40- 50 Years old with 10 lbs. to lose.

I am forty-five and female and have 10 lbs. to lose.   I am realizing that at this age our bodies are going through many "changes"; therefore, there are unique challenges we face.  What I would like to see in this forum is:

Weigh-in once per week: anyday that you choose for yourself but you need to be regular and honest.  I like Wednesday because I am usually able to get rid of the weekend bloat by then.

List your Plan: In the beginning what do you plan to do to take the weight off?  For example: I plan to keep calories between 1400 and 1600 per day and 2000 on the weekend.  I will cut out sweets.  I will exercise 4 times per week. 

Weekly or daily: Post what is your plan for today, tomorrow or this week (depending on how often you are able to post ) and what will be your greatest challenge.  For example: today I will go the the gym and do an upper body workout and I will walk for 45 minutes.

List your greatest challenge and how you will overcome that challenge.  For example: My greatest challenge will be getting motivated to go out in the cold weather.  I will overcome this challenge by putting on some motivating music, I will dress warmly and just do it.

Set up consequences or rewards: If you don't meet your goal you may apply a consequence.  Or, if you meet your goal you can apply a reward. Whichever motivates you more.  These are set up in advance.  For example:  If I take off a lb by Fri I will go buy me a new blouse.  If I don't stay within calories today, I will wash my husbands car. Or, If I stay within calories today, I will take a nice, long bath with a salt scrub.

If you have trouble getting back to this forum: go to community and in the forum search box type in: 40- 50 Years old with 10 lbs. to lose  It should take you to the forum. 

Hope to see you here!

Toniahayes

My first Post:

First Weigh-in: 147.2

My Plan: My plan is to lose one pound per week.  I will weigh 137.2 by April 1, 2008.  I will keep calories between 1400- 1600 daily depending on exercise expenditure.  I will workout 5-6 days per week.  I will set some race (5k, 10k and Triathlon) goals to keep me motivated to workout.

Today: I will keep calories at 1500.  I will walk for 45 minutes and will go to the gym for an upper body workout. 

Greatest challenge and how I will overcome that challenge: since I didn't workout first thing this morning, it will be easy to find a ton of things to do to distract me from getting to the gym.

I will set a time now (3:00) to go to the gym.  I will keep this appointment. 

Consequence: If I skip my workout or don't stay within my calories, I will clean out an entire file drawer tomorrow. 

Reward: I will take a nice, hot bath and give myself a salt scrub this evening for a reward for keeping today's goals.

About me:  I just turned 40 and will be hitting goal for the third time this year but can't maintain it.  So I will hit goal by Spring (April 1st) and develop a plan for maintaining it!  I am 5'6" and the first weigh in is for January 23, 2008.

First Weigh-in: 145

My Plan: My plan is to lose at least one pound per week.  I will keep calories between 1200- 1500 daily.  I will do the Elliptical 5 days per week and do weight training two days a week.  Will weigh in on Wednesdays as well since it's my day off.


Today: I will pre-plan my meals and snacks.  I will do 1 hour on the Elliptical (during Ellen at 11:00).


Greatest challenge and how I will overcome that challenge: Snacking since it's my day off... too much time to graze.  I will keep busy getting my housework done and doing an activity with my children.  And most importantly, sticking to my Pre made meal plan.


Consequence: Doing my quarterlies that are due at the end of the month... hate doing them!

Reward: Giving myself quiet time to finish the book I have been trying to read for months now.

Hey chattynoel: sounds like a great plan.  Thank for the idea about planning snacks and meals in advance.  I need to do more of that :-)

Yesterday: Met goal of 1500 calories; Did my forty-five minute workout but skipped the upper body.  I guess I'll be cleaning that file drawer today.

