over 40, overweight

[starlight]

Hi,

Anyone out there over 40 trying to lose weight. I weigh 170lb and I am 5' 3''. I try to eat healthy, no junk except a few plain biscuits with a cup of tea at night, I find this the hardest to give up. I am also using my treadmill for 30min every morning, the problem is I don't feel any difference in my clothes. When I was younger I was like a lat actually horrible thin, now I am the oppisite and my self confidence is so low. Hoping to hear from someone.

starlight.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

It takes a good few weeks for you to see a difference, so don't stress and start walking as well as watching what you eat, in 8 weeks you will wonder how you lost what you did.

DON'T WEIGH your self negative, it happens over time and if you weigh yourself you will think that you are losing.

JUST keep doing and walk even 1o mins a day and increase you won't believe the results of both in just a few weeks..

[sourpuss]

Just stick with it. You are on the right track and if anything you are healthier, weight loss or not.

Try to cut back on the amount of calories you are eating for a couple of weeks and see if that makes a difference. What is your diet like at the moment? What do you eat and when?

[patt37]

I feel so sympathetic. I know exactly how you are feeling. I am 47. I have gained about 15 lbs in the past year and despite my best effort, I can't seem to lose it. I have always been slender and I have always been able to lose weight with a combination of diet and exercise. This time, nothing seems to work. I have cut back on my food intake and walk 30 min a day on my treadmill and still no loss. It is so frustrating and I am afraid that it is because I am getting near to menopause that this is happening. I don't know how to jump start my system. So, you are not alone and I know how hard it is to persevere when you don't see any results.

[starlight]

Thank you chandlers and sourpuss for you encouragement.

In an effort to eat more healthy I changed to brown bread but when I eat it my tummy feels very swollen, hard plus a lot of wind. Any ideas on this please.


Hi patt37,
I am 48 and have already started menopause. I wonder if it is the reason why the weight won't budge. Like you I have cut back on my food intake and I have upped my exercise and still no loss. It is very frustrating. I actually hate buying clothes now where once I loved it. I know it sounds strong but I hate my body, I try to avoid mirrors. Words like ' beauty from within' and ' look at ones best body parts' don't work for me anymore. Sorry for sounding off so much but it is good to talk.


Best regards,

starlight

[patt37]

Starlight,
I had to check and make sure that you had written the last post since it so perfectly reflects my own feelings. I, too, hate to look for new clothes. I went shopping for jeans a couple of weeks ago and was so discouraged I didn't buy a thing...I must have tried on 30 pairs and I'm not kidding! I don't want to be fixated on this issue of weight. I have tried to accept it as part of this time in my life, telling myself that I am just getting older and shouldn't be so vain. I think the problem is compounded by NOT having a weight problem for my whole life. I just don't know how to deal with the image in the mirror. Sorry I can't offer anything but sympathy. If you find something that works or helps, please let me know. Take care.

[starlight]

Hi Patt,

Sorry for the delayed reply.

Its so good to meet someone who understands. We find it harder when we were always slim. I have tried to accept myself but I cant. I hate when people say " you have your health". I thank God every day for my health but my mind is not at peace. I have a family wedding next year and if I dont loose some weight finding something to wear will be a nightmare. Of course I will find something but it wont be me in the mirror.

In between my 30 min walk on my treadmill I run but I can only manage it for 1 min at a time. I do about 3 runs in total.

[WildChild]

When I turned 48, I looked in the mirror and said, "we're not doing this anymore". I (oh the horror) cut out sugar and chocolate for several months, no fried foods, don't like soda, no refined (white) flour products. Went for nutriant dense foods and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Studies have found that people who use artificial sweeteners lose less weight so stay away from those. I started walking at first just a mile and a half and quickly got that up to 4 miles at least 5 times a week. I started running shorts sections and gradually increased the running. While walking do a power walk not a stroll and pyramid. That is vary your pace and run enough to get your heart rate up then slow down to a power walk until year breathing slows, then run again - you burn more calories that way. I went from 180 lbs, size 18 to about 130, size 8 in maybe 18 months. I'm not where I should be yet - I have a naturally slender build but will get there. Those last few lbs are tough. I don't own a scale, have no idea what I weigh now, I judge by how my clothes fit, how I feel and if I can 'pinch an inch'.
At 51, I still get whistled at walking down the street. It feels good. You can do it! It isn't as easy as when you were younger but you can do it. I ran my first 5k this year, not bad for someone who never ran in her life before 48!

[starlight]

Hi Wildchild,

Reading what you said, all I could think was WOW. Congratulations on all you have achieved. I have a long way to go, I can just manage 30 min fast walking on my treadmill but I am now including 1 min runs inbetween. There have been times when I have said, look you are nearly 50, time to give up girl but I can't because inside I still feel young and I suppose I am still trying to find me, at least the person I once was. I certainly don't know this person in the mirror. I had to smile, getting whistled at, oh that must feel real good.
Thank you for the encouragement.

[WildChild]

I know, it's supposed to be un-feminist but I love appreciate looks or comments from men! Here something to think about, according to the insurance industry, it you make it to 50 with no signifcant health problems, you have a good chance of living to 100. You aren't really adult until you are in your 20s so we aren't even half way through our adult lives yet! It's not just how you look, it's how you feel, your health, how easily you can move and stand and sit. It's about the quality of life you want - which includes feeling like you look good. My dad's in his 70s and still runs and hikes, not like he used to but he doesn't take any meds either, so he's my example (my Mom died in her 40s of cancer).

You just have to keep at it, we didn't get overweight and out of shape overnight or in a month, and won't get over it that fast. I like walking or running outdoors, it's just more interesting. I used to live in the country so there were horses and cattle and deer to look at. I moved back into the city earlier this year and found that running on concrete was hard on the knees, so I'm getting back into it at a park where there are a lot of runners, don't know what I'll do when winter comes. One thing I think really helped me is doing a good stretch program. I really like Classical Stretch with Miranda Esmond White - I think she's Canadian. She gives a lot of good info on how your body works.

Stick with it, you'll get there!