Okay over 50 and can't drop the weight!

[Susan126]

Okay ladies, well those of you in my situation, over 50 and harder and harder to lose weight. Yea, I thought I would never gain weight because I exercise and eat right but lately I have noticed that since I turned 50 three years ago my middle section has been getting thicker. :mad: I just can't seem to get this situation under control. Anyone out there experiencing the same thing as me? And if so did you find an answer to shedding the midrif tire? HELP! I mean my hips and legs are fine but my middle argh! I don't want to start wearing stretch waist band jeans like I have seen older women wearing AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGHHHHH

Sue with more than one spare tire on my bike rides.

[Tuckervill]

It's menopause. I don't think there's a cure.

I'm just 45, and even I noticed that my legs are slimming and my middle is thickening. I was always butt heavy before. Still fat all over, though.

Did someone here once say that the young looking 50+ women are all on hormone replacement therapy?

Karen

[Pax]

What Tuckervill said.

My legs are getting skinny/ropey looking and my gut is all poochy now. I've never had a butt so I can still wear guy jeans...but the gut thing is driving me nuts, it just won't go away.

[Susan126]

Nice to know that I'm not alone at least. But still

What a gut I'm getting! Sigh . . . and now hubby pokes my gut (I guess he's getting back for all the years I poked his! :rolleyes: Pay back is a you know what!) :p

[OakLeaf]

I'm not quite 48 and still having occasional periods and I've been getting the gut for over a year now. DAMMMM!

[sundial]

My menopot came in my late 30's. It's one of those evil, quirky, bodily transitions you make. I found that if I balance my diet (add more fruit and veggies), watch my portions and limit simple carbs, I am able to lose weight--even if it's at a snail's pace.

[Moptop]

Don't assume its menopausal and that there is nothing you can do about it just yet! I'm in my 60s (not for much longer!) and have only in the last 18 months begun to get a bit tight in my trousers!

I think you should look very carefully at your diet and make sure you aren't eating too much of something that bloats you. With me its bread, and home made bread especially. (I just LOVE it) If I cut that down I definitely get less bloated. Google up 'food combining' - that's worth consideration too. It's a bit awkward to instigate if you have a family, but may be worth the effort. There are several books about it and usually contain a collection of recipes along with the interesting info. Doris Grant & Jean Joice have written 'Food Combining for Health' It's a British book (Thorsons) but maybe Amazon could get you a copy of it if you haven't got an alternative over there. (though I expect you have). You may find riding hilly routes will help to strengthen tummy muscles too.

Lots of luck!

P.S. My DH has just walked in from the shops with a HUGH Danish pastry - can I resist it? Answers please on a postcard.......:o

[Pax]

Don't assume its menopausal and that there is nothing you can do about it just yet! I'm in my 60s (not for much longer!) and have only in the last 18 months begun to get a bit tight in my trousers!

I think you should look very carefully at your diet and make sure you aren't eating too much of something that bloats you. With me its bread, and home made bread especially. (I just LOVE it) If I cut that down I definitely get less bloated. Google up 'food combining' - that's worth consideration too. It's a bit awkward to instigate if you have a family, but may be worth the effort. There are several books about it and usually contain a collection of recipes along with the interesting info. Doris Grant & Jean Joice have written 'Food Combining for Health' It's a British book (Thorsons) but maybe Amazon could get you a copy of it if you haven't got an alternative over there. (though I expect you have). You may find riding hilly routes will help to strengthen tummy muscles too.

Lots of luck!

P.S. My DH has just walked in from the shops with a HUGH Danish pastry - can I resist it? Answers please on a postcard.......:o
I'm the same way with anything containing yeast. If I have a glass of wine I'm fine, if I have a beer I'm bloated for 2-3 days. The same holds true for good bread from the local farmers market, the store bought stuff not so much. :confused:

[Susan126]

I must admit that I am a sugar junky. Joe tells me all the time to cut out my sugar (mochas, candy bars . . . especially chocolate) and I would probably lose weight automatically. He is always amazed at how much sugar I can put away in a day. It runs in my family. My dad (thin as a reed) can eat an entire loaf of Italian bread with butter. I saw him eat an entire bag of chip ahoy chocolate chip cookies once! He's 90 years old and still going strong. I am my father's daughter.

I may try just this, make one change, give up my daily grande white and black mochas with whip cream for an Americano plus give up all my daily chocolate stash I have at my desk at work.

Wish me luck!

[ladyicon]

Hi Susan. I was so glad to read your post because I thought I was the only one with this problem. Last year I gave up carbs and sugar and lost 30 lbs.:D
Since the I have started to eat carbs and sugars again and have gained all the weight back, plus more :eek:
As with you, I am 50 and have all the weight on the middle part of my body. It seems that riding just doesn't help me lose it. I know, I know.....I need to do some sit ups and upper body conditioning but after a day of work it is really hard to muster up enough energy to do anything !
Ok I noticed that I started to ramble on my problems :rolleyes: This is just to let you know that you are not alone. Let me know if you find a miracle cure.

[spokewench]

I'm 47 and I've had this problem for a couple of years. What I've found with me is that I used to be able to have a beer a day; or a piece of cake every other day; or pig out on something fatty a lot more regularly and not worry about the weight on my middle - but in the last couple of years, forget that!

