Weight Loss after 50?

[bambu101]

I have been reading various threads here about losing weight, and wonder if anyone has had success with weight loss after 50, or any age after menopause? If so, I would love to hear any suggestions or things that worked for you. I realize that everyone is different, and what works for someone may not work for others.

My personal experience is that it is extremely difficult to lose weight after menopause. I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers 7 years ago, and put most of it back on, despite trying to eat well and exercising. Very frustrating, to say the least! I was always starving on WW, and found very little support after reaching my goal as far as maintaining that goal weight of 140 (I am 5 ’5.5” tall). So I just turned 53, and have been encouraged by reading some of the other success stories here, although most of them seem to be from women younger than 50.

Based on the feedback posted here, I have been following the Eating For Life plan for the last 2 weeks, and have found it to be very easy to follow. I am rarely hungry, although that is not always the only reason I eat, and something I am trying to be more aware of. I left the 4 boxes of Girl Scout cookies I had ordered a while back at work, and put them out for everyone to help themselves. If it is in my house, it will be devoured, no question about it (especially chocolate).

As far as exercise, the bike is hibernating until spring, after the roads around here have been recently salted and sanded. I have been using the Johnny G Spinner bike 2-3 times per week for 30 to 40 minutes, my Nordic Track x-c ski machine 2 times, and lifting weights and/or doing Pilates DVDs 2-3 times per week. I also walk very briskly for around 45 minutes at work, weather permitting, and hike on weekends sometimes. I log my exercise and food intake regularly. So far, on the EFL plan, I have lost 3 pounds!

I’d love to hear any suggestions or inspiring ideas from others in my age group who have had success in losing weight. Maybe it’s just me, but I am convinced that although losing weight is never easy, it is especially difficult after 50.

Wendy

[han-grrl]

There are several reasons, other than age, why weight loss can be challenging:

remember your body has one goal - protect what is inside, ie organs, brain etc.

1) your body might be "happy" with your weight, and losing more weight is not what your body wants

2)look at what your eating, are you getting all your required nutrients. after menopause, the need for calcium increases. that is usually a big one

3) again looking at what you are eating, many of us have food intolerances, and our body's immune system is working overdrive to deal with those foods. some symptoms include headache or even migraines, but one common symptom is un explained inability to lose weight.

4) it looks like you are doing A LOT of exercise, and i am wondering if you are feeding your body enough for that amount. yes you want to have energy used greater than energy in, but that difference cannot be too big, or your body might start to believe you are starving. and keep weight on

5) now looking at your weight workout. are you practicing progressive overload, that means, are you constantly challenging your body, or are you staying with the same sets, reps and weight all the time. usually you would want to change your workout every 8-12 weeks, which is about how long muscles take to adapt.

anyway hopefully this gives you some food for thought (pardon the pun)

Keep Smiling

Hannah

[five one]

Wendy, I hope you get some positive responses because your situation is very similar to mine. I am soon to be 55 and about two years post-menopausal. I'm only 5'1" but am big boned with a lot of muscle weight. I have never been thin, nor obese. Just solid. I weigh heavy and cringe every time I get weighed at the doctor's office (I refuse to own a scale). I know I will never weigh what I did when I was younger and don't expect to. At 54, I am healthier and fitter than I was back then.

My main problem is the visceral abdominal fat so common in women after menopause. Nothing I do seems to be helping to get rid of this. I am careful about what I eat without obsessing, ride my bike or trainer as often as I can, do resistance training regularly. It's very frustrating to see no change. I am more concerned about the health aspect of the excess fat weight as opposed to being worried about how my clothing fits or what size it is (not that I don't think about that).

Weight loss/control is a whole different ball game after 50. I hope those who have had success will reply.

[Aint Doody]

I'm 58. When South Beach first came out, my husband & I both did it--religiously. He complained a lot, but he stuck with it. He's diabetic and not a very conscientious one. We each lost 20 lbs and have basically kept it off. My husband's blood sugars improved dramatically.

I still have a nice round tummy--(It did get somewhat flatter, but that's a relative term.) I read somewhere that as women age their tummies get rounder and their behinds get flatter. I've avoided the flat behind through cycling and walking. I just wish round stomachs were considered attractive.

I still try to avoid the types of carbs that are "bad", but yesterday I had a delicious cinnamon roll with a pile of cream cheese frosting. (Makes me drool just to think about it.)

Bottom line is that I think South Beach is a good plan. If you haven't looked into it, do. The author is a cardiologist--not somebody like Suzanne Sommers.

[Pax]

I had sugically induced menopause (complete hysterectomy) at 39, so I understand the struggle you mention even though I'm only 46. It's been a truly aggravating experience because NOTHING in my body responds the way it did pre-menopause. Most recently I've changed my diet to a primarily plant based one and that seems to be making a difference FINALLY!

[uforgot]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one finding it difficult to lose weight in your 50s! Seems the stuff just won't come off. I do like the South Beach Diet too. Once I got the white flour out of my system I don't seem as hungry! It's still tough to take it off, so I think I'll try more plant based and cut back on the meat. Talking about it helps, I appreciate all the sugguestions from people who understand.

[DarcyInOregon]

Wendy, I am not post-menopausal, but I am age 53. It is also very difficult for my body to burn body fat, but it does happen for me, slowly.

I eat only heart healthy. No odd diets for me because I eat the way I will eat for the remainder of my life. My health is most important, not my body weight. Every hospital in the country teaches a course to anyone who wants to sign up on how to eat appropriately for long-term health, meaning the goal is to live as long as possible without getting any of the nutritional related diseases of old-age, or how to reverse any current medical complications. The course lasts about three months and is taught by nutrionists, dieticians and social behaviorists. Weight loss is discussed, but only as being an effect of eating correctly and exercising diligently.

For myself, I learned nutrition and my diet follows the recommendations of the American Heart Association, the federal government and the medical community. I eat low-fat, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes. The carbs I eat are high in soluble fiber and I avoid overly processed and refined carbs. I keep my sodium low.

Every day I track my calories consumed and my calories burned. I use the Calorie King software, which is a nutrition database for tracking food and exercise. I use a Pulsar heart rate monitor to track the calories burned during my daily workouts. I keep my calories consumed to around 1500, never lower than 1200, and the calories are consumed through three heart healthy well-balanced meals. I exercise every day without fail. When the weather is bad I exercise inside on a Cybex treadmill, or a Cybex fitness bike, or my road bike on the trainer. When the weather is good, I am outside walking or biking. When I exercise inside I try to get my calories burned to be at least 300. When I exercise outside I try to get my calories burned to at least 400-500.

The weight comes off very slowly, but it is fat, not bone or muscle weight. I am very healthy, and at this time of my life I have no evidence of getting any of the aging diseases that many people get from the nutritional deficiences of incorrect eating.

[Tuckervill]

My main problem is the visceral abdominal fat so common in women after menopause. Nothing I do seems to be helping to get rid of this. I am careful about what I eat without obsessing, ride my bike or trainer as often as I can, do resistance training regularly. It's very frustrating to see no change. I am more concerned about the health aspect of the excess fat weight as opposed to being worried about how my clothing fits or what size it is (not that I don't think about that).

I've been reading a book called "You, on a diet" by Oz and Roizen. The main goal of the book is to show you how and why that abdominal fat should go. They say the appropriate circumference of the abdomen for women (as measured around the belly button) is at most 35", but ideally under 32-1/2".

I'd love it if my belly were under 35 inches, even if it was bigger than the rest of me. At least my behind wouldn't be so big! If yours is under 35" I'd say your health is probably not an issue.

Karen