I am 54 and have been 20 lbs overweight for 4 years. Before that - my whole life I have always struggled with extra weight.

I just started my weight loss journey and am tracking my calories - (focusing on low carb - high protein). I track EVERYTHING on the "lose it" app. I can enter my foods on my computer or phone and they sync with each other. If I have 10 almonds - I write it down. It is amazing how quickly everything can add up and it has been SO enlightening to see why the weight was not coming off. I also stopped my daily 2 glasses of wine which I NEVER thought would be possible.

I also learned about the podcast "weight loss for busy physicians" - and wow! I am on the right track. I have lost 5 pounds and already feel SO MUCH BETTER!!!

I'm 50 and menopausal. After gaining 15-20 pounds over the past few years, I was getting really discouraged. Six months ago, I quit drinking and lost 10 pounds without changing anything else. Last month, I started jogging and lost another 5 pounds. I tried drinking in moderation and walking - neither worked for me. Fortunately, I found a program that did without dieting or fasting - yuck! I also drink lots of water and try to get 8 hours of sleep a night.

I will be 50 early next year. I lift weights as heavy as most of the men in my classes, and do so on a daily basis, in the 10-12 pound range for a good hour at a time. Body Pump or more typically a class format of weights mixed with intensity cardio. It has leaned me out, not bulked me up, such that I have the thin, muscular build of a dancer. The mix of daily lifting and high intensity cardio -- for at least an hour each day -- has brought my weight down to 127 lbs on a 5' 9 1/2" frame. Before I started lifting I weighed 154 lbs., and that was about 2 years ago. I often add a second hour of daily exercise, that is dedicated to more restorative type exercises like yoga, dance, or barre class, depending on the day.

I am 58. Nothing has worked for me. I (5'2") weighed about 104 my entire adult life, Then, I gained 25 pounds in my mid forties and have never lost any of it. It won't budge.

I work out everyday. I refuse to starve -- i eat 3 healthy vegetarian meals a day, probably 1500-1800 calories. I love to cook for myself and my family. No candy, no soda. Very few if any processed carbs but yes wonderful fresh local fruit.

I see women my age with stringy necks and unnatural thinness. I saw 2 yesterday at Starbucks and balked. Yuck. I prefer myself at this weight than ever looking like that.

Going out for my daily 4-mile power-walk now. It takes an hour. I sweat like crazy. It keeps me firm and rosy-cheeked and happy but not thin. BTW, I have great legs.

Interestingly (to me), I met my husband after I gained all this weight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You basically have to give up eating at that age to stay slim.

PP and this is all so depressing. I'll try to eliminate my daily banana and or fruit smoothie.

I know, I am fed up with it. One morning after trying for so long I weight myself, and I am 3 lbs down! with 2 lbs down in week prior I was like yey! So, five lbs right! progress. So, I had a lara bar cherry pie one, otherwise I am meat and veggies all the time, and then ate clean. Two days after scale was back 4lbs even though I watched calories but ate carbs from that Lara bar(They are around 200 calories so it shouldn't push me over my limit, right? I am like screw this! The only reason I am trying is that my weight is in my belly.

Fruit smoothies are mostly sugar. Give that up. Over 50, you need the potassium from the banana. Keep that.

Anonymous wrote:You basically have to give up eating at that age to stay slim.

PP and this is all so depressing. I'll try to eliminate my daily banana and or fruit smoothie.

You basically have to give up eating at that age to stay slim.

Anonymous wrote:NP! 49. Female, 5.5 height, 130 pounds. Menopausal. This is the heaviest I've ever been. Was 122-125 for a decade.

I don't even recognize my body. Joined an expensive gym. Since late June, I have been working out at the gym on rower, treadmill, climber and ellipticals for total 50 minutes, 4-6 x week. Last night I ran a mile, then walked 2. Also just started weights, but am starting w 10 lb. and doing reps.

I am GF. Eat a vegetarian diet. Abstain from alcohol. Trying IF on weekends.

I hate how I look in a swimsuit. My work clothes are tight around my hips and former waist. Gone up a bra size.

What am I doing wrong? I guess I thought I'd notice some change by now...

I'm sleeping better. Can now run...not having hot flashes so often...feel like cardio health has improved. But still feel like my body has betrayed me!

It’s because you have to give up most fruit and all sugar.

NP! 49. Female, 5.5 height, 130 pounds. Menopausal. This is the heaviest I've ever been. Was 122-125 for a decade.

I don't even recognize my body. Joined an expensive gym. Since late June, I have been working out at the gym on rower, treadmill, climber and ellipticals for total 50 minutes, 4-6 x week. Last night I ran a mile, then walked 2. Also just started weights, but am starting w 10 lb. and doing reps.

I am GF. Eat a vegetarian diet. Abstain from alcohol. Trying IF on weekends.

I hate how I look in a swimsuit. My work clothes are tight around my hips and former waist. Gone up a bra size.

What am I doing wrong? I guess I thought I'd notice some change by now...

I'm sleeping better. Can now run...not having hot flashes so often...feel like cardio health has improved. But still feel like my body has betrayed me!

I'm early 50s and low thyroid, too.

I run three miles 3-4 times per week. I am not as speedy as I was in my 20s, but I still do it. I also walk our dog twice a day for 30 minutes. It has kept my weight within range for my height. I do not snack between meals except for a small 4 p.m. protein snack (a piece of cheese, a yogurt, a small handful of peanuts). I let myself have a small dessert in the evening. You have to live a little!

I think the key at this age is to set a food/exercise pattern and stick as much as you can to it. Buy a Fitbit and set some basic goals.

I am not yet 50 and it is not easy, and I am not overweight, just trying to lose some 10lbs, for 5 years! As in I legit have to starve myself, and I watched many videos of " success"stories, most are younger women and the underlying fact is that they all starve themselves or a re allusively not eating most of the time and limit their calories severely, which might still not work for a woman out age!
Here is success without any keto or such" She ate every other day, as in she didn't eat for 36-40 hours every other day, and then the next days she stayed in her burned calories range.
Story on keto, ate less than 1200 calories per day and faster for 24 hours several times per week.
Story on carnivore, fasted for 16 hours and had one rib eye steak not too big, when not fasting.
Veggies, eat nothing every other day, and no carbs and just green veggies...
You get the picture, I recommend exercise and clean eating, I find that is the only sustainable option.
I don't know if it is worth living this way when you are hungry and weak all day long.

The podcast “weight loss for busy physicians” by Katrina ubell is your friend

You don’t have to be a physician

*2 lbs

I have similar stats as you. Last year I cut carbs 1 week then sugar the next and introduced 16:8 fasting. I also walked about a mile or 2 a week. All these changes helped me loose up to lbs a week. You need to drink a lot of water. First couple of days is hard because of sugar withdrawal. No alcohol either. I’ve kept it off and feel great, I stick with eating veggies and a protein all day.

The book “The Fast 800” was what guided me and the authors BBC videos on You Tube. After watching the video (Dr. Michael Mosley J I thought no way is this going to work, it did for me.