So, in order to keep that middle to a minimum, I make myself forego beer every day. If I seem to be putting on some weight there in the middle, I just have a beer every third day or so instead of a beer every day - and of course, don't have ice cream when my hubby is digging in; and I'm able to keep it under control.

I don't want to give anything up cause then I know I would just crave that item more, so I just put limits on those things I really like, but don't really need!

spoke

[deedolce]

Ack. I can still see my grandmother, bless her soul, and she was shaped like a barrel. Skinny arms and legs, and torso shaped like a barrel! It's genetic. I'm 48 with occasional hot flashes (for YEARS now, although I still have my '.') and I'm noticing it too. No fat anywhere else, it stays right there on my stomach. Eat a donut? It goes there. Same with the chips. Bleh.

So I've been lifting a bit more, to build up my shoulders to compensate. Think it'll fool anyone? lol!

[Susan126]

I am a bit comforted knowing I am not alone. And Ladyicon I tried to cut out "sugars" today. I did pretty good too. On my way to work today I bought a black Americano instead of my usual Mocha at Starbucks. I had chicken and rice for lunch. For dinner I had chicken again and rice again and some wonderful green vegetables. I was doing pretty good and then I had hot chocolate. So I almost made it through today without sugar. But it was a big big improvement from my usual daily intact. One step at a time! :rolleyes:

Nights are the hardest part of the day for me. I can stick to anything up until evening and then all heck breaks loose! I can turn down cake, cookies, ice cream from dawn until dusk but once that sun goes down . . . I don't know what takes over me. A Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde thing. Ok I confess, I'm a night snacker! :eek:

[kelownagirl]

Nights are the hardest part of the day for me. I can stick to anything up until evening and then all heck breaks loose! I can turn down cake, cookies, ice cream from dawn until dusk but once that sun goes down . . . I don't know what takes over me. A Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde thing. Ok I confess, I'm a night snacker! :eek:

I am reading this at 9:45pm. I followed my healthy eating plan ALL day without too much trouble at all. But right now I want to eat junk. I feel like this every night after dinner. I can easily chomp away on 500 calories and blow the good work I did all day. Cake. Cookies. Cheese and crackers. I need to go to bed at 9pm to avoid it I think.

[OakLeaf]

Nights are the hardest part of the day for me. I can stick to anything up until evening and then all heck breaks loose! I can turn down cake, cookies, ice cream from dawn until dusk but once that sun goes down . . . I don't know what takes over me. A Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde thing. Ok I confess, I'm a night snacker! :eek:

That used to be me until I started eating breakfast (especially breakfast with some fat and protein in it, like hot cereal with PB, to keep me fueled until lunchtime). I don't know why it took me so long to figure out the correlation! A body does best with a certain number of calories spread over a certain number of hours, and when I didn't get my first calories until noon or later, no duh I was going to be ravenous 10 or 12 hours later. Then when I would wake up I wouldn't be hungry (because I would still be full from whatever I stuffed my face with right before I went to sleep) and the cycle would continue.

Not that I've lost any weight this way :rolleyes: but I'm eating a lot healthier. I'm with you spokewench, I need to cut down on the alcohol. But this time of year that nip of sippin' rum after dinner just tastes SOOOO good... and beer in the summertime... or a glass or two of wine with dinner... I guess I need to stop feeling superior because I don't enjoy the kind of liquid calories you get at Starbuck's :p

[Susan126]

Breakfast . . . what's that???? It's true I am not a breakfast person. Coffee that's my breakfast. But I will try ANYTHING to help me stop eating at night!

[mimitabby]

I've never had a weight problem so i feel a bit out of place here except to say
I never eat anything after 8pm (unless it's a late dinner out) and I always always have breakfast. I've been doing this since i was a teenager.
Living at my father's house with 2 stepsisters and my natural sister; I was t he only one who listened when he told us we should eat breakfast. Into adulthood, the three of them always have had to struggle with weight.
Doesn't need to be a big breakfast; i eat two slices of whole wheat toast with butter and honey or jam, a 4 oz serving of 100% fruit juice, and 2 oz of protein every "normal" morning. On weekends i often have nice omelets and potatoes and stuff.

[PinkBike]

susan,
its menopause and it just plain sucks.
i always have had a totally flat stomach and now i got a "pooch." and love handles. i gained 20 pounds in the last couple years and i totally cannot lose them.

i dont believe its the losing-fat-but-gaining-muscle because i've always been muscular and also because my clothes dont fit around the hips/waist.

i'm still trying tho. i'm doing weight watchers, but not real successfully. i mean i'm following it To The Letter and still not losing. my problem is its just now our racing season so i cant follow WW daily points portions when i ride a century or metric century every weekend. still, i'm staying under my total points for the week when i factor in activity points.

so i will be going after it in december tho, when our racing season slows. i'm determined to lose 20 pounds. i'm going to look into the food combining because i just cant understand why i cant lose weight with WW or south beach, especially with all the riding i do.

[Kano]

Doc tells me ALWAYS have breakfast containing protein FIRST thing in the morning, no refined carbs, not many of the other carbs, plenty of water and NEVER skip meals. Lost ten pounds each of the first two months on this plan, then this past month, I had a crazy schedule, missed meals on occasion, cooler weather made it less easy to drink lots of water, and weight loss was only two pounds.

