Weight loss challenge for women between 45 and 50

Hi:

Is anybody currently in a weight-loss challenge for women in their mid to late 40's?  I joined two challenges, and although they are a bit helpful, I find that everyone is 20+ years younger than me, and therefore, eating differently with different mind-sets.  If anybody wishes to join me, please do so.  I would be delighted.  I will post my weight now.  I wish to lose 10 lbs. by the 4th of July, my 46th birthday.  Like the other challenges I am in, I would like to weigh in on Mondays, so here's my little chart:

• May 18th: 151
• May 25th:
• June 1st :
• June 8th :
• June 15th:
• June 22nd:
• June 29th:
• July 4th:

Hi Alex.  My name is Karole, and I just had my 50th Birthday in April, so I know exactly what you mean.  I think most of the people doing the challenges are in their late teens/early 20's, so it's nice to talk to someone who is close to the same age as myself.  I started dieting on April 10th, with a starting weight of 183, so I have lost 17 lbs. so far.  My goal is to get down to below 160 by July 4th, although I would LOVE to lose about 14 lbs. in that time. 

A little about myself: I live in the San Francisco Bay Area; I have been married for 29 years; I have one child, Stephanie; I have two Grandson's, Garrett (5) & Ayden (2).  They are the light of my life!!  Tell me a little about yourself-  I look forward to talking to you more.    Karole

• May 18th: 167.8
• May 25th:
• June 1st :
• June 8th :
• June 15th:
• June 22nd:
• June 29th:
• July 4th:

Hi Karole:

I'm so glad to meet you!  You're right... most of these people are kids, and from what I'm reading, half of them have eating disorders or low self-esteem, and in my opinion are missing the point of not just losing weight but a lifestyle!  So it's really great to see your posting, and you and I are practically on the same page.  I joined this website April 22, but I started my diet on April 19.  My start weight was 165, and when I weighed in on the 18th of May, it was 151, so like you, I lost 15 poinds, and I see you lost 17 pounds?  That is excellent!!  So, yes, let's definitely motivate each other. 

A little about me, I live near Newport, RI, so unfortunately, we're on a 3 hour time difference, but we're both from great towns with great bays and bridges!!  I have a sister who lives in Marin.  I have two children, Lili who will be 16 on Bastille Day, July 14th, and my son, Jasper, just turned 13, so two teens, yikes, oh and I'm divorced, and their father is french so the kids travel often to france to see their father.

I started my own company.  I place crew on yachts world-wide, so I work at home.  Now this has it's ups and it's downs, and the downs certainly weren't on the scale!  Too dangerous working with the fridge five feet from you.  So this winter, I put on more weight than I can ever remember, plus being that it was so bloody cold and snowy, I didn't move around much at all!  Oh speaking of which, I started doing the 8 am class on Fit TV called In-Shape.  Are you doing any workouts?  Have you seen any of the excersising classes on fit tiv?  Great channel that I didn't even know existed till the friend of mine who put me on this new way of eating showed me.

So anyway, any time you want to exchange eating ideas and excersises, let's do it, and I'm so glad you signed up so we can help each other meet our goals.

Alex

P.S. Karole:  Happy Birthday!  Wow, the big 50.  I think that is so cool.  I've got four more years...

Good morning.  Thank you very much, although I didn't think it was so cool!!  Wow, two teenagers in the same house - I'll bet there is not a dull moment around there!  One was enough for me, and the best part of having children is that they give you grandchildren!!  Anyway, I realized last night that I put the wrong weight in my original post.  My weight on Monday the 18th was 167.8.  166 was what I weighed  yesterday (this morning it was 165.8!!)  So, I think that I should definitely be under 160 by July 4th.  I am going to edit that post.

As far as exercise, I am not real thrilled about it, but, I have been swimming after work every day for 30 minutes.  Also, I am going to get the new EA Sports "Active" for the Wii.  I have been reading about it and it is supposed to be a very good program.  I was going to get the Wii Fit, but I guess this one is better.  So, I'll let you know how that works out.  Too bad we are on opposite sides of the country - if I had a walking partner, I would probably walk a lot more.  My hubbie is going to have knee replacement surgery next Thursday, so after that maybe he will be able to walk with me.  He needs to lose some weight as well.  I have never heard of Fit TV, so I will have to check that out.

Well, if you need instant encouragement, you can always send me an IM from Yahoo! Messenger.  I am usually close to the computer.  My yahoo id (and e-mail) is karoleschatzman@yahoo.com.  Good luck today!

Karole

Hi,

May I join? My name is Sireen and I am 49. I started dieting on April 2nd when I weighed 180. I joined CC 3 weeks ago. I am trying to reach 148 by end of August. 160 by July 4th sounds great if I can achieve it. The first few pounds dropped off quickly but now my weight loss is very slow. I am hoping that this challenge and weekly weigh in will motivate me to exercise harder! I really hate exercise but am trying to change that attitude.

