Anyone about 40 and struggling to lose?

I will be 42 in 2 months and am struggling to lose weight after a car accident last year.  After the accident, I gained 20 pounds since I couldn't exercise as usual. I've never been so over weight. I was an active teenager, long ago, and only gained 20 pounds over the years of having 6 kids. Now, I am finding it very difficult to lose it.  My goal is 155 and that is 35 pounds away. Is anyone else struggling, too? I would love to hear from you.   Also, how do you add friends? THANKS!

Hi, I'll be 40 in a little more than 2 months and I can't wait. I would like to finally loose the last 10-12 lbs, but its not happening. It was suggested to me by some of my friends here to change my workout routing; I started that last week. Haven't seen any results yet, but I'm optimistic. Good luck!

To add friends, click on the person you want to add, then on their page you will see "Add Buddy" at the top right corner; click that. - Wanda

wanda, i'll be 40 in a little more than 2 months, and i can't wait either!!  i'm so excited! 

I started on 2/3 and I haven't lost a pound yet. Talk about frustrating. I've heard I need to eat more. I'm eating about 1300 calories a day and work out (treadmill) burn 200 calories at a shot. I work out 4 days a week. It is really really frustrating. The cravings have really lessened but how can I not loose anything? I'm just sticking with it. I'll be 42 in September.

Good luck!!!!

deamarie     I started on 2/24.  I have lost 1 1/2 lbs. It is frustrating! In the last 6 days I have burned an average of 575 calories per day from walking on a treadmill. I walk every day because if I don't, I know I will give up entirely, it keeps me going. I hope you'll let me know how you progress as we seem to be having the same problem.

Try not to get too discouraged!  I just turned 43 in January, and since I hit 40 my metabolism has slowed waaaay down.  That's nature and what we're up against.  At 35 I lost 10# in 2 months hardly trying -- just increased my exercise.  Now, I've lost almost 5# in 2 months with effort.  There are some things you can do to boost your metabolism:

1.  make sure you get enough calories.  If you don't your body will go into starvation mode -- a kind of hibernation -- and your metabolism drops trying to conserve energy.  You actually cause your body to hold on to fat for dear life!  Rule of thumb is to take the number of calories you need for basal metabolic rate (this site helps you figure that) then eat 500-1000 less per day.  Women should never eat <1000 cals./day.

2.  regular exercise (30 min. or more daily if possible) increases your metabolism and you'll burn more all day long -- even while you're sleeping.  Some feel exercise in the a.m. sets your metabolism higher for the day.

3.  pay attention to fiber.  High fiber carbs take more energy to metabolize and keep your blood sugar more stable.  High fiber means >3gms dietary fiber per svg.  Avoid simple carbs (<2gms fiber) as much as possible.

Hope this helps!  WebMD.com is a great site with a lot of good diet/exercise/nutrition info!   Keep up the good work!!

I will be 40 on April 18th of this year!  Have lost 4-5 pounds so far on this site, would love to lose 5 or 10 more.  I try to exercise, but most of the time,  I end up not doing it  We have a 3 story house and with 2 kids, 4 pets, I feel like I do stairs a lot.  (does that count!!!???) Anyway, I am in better shape than when I was 30 so I guess I welcome the big 4-0.  I am trying to grow out my bangs and believe it or not, that is more frustrating than not losing the weight!!!  Good luck to all you other beautiful forty somethings!

You can do it!  I turned 40 last July, and over the last year and 1/2 I lost almost 50 pounds...I started at 175ish in August of 2006 with WW,  and lost about 10 pounds.  In March of 2007 I found out I had to have a total hysterectomy, and the doctor put me on a really strict diet.  that, this site, and exercise helped me drop the rest.

I would love to be your "buddy", if you want...just let me know!  :)

Hi Newbie I just started this site about a month ago and all the people on it are wonderful and so helpful and encouraging!!! I am 48 will be 49 in June and it seems the weight loss just gets tougher with every year...but don't give up hope because I have lost about 24 lbs since December. I am currently stuck at 142-144 and am sticking with it and giving it time to magically just drop off! LOL I am trying to get in the 130's and swear I WILL DO IT!  Anyway I am usually on the 10-15 lb weight loss forum so join in anytime and good luck to you!!!! I thought it was funny about our names...Mine being "cantlose" yours being '" I will''  LOL

Hi Hi Hi!

I just turned 43 .... and I've lost 91 pounds on here in 7 months .... so it CAN be done! (I have an underactive thyroid and diabetes, too!)  Just keep sticking at it, and make sure your calories don't get too low.

The REAL secret to weight loss after 40? FIBER. If you aren't eating a high fiber diet, I recommend it ..... it gives the fat something to latch onto to get transported OUT of our bodies! Also, EAT YOUR VEGGIES. I average well over 10 servings per day, every day.

(I average over 60g of fiber a day, by the way.)

MOLLY

Good questions to ask yourself when you're not losing ...

• What is your daily calorie deficit after factoring in exercise?
• What is your daily water intake?
• What is your daily fiber intake?
• What is your daily vegetable servings intake?
• What is your ratio of fat-protein-carbs?
• How much saturated fat are you getting?
• Are you taking any vitamins or supplements?
• What sort of exercising are you doing?
• Do you have any health issues (such as hypothyroidism?)
• Are your carbs primarily simple or complex? Low glycemic or high glycemic?
• How many grams of sugar are you getting daily?
• Are you taking RX meds that impact weight loss?
• How is your daily sodium intake?

Hi mollymouser! I have a cat named Mollie thats 16! Anyway I get some fiber with my diet but decided to take fiber supplements (chewables) but my stomach bloated up and ...well u can just fill in the rest..LOL My question to you is DO YOU EVER get used to all that fiber???   Thanks for any help or suggestions on this one!

Original Post by cantlose:

Hi mollymouser! I have a cat named Mollie thats 16! Anyway I get some fiber with my diet but decided to take fiber supplements (chewables) but my stomach bloated up and ...well u can just fill in the rest..LOL My question to you is DO YOU EVER get used to all that fiber???   Thanks for any help or suggestions on this one!

 My doctor was absolutely clear with me ... if I had to take fiber supplements to meet my daily fiber goal, then I was definitely eating the WRONG food.

So I looked around for a high fiber, low calorie cereal and settled on Fiber One. One cup of Fiber One is 120 calories and 29g of fiber.  You just can't beat that! Then I looked around for a high fiber, tasty bread ... and settled on Thomas' light multigrain english muffins ... 100 calories and 8g fiber.  I have one for breakfast with my cereal (and I put 2 tablespoons of roasted red pepper hummus on the muffin) ... and I end up with nearly 40g of fiber FOR BREAKFAST. And for less than 300 calories.

You will get tummy rumblies and gas for the first 5-7 days or so as  your body gets used to eating the way nature intended, then it adjusts. Just be sure and drink plenty of water.

In addition to making you feel full, transporting fat out of your body, lowering your cholesterol, and helping to fight cancer, a high fiber diet is actually pretty simple to achieve if you just make wise choices at the grocery store.

Average fiber in diet of people living in asia ... 77g

Average fiber of diet of people living in usa ... 15g

Why? Because we over-process and over-refine our foods, and eat much fewer veggies and whole grains than other parts of the world.

MOLLY

Thanks for the info. I did find a bread made by natures own. wheat double fiber (5 grams of fiber per slice and only 50 cals per slice) Not bad and seems to really help fill me up in the a.m.