I'm not missing any more meals, and I'm making sure I drink water! AND I'm laying off the diet sodas again! (my water substitute of choice)

I'm fueling on protein for my rides, not carbs, and I'm faster and stronger on my bike than ever!

Oh, and for what it's worth, the belly seems to be the last thing going!

Karen in Boise

[annie]

Breakfast . . . what's that???? It's true I am not a breakfast person. Coffee that's my breakfast. But I will try ANYTHING to help me stop eating at night!

Yes, that's me, too. I have a very difficult time eating in the morning! But I'm trying.......... food AND coffee. Gotta have the coffee. Something whole grain and something protein and that's about all I can handle.

The menopot... LOL!! It's not really funny, but I have to laugh. Better than crying. All we can do is try our best to fight it.

I have a confession. It is late at night here. I am soon to bed. I just ate a bowl of chili! It was yummy!! It wasn't a big bowl, but it was my dinner and I added cheddar cheese AND lite sour cream. Oh so delicious! I so want more, but not going to go there. And now I won't be hungry for breakfast in the morning. BAD girl, me, I know. Yet I do it anyway. Nice to know I am not alone.

Annie

[OakLeaf]

The key for me was just to make myself eat breakfast. No matter how huge and nauseous the whole idea made me feel.

It was really counterintuitive, to force myself to eat when I wasn't hungry, so that I would wind up eating LESS throughout the day. But that's how it worked. I don't remember now how long it took for my body to adapt to the idea, but it wasn't long. A week or two, maybe.

[SillyMia]

I am a bit comforted knowing I am not alone. And Ladyicon I tried to cut out "sugars" today. I did pretty good too. On my way to work today I bought a black Americano instead of my usual Mocha at Starbucks. I had chicken and rice for lunch. For dinner I had chicken again and rice again and some wonderful green vegetables. I was doing pretty good and then I had hot chocolate. So I almost made it through today without sugar. But it was a big big improvement from my usual daily intact. One step at a time! :rolleyes:

Nights are the hardest part of the day for me. I can stick to anything up until evening and then all heck breaks loose! I can turn down cake, cookies, ice cream from dawn until dusk but once that sun goes down . . . I don't know what takes over me. A Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde thing. Ok I confess, I'm a night snacker! :eek:

Sometimes hot chocolate is hard to resist. I don't know if this is going to help you at all, but it helps me when I'm cutting down on calories/fat. Buy unsweetened dark chocolate (a bar/chunk) and put it in a food processor to shred it. Keep it in a container and when you want hot chocolate, mix your shredded chocolate with non-fat milk (or soy) and sweeten with splenda. It's amazing. I use a hand-held mini mixer and maybe it's my imagination, but after seeing the ingredients in powder cocoa, I think it's good for me!

[Pax]

My honey is a complete fitness and health guru, so I eat VERY healthy (even do the 5 fruits and veggies every single day). We eat a balanced breakfast, we watch our portions, we limit alcohol...and I still have this freakin' belly. :mad: I think the best thing for me would be to just not eat...ever! Bet I'd drop weight then. :p

[Tuckervill]

I've been studying wellness and health as a hobby for the last 3 or 4 years, with an eye to increasing my wellness and changing my body. I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything, but I feel relatively educated about my specific issues, goals and choices.

One of the things I make great use of is to listen to people who have more experience than me. I read from a wide variety of sources. When I hear the same message from several different credible sources, I put stock in it and often adapt it for my use.

Mimi said she'd never been overweight so she didn't know if her experience would help. But it does. If you've always been overweight (I wasn't always), you don't know what it's like to be healthy weight or what the habits of healthy people are. If you were once healthy and now fat, listening to an always healthy person might trigger memories of habits and choices you made as a healthy weight person. (So thanks, Mimi, for your input.)

One of my biggest sources of encouragement is the National Weight Control Registry. http://www.nwcr.ws/ It's a study of people who got down to a healthy weight and kept it off. It's hard to mine the data there, but when I've seen it referenced there are certain things that most of those on the registry do consistently to keep their weight down.

The two that stick out in my mind are 1) eat breakfast, and 2) exercise EVERY day. That's how they control their hunger and their weight. So I eat breakfast, and I exercise as much as I have energy for, with my goal to be doing something active every single day. It can be gardening or walking the dog on the days when I don't ride or have an exercise class.

Another thing I do is keep it all in perspective. I never work so hard at exercise that I'm going to be so sore I won't want to do it again. Especially for a beginner, this is an important concept. It's self-eliminating, though. The more you work out, the easier it gets. The more you work out, the more you know you can do. This is something I'm learning best through cycling longer and longer distances. Just keep at it, for the long haul.

Another thing I've done is change one little thing at a time. I started with Diet Coke. Five years ago I began resisting Diet Coke. I replaced it with hot tea, iced tea (no sugar) and water. Then it was artificial sweeteners. Last year it was high fructose corn syrup. I've tried to eliminate french fries, but that won't happen until I no longer have PMS! I've changed my cooking. I only shop on the outside walls of the grocery store (meat, produce, bread and dairy).

These little changes add up (littlechanges.com) to big changes.

One thing I DON'T do is read or hang out with people who aren't serious about their health or educating themselves. (I don't mean my personal relationships--I mean online, etc.) That's a reason I don't do sparkpeople anymore, because there are so many failures the successes are hard to find. The successes are who I need to hear from. I know everyone is on a different path, but I only want to listen to the ones who are on my path, or have my goal. (I'm not that narrow-minded about everything, I promise!)