I live in Amman, Jordan. I have been married for 9 years and do not have any children. I retired early 18 months ago after a long career in IT. I spend most of my time these days playing and teaching bridge. I love traveling. I visited San Francisco in the late 90's. The Bay Area is beautiful.

Here is my weight chart:

• May 18th: 164
• May 25th:
• June 1st :
• June 8th :
• June 15th:
• June 22nd:
• June 29th:
• July 4th:

Hi Sireen.  I think I speak for both of us when I say it is very nice to meet you!  My feeling is, "the more the merrier"!  So welcome aboard!!  I have certainly never been to Jordan, so maybe you can tell us a little about it, i.e., the time difference, weather and so on.  I hope you are doing well on your diet today.  I have done good today.  Me and hubby went for an 8 hour motorcycle ride, and I am very tired, but it was a really fun day.  So, goodbye for now, will talk to you soon. 

Karole

Thank you Karole and nice meeting you and Alex.

Hmmm...Jordan is a small country in the Middle East with a population of less than 6 million. Amman, where I live, is the capital and largest city. Jordan is different from its neighbors because it has no oil. Syria on the North, Iraq on the East and Saudi Arabia in the South all have oil, but we don't. We share our western border with Palestine and Israel.

We are at GMT+2. The time difference between Jordan and the East coast is 7 hours. We are 10 hours ahead of the West coast. My sister lives in LA so when I call her it is either in the evening or early in the morning.

You asked about the weather. It is hot and dry, though not as hot as the Gulf countries. It does get to over 40 C (100 F) later in the summer but only for a few days. The heat makes exercise a challenge as it is not comfortable to walk during the day. I usually walk at dusk, or try to do some other exercise that does not involve going outside. It is usually cooler in the evenings.

I am panicking about tomorrow's weigh-in because I have been stuck between 165 and 164 for ages. I exercised very energetically for half an hour this morning so I hope that will help to tip the scale back to 164 tomorrow. But I also discovered that I had eaten less than 400 calories by late afternoon so I had to have a big dinner, which may tip it back the other way . I'll find out tomorrow!

Wow...an 8 hour motorcycle ride sounds really energetic...and fun! The last time I was on a motorcycle was when I was in my twenties. Very few people here ride them because it is extremely difficult, near impossible, to get a license.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Sireen

Not good . I have been going up and down between 164 and 165 for 10 days. At least I am holding it there. The last time I weighed this little was over two years ago. I have been eating within my calorie limit and exercising daily so I hope I will say goodbye to 165 within the next few days.

I wish you both best of luck with your weigh-in

• May 18th: 164
• May 25th: 165
• June 1st :
• June 8th :
• June 15th:
• June 22nd:
• June 29th:
• July 4th:

Hi Sireen and Karole:

Sorry I've been absent over the weekend.  Went to the beach everyday.  I did not get my butt in the pool like I said I would.  Darn... Oh well.  I did weigh in, and guess what... I'm 145.  It seems awfully fast that I lost 20 lbs. in 5/6 weeks, but I have been really strict with myself.  I cheated yesterday though.  I went for a couple of sushi rolls.  Yummie, so it's not too unhealthy of a cheat.  So Sireen, if you want any of my eating ideas, you just let me know!!!  Ok talk to you guys later.  Sireen, where do you live?  I'm in RI near Newport.  My office is in Newport.

Hi Sireen:

Ok, I see you live in Jordan.  Well that time difference is really easy for me.  Most of my business is in the med.  My son was born in Nice.  So you're just an hour ahead of what time-zone I'm used to.   I don't think I could stand the heat though where you live.  Living on the Cote d'Azur, wow, summers are so so hot.  I would get so tired of that heat, so I'm sort of glad to be back in Newport.  I lived in Marseille for three years, and at least there was more wind in the golfe de lyon.  Tell me, why do you live in Jordan?  What nationality are you?  Ok well I will post my new weight now. 

• May 18th: 165
• May 25th: 145
• June 1st :
• June 8th :
• June 15th:
• June 22nd:
• June 29th:
• July 4th:

Good morning/evening to you both.  I am getting really frustrated.  My calorie deficit is always at least 1000, but I am stuck in the same spot!  Oh well, maybe this week???  Good luck to you both.  By the way, congrats on the 20 lbs. lost, Alex!!  That is fantastic!!  I started at 183 (in April), so I have last 15.2 lbs.

• May 18th: 167.8
• May 25th: 167.8
• June 1st :
• June 8th :
• June 15th:
• June 22nd:
• June 29th:
• July 4th:

ooops... That looks like I lost 20 lbs in a week, haha.  Sorry my goof.  I started April 18 at 165.  So yes, I did lose 20, but in about five or into my sixth week? 

Karole, have you cut out all carbs and all dairies and meats?  That's what I did.  Now I feel though like I'm sort of plateau ing as well.  I feel flabby.  I gotta work it off., but you've've done really well Karole.  Looks like you lost a lot!!!  So you've done about the same as me really, just a teeny bit less...  Wow, that's great. 

