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! 

I'm 44 and it is totally possible.  I started my healthier lifestyle last year when I quit smoking right before my 43 birthday.  I started exercising and trying to eat healthier and I gained and lost the same 5 pounds over and over.  Then I had shoulder surgery in December and couldn't exercise (much) so I decided I needed to keep better track of what I ate.  I was probably in the 180s last year, but my scale was junk, so I don't really know for sure.   I'm down 2 jeans sizes since then. 

I found this site in February and I've gone from 172 then to 154 today -- so 18 pounds in 3 months.   I'm in no hurry, but I hope to lose another ~20 pounds or so by Christmas.  It's helped that I  am back on my treadmill (10-15 miles/week) and doing some light weights.  I want to graduate to heavier weights as soon as my shoulder can handle it. 

I'm 47 and went from 210 in Sep 2007 to 155-158 in Feb.  So, yes it is possible.  I am currently plateauing as I have slacked off a lot, but I'm sure that when I start training again, and eating properly, I will see the rest come off.

Im wondering, did you watch your calories? Do weight watchers? watch carbs? I dont write down everything I eat, I would really like to know

I’m female, 61, 5’6” and finished with menopause.  I’ve lost 10 pounds since the middle of March by changing what I eat and adding half an hour on my exercise bike (about three days a week) to the two mile per day walk that I’ve been doing the past four years. 

I eat between 1400 and 1600 calories per day.  I started at 160 and my goal is between 135 and 140.

Original Post by angelbrenda:

Please tell us!

how are you doing it???

Hi, I was eating the recommended daily calories from CC, but for some reason it just didn't seem to be working for me, so I started zig-zagging my BMR between the base figure and base x1.2 and then the weight just started to come off nicely.

My base figure BMR is 1445,       x1.2=1734 so I would eat the top figure for a few days and then drop to the lower one for a week then back up to the top one for 4-5days and so on.

Original Post by angelbrenda:

Im wondering, did you watch your calories? Do weight watchers? watch carbs? I dont write down everything I eat, I would really like to know

 I watch what I eat, record everything and work out.  My BMR is about 1500 and that is the minimum I eat each day.  If I exercise more than 30 minutes on eliptical I eat a little more.  I eat about 55% carbs, 25% protien and 20% fats.  I generally don't eat white rice, white bread or white potatoes.  Almost all of my carbs are whole grains, fruits and vegetables.  But I do eat 2-3 dark chocolate hershey kisses a day.  I eat alot of steamed or grilled vegetables every day, I love vegetables.  I truely feel you have to track your intake and your exercise.  It's way to easy to eat more than you should.  I also measure everything on my digital scale.  It cost less than 25$ at Younkers.  Good luck, have patience.

I watch what I eat -- but I don't log everything.  For instance, I use about a teaspoon of olive oil when sauteing veggies or fish/chicken -- I have yet to count that, or log it.  I have had days where I started logging in the morning and by 3 -- not anymore.  It's not that I'm not watching, I'm aware of everything that goes in, I just choose not to freak over everything, and if that means not logging a binge (which, I unfortunately still have occasionally), then I don't. 

I try to keep a 25-25-50 balance between fats-protein-carbs, however I eat more protein on days that I do a heavy workout.

I eat AT LEAST 1500 calories a day -- my sedentary burn in only 1680, so that means that I don't lose fast on cutting calories alone (did I mention, I LOVE food?), so generally 1800-2000 on workout days.  At no time have I ever felt hungry -- the foods I eat fill me up and satisfy my hunger.

I try to work out 3-5 days per week -- and when I work out, I generally burn close to 1000 cals in 60-75 mins (I train more than work out).  I can tell when I have been skipping workout

I make an attempt to eat "cleanly" 80% of the time.  That means no high fructose corn syrup products, I don't add sweetener (artificial OR natural) to anything, very little red meat, generally no fast food, a TON of green veggies, whole grains, fruits, very little processed food, and about a gallon of water a day.  Oh, and about 45-55 grams of fiber in my food daily.

The other 20% of the time, I eat like crap -- it is a little mindless on occasion, and generally not very good for me, but it helps keep me sane.  I'm sure I would be at my goal weight if I was stricter, however I intend to eat this way for the rest of my life, so I'd like to make it as livable as possible. 

I am 42 years old and 5'5'', I started my weightloss in january weighing 198 lbs and am now down to 176.6, I exercise about 30 mins a day with the Yourself Fitness 'game', 6 days a week. I measure everything I eat and monitor this also for fibercount and such, I do have 'off' days that I plan in where I don't really count but not go overboard, I am in no hurry. I hardly ever eat white rice, flour or sugar, not just because it's bad, but also because I get more of a 'kick' out of eating healthy and think it plainly just tastes better, I eat at about the same balance as coach_k, 25-25-50. Hmm, I think that's about it.........

I definitely don't think it is impossible to lose when you are older, it might be harder, but not un-do-able. I think you definitely shouldn't 'give up' on it, yes it is hard work and yes it's not always 'fun', but it is so worth it !