Over 50 pounds to lose?

I'd like to hear from those 50-somethings who have at least 50 pounds to lose.  I believe that those of us with high BMI's or who are "morbidly obese" not only have a long road ahead, but we have a "fat" self-image that has to change during our weight-loss if we are ever going to maintain that loss.

I know a lot about gaining weight.  I am 51 and have been very overweight for 20 years.  At my heaviest I was 100 pounds overweight.  I have paid for all the diet programs, I have donated thousands of dollars to gyms without using their facilities for more than 2-3 months, I have lost some weight only to gain it all back and then some.  I know what it's like to not be able to fit into public seating and to shop at the "special" clothing stores where they segregate fat women.

I know a little about losing weight.  I lost 88 pounds two years ago, then gained 50 of it back a year ago.  I joined CC in September 08 and have lost 39 pounds so far.

I know nothing about maintenance, and find that I feel fatter now then when I had lost 10 pounds.

So to all of you out there who can relate, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Iconalis - Like everyone else, at one time or another, I've wished there were a magic slogan or word or concept that would make me suddenly really "want" to get up and exercise.  "Just Do It", No pain, No gain", "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and dozen's of other motivational slogans just bounced off my rather well-armored psych.

One trick that I picked up off of CC is to commit to 5 minutes.  I have a treadmill that I'm walking on for 3 - 3.5 miles 5-6 days a week. I vary the speeds from 2.5 mph to 3.2 mph while I'm walking based on how I feel. I've set a 3 mile goal that isn't about how fast I get there.. it's just about getting there.  So, my workout times vary from 60 minutes to 78 minutes depending on mood and physical factors.

The key is that on those days that I just can't seem to get motivated I'll only commit to 5 minutes. Once I get on the treadmill, if I really feel like I can't do anymore than 5 minutes, I'll get off. So far, that hasn't happened. Once I hit 5 then I'm usually in it for the rest.  For me, it's easier to commit to the 5 minutes then it is to commit to the 3 miles. 

It is a journey though and as we all know the fight isn't just with our bodies  it's also with our minds.  Anything that gets our minds to cooperate with our goals is a good thing.

Good hearing from you and good luck on your journey.

I'm over 50 and have almost 100 lbs to loose.  Recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I'm doing well in dietary changes.

I bought a Wii Fit a few weeks before diagnosis and have been spending at least an hour a day on it.

I've lost 16 lbs since January 21st, ten of those since my diagnosis. 

I find the Wii Fit to be a great low impact exercise program that is actually kinda fun to do.  My 26 year old daughter and I both work out and compare scores.

All of this will be life change for me from now till the end.  It really isn't as hard as I thought it would be, even with all the weight loss failures I've had for the last 40 odd years.  I keep  my carbs at 35-55% of my calories, Proteins at 25-30% and Fats at 25-35%.  With keeping those percentages, I manage to keep my calorie intake at our around 1200/day. 

Working the percentages is much easier for me, than just counting calories.  Plus, because I have to spread my intake out over the day to keep my blood sugar stable, I can't binge on a candy bar or other treat.  It allows me quite a bit of flexibility in what I eat, as long as I don't decide to go overboard on everything all at once. 

Welcome, lizzyk8.  I love your Queen of Hearts photo!

If you are able to maintain your current regimen, it sounds very effective.  Those of us with significant weight to lose understand that it is a marathon, not a sprint.  I always caution beginners to set a healthy reasonable pace because it's a long path and there's no prize for getting there first. 

I hope you find what you need on CC - I have found the support and information from other "losers" to be invaluable!

Hello lizzyk8.

Good plan. My daughter had mentioned Wi around Christmas and I'd totally forgotten about it...   Is there a particular exercise game/program that you're using? 

Good luck on here and look forward to hearing how to lose calories while playing video games. 

I'm using the Wii Fit.  It's a bit expensive, around $80, but it's got everything but the Wiimotes.  It's a great program for going from couch potato to exercising daily.  I also have the Personal Coach, but that's still too high impact for me.  Eventually, tho....

It's not really a video game.  Once has to stand up and do the exercises....There are aerobics, strength, balance and yoga.  The balance games are fun but don't raise your heart rate much.  The aerobics are very active, especially the boxing!  Whew! 

Thank you.  I'll have to check it out.  The yoga sounds interesting since I know stretching is going to be a big part of my exercise regime. 

(Actually, I knew it wasn't a video game.. my attempt at humor... :) 

I have pretty much the same background, eating wise, as the rest of you. Twice in my life, I've lost 70+lbs but now I'm still over 200. My aim is to be healthy by May 2010 when I will be sixty. Yeah, that  means losing 75 lbs which I am going to do slowly ie 5 lbs a month will suit me fine. I walk daily for at least an hour but it is split into two or three sessions. I also swim and I'm doing 35 minutes daily. I worked out that 54 lenghts of the pool mean over 900 arm and leg repetitions. Boy! That's got to be doing me some good. I can also feel my midriff and stomach changing shape.  

Food isn't a 'treat'. That's my mantra. At the end of each month I will treat myself but I will buy a new nail polish or have my hair done or somesuch.

Glad to be in some good company. I'm going away for a couple of weeks on Friday and I'm determined not to ruin all the good work I've done so far.

Good luck all.

lemon orchid, it sounds like you've got a good philosophy going.  I envy you your swimming pool.  Maybe I'll start doing that when it gets a bit warmer here!