Weigh-in : today's weigh-in 146.8 this will be my starting weight


My Plan for today:  Walk/run 4 miles (already completed); Pilates workout either home or gym ; 1500 calories

Plan for tomorrow: Bike 12 miles; 1600 calories

List your greatest challenge and how you will overcome that challenge.  Today is date day with my 17 year old son and we usually eat out.  I will drink lots of water before going and take him to Red Lobster so I can eat shrimp cocktail and a salad.  I will not have the cheese bread.
Consequences or rewards:  If I meet all of my goals for today and tomorrow, I will treat myself to shopping.  If I don't meet my goals, I will clean two file drawers on Friday.

i'm not 40 until spring, but thought i would chime in, as i too am down to the last 10 lbs.

i was never all that big, but at 165, i just edged out of the "healthy BMI" range for my height of 5'8".  i was 37.  at the time, i believed everything i'd been told about the inevitable metabolism slow-down at 30 (was convinced that mine slowed at 28).  realizing that at the rate i was going, i would be 200 pounds by the time i turned 45, i started making gradual changes.

i'm down to 140 now, and my metabolism is just fine.  i don't exercise a lot: yoga when i can, long walks when time & weather permit.  i could be fitter, definitely, but i'm very healthy.  at 1500 calories a day, i lose weight; at 1700-1900, i maintain.  i gain when i get careless with wine, beer, and junk food. 

as far as consequences and rewards, aren't they built in?

anyway, just wanted to reassure you ladies that the metabolism slow-down is a myth.  when we slow down, our metabolisms do too, but it's not inevitable, and it can be reversed.  good luck!

Pgeorgian:  Are you "chiming in" or would you like to join in with us?  As far as consequences, yes I agree, they are built in but.... and that's a big butt, my reasoning for them is that knowing that I was not going to fit into my jeans if I ate that bag of chips never stopped me.  Knowing I have to go clean a file drawer or some other consequence may be enough to get me to put the bag down. 

Consequences are not mandatory but they just might help some of us. :-)

Toniahayes

just chiming in, tonia.  but i'll give you a *bump*.

Yesterday: Met  calorie goal; Walk/ran 4 mi. in the morning and walked forty-five minutes in the evening instead of pilates.  I still have to clean the file drawer from Monday.  I think I will start setting extra exercise as my consequences, although my file drawers could use some cleaning.

My challenge for yesterday was Red Lobster. We got there and it was too crowded so we went to Steak n Shake.  I ordered a salad from their lighter menu.  My son ordered french fries which are my weakness.  I managed to eat only a few and counted them in my calorie allotment.  French fries are another challenge when I eat out with my son.

My Plan for today:  Go to the gym for a weight workout.  Upper and lower body.

Plan for tomorrow: Bike 12 miles; 1600 calories

List your greatest challenge and how you will overcome that challenge.  Today I am going out to lunch with a friend.  The restaurant serves Quiche which I love.  I will look up the calories to see if I can manage it.  If not, I will snack healthily before I go and order soup.

Consequences or rewards:  If I meet all of my goals for today I get to shop for that new blouse on Friday.  If I don't meet my goals today I will walk for forty-five  minutes tonight.

Today I was 144.  Doing great with eating but haven't been doing well with the exercise.  Own my own business and due to employees I have been doing the open to closing hours (10-9).  And since it's a job that requires being on my feet all day with no sitting and constant moving... just been way too tired to exercise by the time I get home.

Tomorrow I work again, so I pre-planned my meals and packed my lunch.  When I get home I will do some strenght training. 

I get Sunday off so my plan is to get up and get on the Elliptical for 1 hour first thing while watching Ellen... makes it so much more enjoyable.  Keep planning my meals ahead of time.  And increase how much sleep I am getting (I do think that helps keeping cravings down and myself on track.)

Chatty noel: As far as exercise goes, sometimes I can get my heartbeat up just by doing housework.  I have a heart rate monitor that I put on along with my headset and I see how many calories I can burn doing house work.  You can pick up a moniter for about $100.00 at SportsAuthority or a place like that.  The strap goes around your lower chest.   The idea behind aerobics is that you keep your heart rate up for at least 20 mins.  It would be interesting to see how many calories you burn with you job if you are on your feet all day. 

Saturday: too cold for biking.  Did a house work workout. 

Sunday: Ran 4 miles in am. 

Overall I ate sensible all weekend but did not count calories. 

My Plan for today:  Keep track of calories and keep at 1600.   Walk 45 minutes.
 

List your greatest challenge and how you will overcome that challenge.  No great challenges today that I can foresee except I am going to a funeral and may tend to stress eat.  I will plan to have a salad makings in the refridge for that purpose.

Consequences or rewards:  I didn't shop on Friday, I ran out of time.  I will go shopping tomorrow if I meet my goals today.