Red Hatters!!! Are there enough of us to start our own group with our own unique problems?

Any advice for those who have been through it?  I seem to eat less, but weight more.  This started when the doc put me on estrogen and blood pressure medicine.  I am desperate enough to do just about anything.  My husband is taking me to Hawaii and I don't want the islanders to shoot harpoons at me when they see me in a swim suit.

What's a red hatter? :)

A red hatter is someone over 50.  We are either going through the change or we have already changed.  Hormones present all kinds of unique problems regarding health, energy levels, and weight related problems.  The 40's group wears a pink hat and lilac.  Over 50's wear red hats and purple.  All this is based on a poem called "Warning."

Hey

I'm not a red hatter but I am over fifty.  I've been at CC since February and have lost 17 pounds with lots of ups and downs.  I have been very serious about portion control for the past month and have finally seen results.  Went to the doc and had to go on blood pressure meds.  Took me off hormones. That did it for me.  How many warnings do we need?  Hawaii sounds like a terrific incentive!  I'm jealous.   Feel free to add me as a friend and good luck. 

Hi all ,

I'm not a red hatter but do know about them, I'm 58 and I'm in this for the long haul...I don't take hormones but do take vitiamins which do seem to help. I found this cc sight last week and I've been following a low fat type eating program. Lost four pounds so far, but I do believe I was way over eating...I'd like to join this group and share  my thoughts with you all.

Feel free to add me as a friend.

Welcome Angelhair!

I've been on CC since February.  I really like the community that I've met here.  Very supportive and helpful. You said you think you may be overeating.  When you signed up for CC did you get a target calorie count for each day?  Based on my current activity and the amount of weight I need to lose, I have to stay under 1550 calories a day.  My activity (calories burned) needs to be at least 500 calories to 1000 calories over what I eat.  I've lost 17 pounds so far and need to lose many more.  I'm not on a diet with a name.  I'm eating healthy foods from all food groups but I really measure and weigh what I eat.  I'm not moving enough.  I know that as I lose the "easy" weight I will have to ramp up the exercise.  Keep up the good work and feel free to add me as a friend.

Penny

Thanks for the welcome ynnep, I've really been doing good on this  calorie watching, but I am so impatiant. I know I will have to continue. to watch my calories forever, and thats o k .  It's so easy to over eat if your not paying attention, I guess through the years I've lost hundreds of pounds, but for me thats not the hard part. The hard part is maintaining after the program. Honestly I thought  once I take off the pounds....that was it.  W R O N G...... You have to focus, and remember how hard you worked to get it off. I started cc last week, staying under 1450 calories a day....but I felt that was to much and tried to do 1200. But thats a little to low right now for me...yes and exercise is a whole other issue....How are things going today?

Hey Angelhair,

Hubby and I are downstate visiting our daughter and her family.  They had a bad storm roll through last week and we trimmed trees and hauled brush away all day.  Great exercise.  My daughter is on CC right now signing up and filling in her profile!! Unfortunately she takes after me and tends to gain weight.  she carries it better she is tall and young. 

I know what you mean about the difference between losing weight and keeping it off.  I too have lost many many pounds and then gaining them back and then some.  I tell myself that this time I am not on a diet, I am making a lifelong healthy lifestyle change.  I eat the foods I enjoy in smaller portions.  Save sweets for special occasions and move more.  I won't buy "diet" foods.  I try to balance more veggies, fruits and complex carbs with less meat and sweets.  It may take me awhile but I can't maintain an artificial weird eating regime and expect to stick to it forever.    I am retraining myself to eat real recommended portions, no more than three ounces of meat at dinner - and I weigh it out on my kitchen scale and boy does it look like nothing!!   I fill my plate with steamed veggies and salad.  I'm learning to adjust to the ration between protein and good carbs (not processed no nutritional value carbs)

Sorry for the soapbox but I have seen good results lately and I'm excited about the changes I have made.  You sound like you are on the same path.  Good Luck!!

Penny