Hi Ladies and Gents,

Nice to know I am in the right place. Oh how I wish I had my own swimming pool too! I need to lose 100 pounds. This time I want to do it for me. Some serious health problems have now dictated that I must lose weight.

I have paid out and supported the wages of 3 major weightloss companies, started gungho to lose weight with them and then for some reason or another found another excuse to quit. Probably I have wasted around 7500.00 dollars and I still haven't lost the weight.That would have bought me a very fine new wardrobe.

Recently I have come to understand I need to rid those demons or skeletons in the closet, slow the stress in my life, allow support from others into my life before I can actually start losing. 

I was told to be good to myself, practice self love and give myself me time. I am trying these steps and am seeing some positive things happening. So if those lil steps help anyone else great!

I guess I kind of got off topic but back to the WII Fit. My son gave me the setup for my birthday last August to help me out. I think I used it once. I guess actually hearing that it is successful from other folks like myself, I am now going use it. I felt kind of rediculous on it thinking I may break it but if others my size are using it, I will too.

Nice to meet all of you, greetings from Calgary, Alberta. Yeah, today it is going up to -8 C instead of yesterday's temp of -39 C.

Oh yes, Peg, dig out the Wii Fit, plug it in, make your Wii Me and start moving.  Think of it as a fun way to compete with yourself.  Be patient, you'll soon find yourself looking forward to working out.

I started out with two 30 minute sessions a day.  I count only the exercise minutes the little piggy bank counts.  I didn't worry about what exercises I was doing, only that I committed to two 30 minute sessions.

Soon I found favorites, and then I began the harder ones to make my heart rate go up....but over time! 

I just clocked in 40 hours this morning!  Do your body test every day and don't get discouraged when the graphs go up instead of down.  They will do that but eventually, they'll over all be going down.

Watch what you eat, keeping your calories about 35-55% Carbs, 25-30% Proteins and 25-35% Fats.  I've found that does more for me than counting calories.  When I count just calories, I find I'm eating all the wrong foods and still hungry.  With the percentage system, I'm eating better foods and never, ever hungry.

Watching your food intake and exercising daily is the way to loose weight.  Come here when you need a pat on the back or an attagirl!

  HELLO ! 

Well, did not think there was anything else out there to try, done them all. I've lost 80 lbs twice. So now peer pressure is working. We started biggest loser at work and I've gotten a good start. I'm team captain, and send out dieting tips. This web site was the best tip I got, and the best tip I could give.

I am counting calories. I AM 54, Which I can not say out loud.   

I love to cook, love to eat. Food is my passion. I just have to learn to say No to my self. I eat out of boredom, and or stress.  I need to loose the same darn 80 lbs again, well 70 now, as I lost 10 so far. Counting calories helps me plan ahead for say a glass of wine, or a social event.  I am eating more healthy now.        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;    wii D  

Hello everyone,  I'm 54 too and feel a little embarassed to admit that I need to loose 50 pounds.  I am an emotional eater and just learned that my student loan for the fall will not be approved and now I am quite worried about income.  However, I have been keeping track of my calorie intake for 3 weeks and exercising at the gym I just joined and I have been able to reach my exerise and calorie intake goals for these 3 weeks.  It's really not that long a time, but for me it is the most consistent I've been.  I have a personal trainer for the first time and a friend who goes to the same gym so this has given me a big boost in motivation.

I am interested in the Wii.  Hadn't heard that they have an exercise one.  My son has the bowling one.  But do you use resistance training with it or is it totally cardio?  Not really a home body but if it's fun it adds to variety.

Well, this is my first post. Thank you.

I added resistance by wearing ankle weights, wrist weights, and using hand weights.  There is cardio, strength, yoga and balance exercises.  Using it consistently works...I've lost almost 40 lbs since early February and have a lot more muscles than I've ever had in my life.

I think it's the best thing that's every happened to my health.  Of course, watching my diet is very important, too.  It's the combo that's worked.

Hello, My name is anne,

I want to lose 50 pounds, I'm 58. The main things I have not be serious about losing weight. I had lost about  40 pounds about three years about. I have gain it back but I want lose 50 more pounds.

I have a gym member for the past  3 1/2 years, that's one reason why I have not gain the weight back.  I just been doing enough so I would not gain it back. But, now I much serious about losing weight. I take four classes a week at the gym.  Two of the classes is real hard, starting last week I now go tho the gym on Saturday. It's not a class, I workout on my own. As far as eating, I only eat no-fat or sugar free.  Far as meat, I eat tuna, chicken, I eat beef about once a month.  Lots of salads, egg whites,  lots of vegetable. No sugar,  drink lots of water, I drink a diet soda about once a month, High Fiber cereal. I use Olive Oil, eat Tofu. I try my best to stay away from Carb.

I do 90% of my shopping at Trader Joe's. I have to go out of my neighbor to go to Trader Joe's. It funny, where I go to the gym it not less six fast food placing and about three dinning placing. But, not Trader Joe's. I don't understand that. It's like that want you to workout and then go to a fast food place. That crazy. We do not eat. We may go out once. We do not have food in our house that you just go pick and eat, 90% of everything in our house have to be cook. No snack food.

I believe if I keep on this program. I will lose the 50 pounds.

Now, I'm serious about losing weight and getting healthy. I never say that before.

Am I too late to join.  I joined CC last week.  I have already lost 20 of the 60 pounds I need to lose.  I'm am also the heaviest I have ever been---even after 2 pregnancies. 

Is there a way to check on replies to your posts on this site---easily?

Trish