Hey Alex.  That's ok, I knew what you meant - if you lost 20 lbs. in one week, I want to know your secret!!  If you don't have any carbs, dairy or meat, what do you eat?? Just veggies?  I don't know that I could cut those out completely, but I have been trying to eat less of them.  My calorie intake has consistently been between 1100 and 1300 calories a day, so maybe it will start moving down again.  Talk to you later - Karole 

Hi Karole:

Well I am eating probably few less calories than I should be, that's for sure!  I haven't recorded my intake since Friday, so I'll try to do that.  I do eat stuff like hard boiled eggs for snacks.  I also steam broccoli for snacks and I roast pine nuts and put it in spinach salad.

Did your husband have his knee surgery yet?  Hope that goes well.  It got too nippy yesterday, and I did not swim.  Oh well!  Hopefully when the weather gets warmer, I will.

Alex

hi can i join this challange

I'm over 45 and over weight

On may 26th weight is 212 pounds

Have a son with a broken leg so we will be home most of the summer.

I have been cooking 3 meals a day.  Not easy to eat right this may help.

Hi twinsand2!  Glad to have you here.  I know the feeling, my husband can barely walk from the living room to the kitchen.  It is very difficult, because you get bored just sitting there.  How old is your son?  Maybe you could get a wheelchair and take him for walks.  Where do you live, and what is your name?

Alex--My husband is having surgery tomorrow.  He is a little anxious,  but I am sure everything will be fine.  I have high hopes for this surgery, as everyone I have talked to that has had it done or knows someone who did says it changed their life.  So, we shall see.  I went to the pool yesterday after work and swam for about 45 minutes.  The weather here is perfect!! Do you have any suggestions as far as exercises in the water?  I am just kind of winging it right now.  I probably won't be getting on-line tomorrow, but will talk soon.

Karole

Hello everyone,
I would also like to join your group. I'm 45 years old (Oct.21), I have 2 children ages 18 and 10. I have been married 25 years, And I love the idea of this group! I started dieting on March 1, 2009 at 162.8.
ct wt:               &nb sp;  144.2
July 4 goal wt:    134
ultimate goal wt: 106 (I'm 5'1 and small framed)
since I've just started this challenge I can give you my wts on the 2 past weigh in dates, if thats ok?
 . May 18th:145
 . May 25th:144.2
 . June 1st :
 . June 8th :
 . June 15th:
 . June 22nd:
 . June 29th:
 . July   04th:

Hello again... This thread has been very active since I last visited it!

Karole - I hope your husband's surgery went well and I hope he will feel much better soon. Do tell us how it went when you get a chance to log in.

Alex - to answer your question I am Jordanian. I've lived in Jordan all my life except for when I studied at university in England many years ago.

twinsand21 and solemnleaf2 - welcome to the thread.

This thread  is a great idea. Thank you, Alex, for starting it. The thought of Monday lurking just round the corner is motivating me to work extra hard on both my diet and exercise!

I would love to share food suggestions. The spinach with pine nuts sounds great. I am going to try it. I usually cook spinach with chick peas. All other spinach variations I tried were a total disaster but I have high hopes for this one!

I discovered a couple of days ago that my diet is healthy but not balanced. Maybe this is why I was stuck around the same weight for ages. I plugged my food statistics into Excel and noticed that my fiber and protein intake is very low, while carbs are too high. I hardly ever eat meat and I have already cut down cheese drastically. Based on what worked for you, Alex, it seems that I must cut down carbs next  and eat boring fiber instead. Not easy for a carb addict!

I am eating around 1450 every day. I am 5'7" tall. My daily deficit was low for the first half of this month but now it is between 500 and 700. I lost a lot of weight really fast when I started dieting and am really worried about hitting a plateau/loose skin/more wrinkles so I am dieting slowly . I am still optimistic that I can achieve 160 by July 4th, though.

Hi All:

Wow, this thread has gotten busy to say the least!  Karole, how's your husband doing now?  Twin... I can relate.  My son broke his arm quite severely so last summer, and it really sucked because he broke it in another country and had to have surgery whilst I was not there!

Anyway... Can't wait to weigh in on Monday, but guys... I am cheating right now.  Yes, I'm drinking some wine right now.  Can't resist, but other than that, I have been sticking to it.

I'm glad there are all of us ol "40/50 somethings" on this thread, because as I had mentioned to Karole before, all I found previously were new 23 year old mothers and such, not that there's anything wrong with that, but our age, we're just not in the same boat nor challenge.

Karole... loose skin... yeah, like I had mentioned.  Darn, I really have to work out more, but work is so crazy hectic right now (in a good way of course) but hectic nonetheless!

I'm so glad too Karole that you are so good at welcoming everyone because I haven't been able to check in much at all lately. 

I say we elect Karole President!!  You have my vote!

Hope all is well on the west coast of the USA!

Alex