What good would this forum be if it was populated mostly by people who bought a bike at Wal-Mart, rode it around the block once a week for 2 weeks and then quit? We'd have to dig through all that to read about Fredwina's brevets or Runningmommy's triathalon, or Lisa's 3000 miles. That's what most of the diet sites I've been to are like. So I don't go there.

Have I lost any weight? Yes. On December 26th I weighed 206. It's almost November and I weigh 186. That is very, very slow. Lots of people would not be happy with those results, but I'm much more mature than I was and so I'm happy. I can ride my bike 50 miles and run on the arc trainer for 12 minutes. I can do push ups! I can do 30 reps with 10 lb dumbbells. I can hike for 5 miles. I can lift my grandson over my head and hold him up to the ceiling (in a short room :D ) like my dad used to do to me.

You ladies here are quite an inspiration to me. All of you who are over 40 and are competing in races and tri's and just riding your bikes--you're like who I want to be. I'm seeing myself in a new way because of you. (You younger ones are an inspiration, too, but I just can't relate as much to being 30 anymore.) My goals were modest at first, but through you and through my successes, I see the possibilities I didn't dare imagine. So thanks! I can't wait to learn something new today!

Karen

[Zen]

The two that stick out in my mind are 1) eat breakfast, and 2) exercise EVERY day. That's how they control their hunger and their weight.

Another thing these people do is eat mostly the same things all the time. It's not as boring as it sounds. I found I actually like oatmeal and I like beans. The thought of a sugary cereal or sausage gravy and bicuits does cross my mind but doesn't stay there long. The harm outweighs the good. Which is not to say I don't have those thing once a year or so.

I can do 30 reps with 10 lb dumbbells.


Try switching that up to 15 reps with 15 lbs...

[Pax]

I've tossed this out before but this thread seems a good place to do it again. My honey and I have switched to a primarily plant based diet, it has allowed for some weight loss but more than that it has changed our "numbers" tremendously, my cholesterol is MUCH better, blood sugar/resting heart rate/blood pressure are all "optimal". Reading The China Study (http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html) and implementing the changes outlined in it has changed our lives significantly.

[Tuckervill]

I can do 30 reps with 10 lb dumbbells.
Try switching that up to 15 reps with 15 lbs...

Oh, that was just something we did in class today--just a random example. I like lots of variety in my exercise.

Yes, I eat oatmeal every day, too, with dried fruit and nuts. I won't give up my brown sugar in it, though! I have to have SOME vice! :)

I would be very happy eating a certain set of foods with variations on occasion. I haven't gotten tired of oatmeal in about 18 months of eating it every day. I could never get tired of hot and salty french fries, either. But I have tired of salads. In the winter time, they're the hardest thing for me to eat, because I like hot food. I'm going to spend a lot of time learning about soups this winter. yummy.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Queen, I've been taking Christiane Northrup's advice and eating "meat as a condiment". Of course, that means more plant-based food. This lets you off the hook when people offer a slab of ribs at a cook-out when they notice your plate piled high with veggies, which happened to me at a tailgate party this weekend. I can still have some of all the meat I like the most, so I don't feel deprived at all.

Karen

[emily_in_nc]

Another thing these people do is eat mostly the same things all the time. It's not as boring as it sounds. I found I actually like oatmeal and I like beans. The thought of a sugary cereal or sausage gravy and bicuits does cross my mind but doesn't stay there long. The harm outweighs the good. Which is not to say I don't have those thing once a year or so.
Try switching that up to 15 reps with 15 lbs...

Yes, Zen is right. In addition to eating breakfast ALWAYS and doing some form of exercise every day (cycling, walking, running, lifting, hiking, kayaking, gardening/yardwork, just something) and not feeling "right" if I don't, I eat a fairly repetitious (though healthy) diet. A final factor that has helped me maintain a weight loss for 6 years now is eating out very rarely. The portion sizes and temptations of restaurant meals make it so much harder for me to control my weight. I only eat lunch out about 1-2 times a month with a friend, and dinners out are VERY rare as my DH loves to cook and isn't crazy about eating out. We'll go out for birthdays, anniversary, and on vacation, but that's about it. And no fried food...well, only a couple of times a years. Fries just aren't on my radar. Nor are sodas.

Yes, it might sound a bit boring, but I'm slender, in good health, and fit, and want to keep it that way. It does take diligence, especially as we get...ahem...a bit older (46 and peri-menopausal here).

Emily

[kelownagirl]

I've tossed this out before but this thread seems a good place to do it again. My honey and I have switched to a primarily plant based diet, it has allowed for some weight loss but more than that it has changed our "numbers" tremendously, my cholesterol is MUCH better, blood sugar/resting heart rate/blood pressure are all "optimal". Reading The China Study (http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html) and implementing the changes outlined in it has changed our lives significantly.

Can you give me an idea of what a typical day's food intake might be Queen?

[Tuckervill]

Another change I made was to only use the salad plates at home, not the dinner plates. Everyone in my house uses them now. I'm even in the process of collecting new, beautiful, handmade salad plates. My DILs have been instructed not to buy dinner plates if they help me with my collection. Eventually the wedding china we use regularly will be disposed of.

