Weight loss over 40

It is even possible for a 43 year old woman to lose weight?  I would really love to lose 20 pounds.  I exercise and eat right but the weight just won't seem to budge.  I run (am training for second 1/2 marathon) and by the "grade" on my Jounal I am an A-.  Even at the taper of my last training session I was only able to get to 145.  I am 5'5", and currently at 157, but, because of my age should I just give up my dream of losing and just hope to maintain withhout gaining or should I keep trying?  I know my doc says keep trying, at least to get my blood pressure down.  I am about to give it all up, seems it's just not worth it!  Anyone have any advice on this I am at my wits end! 

my mother said it gets much harder the older you get, she's just a couple years over 40 and she's putting tons of weight back on ~.~ she's worked so hard to lose it and was skinnier than me for so long now it's like I've lost 30 pounds and she's totally found it.

Anyway ... I don't know, I don't have any experience, but I'm told it's harder, there was a lady who posted and she was like 80 or something, but she managed to lose a bit of weight, so that makes it seem possible to me, you seem like a good weight to me at least, I think it might be worth it, at least mainting the weight, good luck with that :( sorry for your dismay

It's hard. I'm 41 and I have lost a total of 9 lbs in 4 months. I guess the key is to get it off before menopause. Then I guess it's super hard. It has really tested my patience and desire to stay with it. But I figure what is my choice? I need to lose a good 40 lbs. With 9 off it's going to take a while.

I am 47 next month been trying to lose weight since jan 10 08...........i work out watch what i eat

and NOOOOOOOOOOOOO cannot lose a pound it seems

its real hard for us older gals

Don't know about you ladies, but at the age of 46 I have managed to lose 300 pounds over the last 18 months.  It can be done if you are willing to do the work!! 

Stay Strong!!!

thats great but  its a well known fact men lose it faster than us women

and also you dont have to deal with menapouse

 

Yes it is possible, but it won't happen as quickly as it did when we were in our 20's. I am also 43 and working hard at losing some weight...eating healthy, exercising regularly and i work out with a personal trainer 2-3 times per week...the results? 13 lbs since Nov. but my inches are dropping.  Keep in mind too that you are training and muscle weighs more than fat

Hate it for those of you who have faced this frustration, but reading your experience has been a BIG help to me. I'm 46, and have engaged a trainer, am going to the gym, tracking what I eat -- my clothes are getting looser, but, after an initial 5 lb drop in weight, the scales won't budge. I've eliminated all added salt, fat, and sugars, have sworn off alcohol, am avoiding gluten. I'd dearly love to see some results (on the scale) as recompense for bland, no-fun food. My trainer tells me to be patient and to focus less on the numbers on the scale. Meanwhile, my boyfriend, 50, who cheats like mad on the diet plan, has easily shed ten pounds. Arrrgh!

K, yes it is possible to lose weight at 43.  Just after my 43rd birthday I began my "healthy lifestyle".  That was about 20 months ago.  As of today I have lost 68#.  It takes exercise, healthy eating, determination and Patience.  I had a 6 month Plateau and finally started losing again in January.

Why don't you share your stats and we will see if there is something that needs tweaked.

Age, height, weight, calories, exercise, activity level.

Thanks

Leslie

patience is the key word.  And, the less you have to lose the harder it is.  Good luck with this.

Thanks for all the input, I so appreciate it.  Stats..5'5", 157, exercise=running about 15-20 miles per week for now, will start training for 1/2 marathon at end of June, so right now I am just maintaining my mileage and trying to get my mile time down.  I do this about 5 times a week.  I have always been active, competitive swimming, couple of tirathalons, weights, aerobics.  Just last year got back into running to drop some of weight that has been creeping up.    Was able to get to about 145 last October for 1/2 marathon.  I get a fair amount of support from my family, even have designated exercise room in the home, with equipment.  Going to the gym is out of the question as we live in a kind of rural area the closest decent gym is about 15 miles away.  Just started counting calories with this site about two weeks ago but have been struggling with this for a few years now.  The journal does help, it's amazing how the calories just add up.  Calorie intake fluctuates between 1500 to 2200 a day.  Less on rest days.  Oh yeah, and I have a real bad habit of getting up in the middle of the night and eating....anything.:)  And...I have high blood pressure so I take lisiniprol (sp) with HCTZ?  Thanks for any and all help.    

well, i'm not 40 for another nine days, but i don't think it's that hard.  at 38 i realized that i needed a changed, becuase although i was just on the cusp between "normal" and "overweight" i'd been gaining three or four pounds a year for several years.  the weight has come off gradually, and i backslid badly this spring (8 pounds worth), but when i behave, it works.  it's a pretty simple formula: stick to whole foods, keep the alcohol to a minimum, and walk an hour or more ever day (i run, but not consistently enough to make much difference). 

when i'm doing my best, i can drop about a pound and a half a week.  the last ten have been resistant, for sure, but that has more to do with me getting complacent when i hit ~ 140 than anything else.

kworlf, on re-reading your second post, i wonder if you're too efficient a runner.  do you change up your distance & speed?  because you may be too fit and not working hard enough at your distance(s) for it to be effective for weight loss.

 

Thanks, good point...I do change the distance, but not usually the speed.  Training pace is usually about 9.5 to 10 minute mile.  (I know, most would consider this a jog) but I have short legs.  My new training schedule does have some spped work involved, maybe that will help.  Add some longer distances as well?  I read somewhere that if after reducing you mileage, like off season, a woman needs to get back to about 30 miles per week before any real progress on weight loss is made.  Maybe I am just being impatient.  On the other hand, I don't want to risk injury...shin splints and achilles tendonitis suck bad. 

or you could cut back on the running and try something totally new.  where do you live?  windsurfing is a great workout for your whole body, and lots of fun.  or kayaking?  rock climbing?  new things make you work hard ;-)

LOL it is totally possible!!! check out my profile!! :D i'm 50...

I am 52 and have a lot to loose but have lost 14.6 so far. I know it may be tough near the end but I think it is possible but it just takes more work and effort than it does when you are younger.

Im 48 and gained 50 lbs 5 years ago, when i quit smoking and was on steroids and have been trying to lose it ever since. Im also in menopause! UGH!!! honestly, the only thing i have found is Nutrisytem, I was on it for 1 month, and lost 20 lbs!!! i did keep it off for 6 months, it is very very expensive, and most of the entrees taste awful, Im thinking its the low glycemic index. Im on South Beach now, it is a pretty good diet, I just get bored with it, but have lost 6 lbs the first week. After 40 the bad carbs and suger is murder! so if we can stay away from the white flour products and suger, we will be okay. Also i have started walking for 20 minuetes every day, that also helps

I'll be 42 this year and I've lost and still am losing. I've come from 182lbs to 148.4 at present. It has taken me a little longer thanit would have done 10yrs ago but it's still coming off. If I were you I'd persevere.

Please tell us!

how are you doing it???

Yes! It is possible. My mom in law who is 56, and in menopause went from 289lbs to 149lbs just calorie counting and calorie cycling. Her doctor told her that having a "sluggish metabolism" was a myth and that she could get hers burning and running with a good combination of diet and exercise.

Now of course, she has no physical conditions such as thyroid problems.