lb. I’ve been really struggling to get the weight off particularly as I have hypothyroid.
I joined weight watchers in September (I love being in a group and find the weekly conversation and acceptance very supportive). I’ve been eating well - lots of plants, high fibre, low sugar and processed foods. But I easily get hooked on sugar.
Im doing regular gentle exercise - walking and short exercise routines at home.
But I’ve struggled to shift much weight so mid December I also added in Wegovy. Like one of the other followers here, my aim is to stick with the lowest dose I can; and keep growing the good habits. I know that most people pit on the weight they lose on weight loss injections within 18 months; So I know I have to develop new habits that will stay with me long term.

Some easy ‘healthy eating to lose weight’ plans here:

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/290771/7-day-1200-calorie-low-carb-meal-plan-to-lose-weight/

Reading all these posts makes me sad - so many of us struggle with weight for so many reasons & spend huge amounts of time focusing on it. The sooner WLI become affordable, acceptable & in general use, the better imo. Life shouldn’t be consumed with this bullshit!!!!

WLIs are not the answer to everything - they have to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet with fewer calories in, and then a consistent approach to eating that way long term. I've put on weight because I've been eating too much crap - focusing on eating less and more healthily is a good thing imo.

Healthy eating and exercise to help control one’s weight isn’t bullshit!

I struggled with my weight in the aftermath of the menopause, but I managed to control it by making a concerted effort to live healthily. Some people may need WLI initially, but ultimately a healthy diet and not being a couch potato are the only things that will work long term.

I am so glad that I chose to eat healthily and exercise, and I don't feel in any way deprived. I gained about 6-8 lb over Christmas but these extra pounds will melt away in no time, now that I’m avoiding alcohol, unhealthy carbs and sugar.

@Enrichettano you misinterpret my post! I mean the bullshit of having to focus so intently on every morsel we eat/ movement we make etc. it’s so draining. I totally agree WLI aren’t the answer to everything.. what they do is help those who wish to start/ reinforce healthy eating patterns & lifestyles to do so more easily. I know every time I’ve started a new diet to now there’s the initial intent & drive, then it becomes a real battle & I’ve just never managed to sustain it - as if hunger amplifies the minute I’ve tried to address it. I am 100% for using them to support a healthy diet & have no time for those who think they can just eat less of the same crap on them.

In my experience you won’t lose weight on them without commitment.
A colleague took them for eight weeks but ate rubbish the whole time and drank. She lost 2LB.

Am joining to! 50 and post xmas weigh in I hit the 14 stone (5ft 6). So back on the Fast 800. I did it before and worked really well then life went a bit wrong and I comfort ate. But am determined - I have a pair of trousers I brought which is my focus to get into and a trip in May I want to feel better for.

Am need to up my exercise as only cycling twice a week , plus the dog walking and need to do weights again.

scales tell me I’m 10st 13lbs
I’d like to get to around 10st

I do exercise a lot, but currently injured which isn’t helping.
But day 1 is almost done.

I hate feeling hungry, and I know it’s supposed to mean I’m lacking in something in my diet, but I’m always hungry free 1st two weeks of cutting back no matter how I do this.

Day 3 of my revised eating plan and the urge to eat a bar of chocolate and a load of biscuits is overwhelming 😢 I know it's just my body adjusting, but I'm really mourning my old metabolism when I just didn't put on weight. The menopause really sucks.

@SirChenjins Yes!

I used to be able to eat anything.
I would love a bag of crisps right now but I am resisting the urge.

Sending you sympathies @RoosterCogburn - I feel your pain! It's just not fair, is it?

Sorry, yes, I agree…

Just would like to add that my ‘diet’ (see above) is eminently sustainable, and I don’t feel hungry. I estimate I eat about 1300-1500 calories when I need to lose a few pounds and about 200 more when I’m at target weight. Occasionally, like after Christmas excesses, I reduce a bit more - largely by cutting out alcohol completely.

Whilst I doubt that the exercise I do contributes much to my weight management, it serves as a great motivator - especially the weight training.

It is heartening to hear the motivation in everyone’s posts. The range of strategies is also pretty wide. It doesn’t matter how we get there, the achievement will be getting there.

See exercise is not the problem for me, I love it & do lots. But it’s never paid off as I out-eat it.. I am naturally inclined towards all the bad beige foods- and find it hard to exercise willpower consistently around that type of food. This is where the WLI have helped me- you might have seen another post I started asking WLI users which foods they’ve had no inclination to eat since starting on the medication. It appears to turn off all the food reward receptors so you just don’t fancy those crisps or that chocolate bar. I also go into slight panic mode around the idea of deprivation usually- again WLI have taken this away. Anyway, I just hate to see people white knuckling it and struggling when I’ve found such an effective crutch. But I totally get it’s not for everyone. I avoided it for a very long time- until I read up on it and realised it’s the equivalent of hrt - it just regulates/mimics your body’s existing hormones. I eat around 1200 cals a day on it (don’t drink) and am losing around 1lb a week. I hope that’s sustainable & I’m adjusting my appetite & palette along the way.

@Enrichetta thanks for the link. I'll definitely be trying some of those meals.

I am thinking of trying some shakes too, it might just take the decisions away from me.
What's your favourite flavour?

Edit to add I have just looked on protein works and it's a bit of a mine field, how do I know which to choose?

I read 'Why We Eat Too Much' by Dr Andrew Jenkinson a couple of years ago where he explained about the role of UPF's in upsetting the function of the body's hunger and satiety hormones, due to spikes in insulin. It's a fascinating read and helped me understand why willpower often isn't the problem, as the body reaches a tipping point where its ideal weight is reset and it's extremely difficult to fight the body's biological urge to return to that set point.

And with all that new information, I just smugly congratulated myself on being enlightened, then carried on exactly as before! I think I'll read the book again and hope it gives me a kick up the arse. Anything to get motivated. I think it's hard to give up UPF's if you've been eating them for years. I look back at the food my mum cooked and our meals were pretty much cooked from scratch. There was the ubiquitous white bread, but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't much. I appreciate the effort my mum put in. She was very organised, which I am definitely not. Personally, I blame Findus Crispy Pancakes for the dramatic decline in my diet during the eighties😂