That change has had a great impact on how much I eat, and I get full quick. So eating out is not a problem for me, because I mentally divide the meal and only eat as much as I know will make me full. My biggest struggle with that has been making the decision to do it before I decide to eat out, but hypnosis has pretty much solved that. It made me more mindful of my intentions in this area, and regular self-hypnosis reinforces the mindfulness.

Karen

[OakLeaf]

I just gotta say this... because we're talking about two different things here, and conflating them. Maybe even three different things. Hormonal changes in body fat distribution; getting to a healthy body fat %; and getting to a body fat % that's more suited to racing (or being a model).

Body image issues are really complicated, maybe even more so in an athletic setting. So I hate to even talk about weight loss, for fear of reinforcing somebody's unrealistically negative body image (including my own).

I'll be honest here - with myself as much as with anyone. I don't have an accurate numerical measure of my body fat %, but I'm sure it's at a healthy but higher than ideal level. I can feel my iliac crests all the way around within 2-3 mm of the skin. I have some definition in my arms, mid to lower legs, delts, pecs, back, upper abs and obliques. The last time my cholesterol was checked, it was a total chol. of 165 with 102 HDL. All my life I've carried extra fat around the hips and upper thighs. I was going to say I'm nowhere near a racing weight... but that's not true; I'm within 2-3 lbs of my racing weight, but my body composition is not what it used to be. I've never been happy about my big butt and thunder thighs, but right at the moment what I'm really bummed about is that pooch around my navel, and the loss of definition in my middle abs. (I never had any in the lower abs :rolleyes: ) Bottom line: I'm lamenting the depredations of age, and because of my fitness focus I'm a whole lot more bummed about the menopot than I am about the white hairs, the laugh lines or the saggy boobs.

I just had to say this. Because it sounds like there are some people in this thread whose health might improve if they lost weight. There are people like myself, who would like to lose fat for cosmetic reasons, but doing so would mean deprivation. There are competitive athletes who would like to lose fat for performance reasons, and who are willing to deprive themselves to get there. And then there are probably some people reading this who believe they need to lose fat, but really, really don't.

So just... it's an issue of mine. If fat were self-defined, then Karen Carpenter was fat on the day she died. Are we commiserating about getting old? Sharing tips for ways to naturally maintain higher estrogen levels? Or playing that same old fat game?

[Pax]

Can you give me an idea of what a typical day's food intake might be Queen?

Hi KG, a typical day would look like this -

Breakfast:
- cereal with soy milk
- an apple or some orange juice
- coffee

Mid-morning snack:
- some raw cashews or almonds

Lunch:
- PBJ or veggie wrap
- lots of fresh peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots.
- V8

Mid-afternoon snack:
- apple or banana

Dinner:
- Black beans and cous cous
- a veggie of some sort (broccoli, asparagus, green beans...)
- a couple of Trader Joe's "Joe-Joe's" cookies for dessert

Snack (not every night but once in a while):
- Sesame sticks or some sweet potato chips

And about a gallon of water a day.

[emily_in_nc]

I'll be honest here - with myself as much as with anyone. I don't have an accurate numerical measure of my body fat %, but I'm sure it's at a healthy but higher than ideal level. I can feel my iliac crests all the way around within 2-3 mm of the skin. I have some definition in my arms, mid to lower legs, delts, pecs, back, upper abs and obliques. The last time my cholesterol was checked, it was a total chol. of 165 with 102 HDL. All my life I've carried extra fat around the hips and upper thighs. I was going to say I'm nowhere near a racing weight... but that's not true; I'm within 2-3 lbs of my racing weight, but my body composition is not what it used to be. I've never been happy about my big butt and thunder thighs, but right at the moment what I'm really bummed about is that pooch around my navel, and the loss of definition in my middle abs. (I never had any in the lower abs :rolleyes: ) Bottom line: I'm lamenting the depredations of age, and because of my fitness focus I'm a whole lot more bummed about the menopot than I am about the white hairs, the laugh lines or the saggy boobs.

Oakleaf, you said this really, really well. I am 46 and pretty much could have written the above too. Even down to the HDL > 100! :rolleyes: I weigh less than I weighed in high school (by about 6 lbs.), and back then never exercised at all, but today my waistline is larger, despite never having children due to infertility issues. I have loose flab/skin on my belly and in my love-handles area and around the back on my flanks (back fat, ugh). My upper thighs are looser on the side than I'd like. I almost hate to post on a thread like this, because I am the kind of woman that larger women would probably look at when I'm dressed and "hate" because I'm small -- but seeing me naked is another story. I am NO Karen Carpenter. I can pinch flab, plenty of it.

I only weigh 102-103 at 5'1-1/2", so losing more weight would require depriving myself more than I am willing to (giving up my nightly glass of wine, or occasional dark chocolate...) or working out/training a lot more than I really have time for with my job and life. I already do some form of exercise every day, even if I only have time for thirty minutes.

So I live with this middle-aged spread, as it were, and figure I'm still in pretty darn good shape for my age. But I do get what you are saying. And it's a little frustrating to weigh what I do, exercise every day, and still have more flab/higher BF % than I'd like. I know if I had lived the lifestyle I live now in my 20s, I'd have had a flat tummy, no question.

I try to tell myself, though...the alternative to aging is definitely not preferable! I try to be thankful for my good health and not let my imperfections get me down. But you won't see me flaunting it in a bikini, that's for sure! :eek:

Emily

[Susan126]

I just love coming to this forum and reading all of your posts! You guys never fail to bring a smile to my face! And I've learned a lot from your posts too! I'm also glad to know that I'm not alone in this battle. And I have made changes this week.

For breakfast (yes I am finally eating breakfast!) I have been having either hot oatmeal with soy milk and coffee of course or scrambled eggs (egg beaters) and coffee.

I have not been having snacks. Is that important?

For lunch I have rice and a chicken breast.

When I get home from work I am usually famished and will have a bowl of cherrios and soy milk.

Dinner I have with hubby. This week it's been lean meat (chicken, chicken, and more chicken . . . except last night I baked tuna filets) with rice or baked potato and fresh veggies.

So one week down and already I've noticed I am losing a lot of "water". I am also trying to drink a lot of water. But really I am going to the bathroom almost every half hour at work! Cheryl, the librarian at the middle school where I work, must be wondering about me this week. LOL :p

Oh nights are still very hard for me. I had such a craving for ice cream last night! But I was good and instead had a bowl of dry cereal, cheerios.

Oh I hope I can keep this up with the holidays approaching! Hubby will be out of town for two weeks, Nov. 3 - 17, and my daughter and I decided this would be a good time to bake our annual holiday cookie stash. I place the cookies in my big freezer and take them out over the holidays for guests and to give away too. I must bake 12 dozen or more cookies. All kinds! But I'm on a mission now and I think I will get through it fine!

I don't know what my body fat is (I don't think I want to know) and my HDL and LDL levels were not good in June when I went in for a checkup. Hopefully I can bring that around. Has anyone tried the Promise Active Supershots for high cholesterol? It's new on the market. I have been drinking them with breakfast and dinner. I hope they help.

[Pax]

Susan - Conventional wisdom says that spreading your calories out throughout the day...same amount of food/calories as three meals a day, just spread out into six smaller meals will keep your metabolism running evenly instead of doing those spikes that make you crave ice cream.


BTW - if you want something sweet and don't want to indulge in ice cream try this, frozen fruit (I like blueberries) and just a little bit of soy milk, stir it up and the frozen fruit will semi freeze the soy, ends up like yummy soft serve ice cream.

[Tonya]

Try eliminating all sugar and white food for a couple of weeks and see if you notice any changes.

[Zen]

I only weigh 102-103 at 5'1-1/2", so losing more weight would require depriving myself more than I am willing to (giving up my nightly glass of wine, or occasional dark chocolate...) or working out/training a lot more than I really have time for with my job and life. I already do some form of exercise every day, even if I only have time for thirty minutes.



I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135. I do have a belly but I would not describe myself as fat. I can't imagine someone my height weighing in the neighborhood of 100 pounds yet describing herself the way you do. You don't need to lose weight. You should build muscle.

I do weight and core training on the stability ball. I rarely use weight machines, most of my lifting is done on the ball and with relatively light weights. You can do this in thirty minutes a day.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135. I do have a belly but I would not describe myself as fat. I can't imagine someone my height weighing in the neighborhood of 100 pounds yet describing herself the way you do. You don't need to lose weight. You should build muscle.

I do weight and core training on the stability ball. I rarely use weight machines, most of my lifting is done on the ball and with relatively light weights. You can do this in thirty minutes a day.

It is possible to not weigh a lot and still be overfat, though, based on bodyfat percentage.

I do lift weights - light dumbbells (8-12 lbs. depending on the muscle group) and do weight machines, though lately I've been lucky to get to the gym 1-2 times a week for a lifting session, just barely enough time to maintain. However, another often overlooked factor in differences in weight among people of the same height is bone structure. My wrists are like tiny little bird wrists; I have narrow little hips (the boney part, that is!), etc. I have very slim ankles. I'd wager my wrists are a lot smaller than yours as they are smaller than most women I know.

But I do know that I could use more muscle. It seems hard to put on and maintain muscle in my mid 40s, harder than it used to be. One reason: I suspect my testosterone levels are pretty low (they tend to fall in women around menopause).

Emily

[Susan126]

BTW - if you want something sweet and don't want to indulge in ice cream try this, frozen fruit (I like blueberries) and just a little bit of soy milk, stir it up and the frozen fruit will semi freeze the soy, ends up like yummy soft serve ice cream.

Oh yummy that does sound gooood! I'll have to try it for sure. Thanks Queen!

[Zen]

But I do know that I could use more muscle. It seems hard to put on and maintain muscle in my mid 40s, harder than it used to be. One reason: I suspect my testosterone levels are pretty low (they tend to fall in women around menopause).


My 50th bday is nipping me on the a$$. I didn't start lifting until I was 42.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Alwayswearahelmet-1.jpg
See that belly? (Lycra is your friend)
You can do it.

[sundial]

susan,
its menopause and it just plain sucks.
i always have had a totally flat stomach and now i got a "pooch." and love handles. i gained 20 pounds in the last couple years and i totally cannot lose them.

You know, after I had my history wrecked, I contined to lose weight. I thought, at last I've got this weight thing licked. Well, not 6 months later my weight just skyrocketed. I was still on the same diet and I ended up gaining 20 lbs. So that tells me hormonal changes do affect weight and weight loss.

I joined a weight loss program and I would lose *maybe* 3/4-1 lb a week. :(

[emily_in_nc]

My 50th bday is nipping me on the a$$. I didn't start lifting until I was 42.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Alwayswearahelmet-1.jpg
See that belly? (Lycra is your friend)
You can do it.

Yeah, you're definitely more muscular than me - great arms/shoulders!

I started lifting at 39, but I've never gotten that much muscle definition, and now I have even less. When I am lifting, I always think I look pretty muscular in the mirror, when the muscles are actually working, but then I look at my arms later, and they just look kinda slender, not very well defined. I definitely need to lift more -- we've been so busy this summer with buying a sailboat that I've kinda slacked on that -- I always tend I do more in the winter (when no one can even check out my arms! ;) )

Emily

P.S. You can see photos of my on my blog below just to reassure you that I am not an anorexic with a severely distorted body image. I may not weight a lot, but I am definitely still curvy, including the pooch over the top of my underwear.... :(

[netoll]

I have the solution to the bulge, pilates! I am 55 and started pilates classes on machine (not mat) about a year ago and am absolutely amazed at how it has transformed my body in less than a year. I have always been athletic, running, etc. but wanted a firmer mid section. I have never had abs this tight and firm in my life.
I just started biking a month ago. As I was riding the first weekend, I positioned my mid section as we do in pilates class, ribs to hips. This means pulling your ab muscles down into your hips keeping your core tight. It removes tension from your shoulders and positions your body so your legs are doing the work while your core keeps your body in control. When I finish riding, I feel as if I have not only worked out my legs but also my abs. Pilates also forces your body to use it's muscles not the joints which saves you from injury.
I would appreciate any advice you all can give me regarding biking as a newbie. I love biking and received great info from the bike shop where I bought my bike but I need a woman's input now. I could use advice on biking in the winter in Atlanta, training, clothing, shoes, good areas to ride (so far I only ride the Silver Comet), anything.
Thanks!!!:D

[kelownagirl]

Netoll - so I am curious to know if you were able to lose that lovely covering of fat as well with pilates? I have pretty good abs now but the fat covering it makes them hard to see....

[Zen]

I am definitely still curvy, including the pooch over the top of my underwear.... :(

why fight it, it's more powerful than we are. Another reason to go commando.

EMBRACE THE POOCH

you're a waif!
I wish I could train with you,you'd have hams like The Rock.

Remember though that a lot of what we look like is genetic no matter how hard we train.

Be glad we're reasonably healthy, can walk talk see, hear and have roofs over our heads.

[teigyr]

why fight it, it's more powerful than we are. Another reason to go commando.

EMBRACE THE POOCH


:eek:

No embracing here. I poke it sometimes. I'd love to be a waif. And commando? Don't the underwear hold it in a bit? Or is it an illusion?

Yes there are a lot of things to be grateful for but I'm not ready to be matronly. Aging is undignified and rude.

[barrb46]

I have a problem with weight gathering around my stomach area also. I am 54 and always have been thin, but my belly right now is hard to lose. I think it is an age thing -- not so much a permanent issue, but I think it is related to menapause, and once pass that, weight lost will be easier. My Aunt told me she had a problem around 50 and she was able to get her weight under control.

Someone mentioned when she drinks beer or eats certain breads, she feels bloated. I have celiac disease (www.celiac.com) which is a gluten intolerance. I use to feel bloated after eating. I was diagnosis with celiac disase and I am now on a gluten free diet. You may want to read about it, and if you think you may have it see a doctor and have blood tests. I feel much better since I have been on the diet. I have more energy, less skin problems -- my stomach is now "quiet" after I have eaten a meal.





Okay ladies, well those of you in my situation, over 50 and harder and harder to lose weight. Yea, I thought I would never gain weight because I exercise and eat right but lately I have noticed that since I turned 50 three years ago my middle section has been getting thicker. :mad: I just can't seem to get this situation under control. Anyone out there experiencing the same thing as me? And if so did you find an answer to shedding the midrif tire? HELP! I mean my hips and legs are fine but my middle argh! I don't want to start wearing stretch waist band jeans like I have seen older women wearing AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGHHHHH

Sue with more than one spare tire on my bike rides.

[netoll]

Pilates really does firm up the abs and the overlying skin plus it helps you to breathe more effectively.
I enjoyed your photos of biking in France. Have you ever biked in Italy? We are going next summer and we would love to bike in some of the areas of the country.

[emily_in_nc]

why fight it, it's more powerful than we are. Another reason to go commando.

EMBRACE THE POOCH

you're a waif!
I wish I could train with you,you'd have hams like The Rock.



I love you zen. :D

Pooch-bellies unite!

"The waif" :D :D :D :D :D

[PinkBike]

Oh I hope I can keep this up with the holidays approaching! Hubby will be out of town for two weeks, Nov. 3 - 17, and my daughter and I decided this would be a good time to bake our annual holiday cookie stash. I place the cookies in my big freezer and take them out over the holidays for guests and to give away too. I must bake 12 dozen or more cookies. All kinds! But I'm on a mission now and I think I will get through it fine!

susan,
jillian on "the biggest loser" had a tip - chew gum while you're baking. sugarless, of course. i think that would work for me!

[Susan126]

Saw this at a store and took a picture with my cell phone. Just had to share it! :D

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d167/Howler247/tomstone.jpg

[Zen]

I'm not ready to be matronly. Aging is undignified and rude.

Oh yeah? Don't tell this woman.
(http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=19466) I bet she doesn't look matronly either.

[Susan126]

Wow zencentury!!!! Thanks for pointing me to that story! She is one awesome lady! I want to be just like her when I am in my 80s and 90s and . . . . :D

[Zen]

pfff:p I'd like to be like her now!

[Susan126]

pfff:p I'd like to be like her now!

Amen Zencentury, Amen to that!

[shootingstar]

It's been..um 1-2 months since I've weighed myself. In the summer I was weighing myself at least once a wk.

But yesterday I was asked to give my height & weight to match with my photo government ID that I was applying for: 5'1", 100 lbs. Even when I was underweight at 93 lbs. I NEVER had a 24" waist. It's true that part of our body is genetic in terms of its bone structure and natural distribution of body fat.

I am 48 and experiencing I believe, perimenopause for past year. And am hoping that menopause will be the same...gentle, rarely any hot flashes for me. Just a warm flush for 5-10 min., several times per week.

I cannot blame any weight gain in belly, to menopause. I'm simply snacking more in evenings and over past 10 years my intake of sugar has increased. This is completely the opposite of the diet that I was raised on for lst 20 yrs. of life --80% Asian diet. Now it is 60% Asian in dishes and ingredients. Back then , the sight of a Danish pastry made me ill, now I eat one happily.

Because I began life with predominantly Asian diet, I dislike any form of carbonated drink. I occasionally drink wine, perhaps 1-2 glasses per month. I dislike beer. But I have allergy to wine and get flushed even after 1/4 c. of wine. Not good on the bike. ;) But probably natural weight control tactic! :rolleyes:

This past summer I found it helpful to increase my intake of fresh fruit by 3x. I became a fruit nut...but it helped with my evening snacking.

For past 4 years, I am eating small breakfast --usually microwaved 1/2 c. of oatmeal with abit of milk. And fruit of some sort or soy cheese. I found this necessary since my day starts at 4:30 am.

For past 8-9 years, I haven't eaten lunch regularily on workdays. I'm just not hungry. If I have a business lunch, then I try to eat more lightly for supper. During weekend, I have some sort of "lunch" since I'm cycling 40-50 kms. each weekend day.

So I know my problems.

In winter I snowshoe several times. But that's all. I walk alot if not cycling, because we choose not to have a car. I sort of do stretching exercises several times weekly. Gotta do more of it.

I would like to stick to 60% Asian diet, because I understand and use many of the healthy cooking techniques very easily, also some of the Chinese veggies are quite healthy for you...and I see powerful evidence of results in my own family in terms of health.

My father is 78, he doesn't really exercise but he has been eating consciously healthy for past 15 years. ie. salt-reduced, little fat , hardly no sugar. He has LOW blood pressure, no respiratory nor other cardiovascular problems. He occasionally has mild arthritis. But that's all. He is a small guy at 5' 2" and under 110 lbs.

And he does share household chores with my mother. I guess that's his exercise plus walking 15 min. to buy newspaper. He was a restaurant cook his whole life before he retired.

By the way, I do eat meat. But only 2-3 times weekly and usually chicken or seafood or low fat pork chop. It's been a gradual reduction..more for cost-saving reasons and sheer laziness. :D

ANd yes, I do eat primarily white rice, when I do have rice. Approx. 2 times per wk. or so. I find brown rice just too heavy in palate taste for me to eat it often. I will eat sushi and sashimi several times per month.

The pasta I eat now is a lighter Chinese dried or fresh linguine. I do love thicker pastas and will have it occasionally, but they do have more carbs.

At home, we do not stock chips, pop drink. We still have a few boxes of chocolates...from 12 months ago. But I stress, we love European, gourmet cakes and gelatos. This is what I get being with a German-Canadian partner who has instilled in me how to assesss fine gourmet baking since his mother was an excellent pastry baker.....like tortes, kuchens, fantastic German cookies.... :D

[Resi]

It's sugar and the wrong fat, which sticks on that specific bodypart.

I know it's hard, this works for me in food and endurance and weight training. Yes we have to do more as we get in a more advanced age :D

You all take care

Resi

[beth h]

It's at least partly genetic, I think. At almost 45 I am now shaped just like my late mother, with the same big belly and narrow butt and hips. The only difference is that because I ride so much my legs have definition and shape where hers were just a couple of sticks. I am shaped rather like a slightly pudgy tree trunk in the middle. I wear a lot of mens' clothing because women's clothing (especially bike clothing) usually doesn't fit me so well.

My diet choices are somewhat limited by having Crohn's disease, so I shrug, eat what I can (word up: having breakfast is SO important!), watch my meds and symptoms and try to ride at least a little every day. (I average between 40 and 50 miles a week commuting, and also do longer distance rides some weekends.) I also try to stay active at work. But the last thing I want to do is get totally down on myself because my body isn't a certain shape. It's the shape I have.

For me the result is that I have a body I can live with (even if it doesn't always behave) and I'm not cutting out so many foods that I feel totally deprived and bummed. My partner adores me just as I am. I can live with being shaped like a slightly pudgy tree trunk. I'm alive, and vital, and amazingly healthy for someone with an auto-immune disorder. Life is good. I'm going for a bike ride now. Happy riding --BH