How do women over 60 get in shape?

[Shelley]

Hi all!  I am starting this thread to help all the ladies from our old forum get started up again over here in the new place.  Hope you all find this thread.  Getting in shape after 60 has its own challenges especially when you have lost muscle, have slowed metabolism and hormone changes.  How are you getting and staying fit?  What s working for you?  

[roking]

I am in the same boat!!! I have never felt this bad. I am hoping i can make
some great changes this year.

[Sunnylane]

Hi Kathy,   Its almost a year later,  I read a post you put on this list in Feb of 2014.  Two  kidney surgeries. wow  How are you doing.?

[annmaureen]

I'm 57 and last January (Jan. 2014) I decided I had to get in shape, I mean really in shape. I was going to the gym, and halfheartedly riding a stationary bike. Needless to say I saw no improvement.

Then on a fluke a friend asked me to run with her for 3 very slow miles in January 2014. Surprise, suprise I loved it, so I kept doing it. Unfortunately for the first 5 months my lungs burned, my knees and hips hurt, and if I ran too fast ( which for me was barely more than a jog) I felt like I would vomit. Somehow, I kept it up and now I truly adore running, and I feel fantastic all the time (no pain, and I can easily breath when I run). I just love it. In December 2014 I completed my first half marathon.

I got a fitbit for Christmas, and I feel like it is taking me to a whole new level. I really do pay attention more closely to keep my walking and running up to a certain weekly level. Since I need to rest on certain days the daily goals are not really useful for me. So my question is: is there anyway to set up weekly goals rather than daily ones? I would love to hear from any other runners about their experiences starting to run when they are almost 60 or over 60.

Thanks.

[TutuM]

I just started wearing my Fitbit this past Tuesday. I walked for 1hr. 20 minutes on the treadmill yesterday. I was encouraged when I saw the little lights get to 4. Then it went back to 1 dot! Frustrating! Therefore my info did not record correctly on my dashboard. I workout with a trainer 2x a week for thirty min. Which doesn't register steps or calories. She wants me to walk for 4 hrs. a week plus one other day on the machines. Help!!! My dashboard is not correct. I am discouraged when my hard work doesn't show up. Please give me some advice, especially why my reading went from 4 to 1 dots. Thanks!

[mom23sons]

I find that the Fitbit Flex does not do a good job of tracking your steps on the treadmill or bike. I take it out of my bracelet and put it in my sock, same side I wear the fitbit. It is much more accurrate and it almost identical to what the treadmill says. I have also compared it against my Endomondo readings and they are very close when I use it in my sock! Good luck!

[billbettie]

I love what the fitbit has help me do I have lost from 149-124 I workout
everyday one day a trainer and then Zumba and bodysculped I am now in 0
pants and small tops!! Most day I get over 10,000 steps I love how it
motivates me to keep moving!!

[sunshine2299]

Hello to All......1 week with Fitbit and  Love It.  My Fitbit Buddy is my cousin in NYC (I am in FL).  Today I am going to my 1st ever Yoga class.  Looking forward to it but a little intiminated.

[JoyceM]

Just wanted to give you some encouragement for your yoga class, don't be
intimidated by yoga. I have been doing yoga now for about 3 years but just
once a week and our teacher is always telling us that when you do yoga, do
what you can and don't worry about not being able to do it all. There are
also adjustments that can be made to most poses for those that are
beginners. I hope you have a wonderful time - enjoy 🙂

--
*Joyce M Rivera*

[gink54]

So good to see other ladies, such as myself, still trying to find ways to keep as active as we can. My kids are so much smarter and started so much earlier than I did.  New to Fitbit. Had mine about 2 weeks and love the challenge of having accountability (even if only to myself) of food intake and steps/exercise. It has certainly made me more intentional in what I eat and do. 

[sunshine2299]

Thanks Joyce.  My yoga is going good.  2x a week.  I like it so far.  Working on my balance.  So important for us "Mature Ladies".  Have a good day.

[sunshine2299]

I like to challange myself, too.  I was not much for team sports so this is just perfect for me.  Keep up the good work!

[GrammyMax]

I am not on here chatting much but have been wearing my fitbit since the day I got it.  Sometimes I forget to go to sleep mode or come out of sleep mode but it does encourage me to move.  Yesterday was a total wash because I felt like I was coming down with something and I was freezing all day so I was on the couch with a blanket most of the day.  Today I seem to be okay so maybe I just needed a day of nothing!  I took it anyway 🙂  I am researching the Mediterranean diet - although it seems that I have been trying to eat this way for a long time anyway.  Can't wait for fresh fruits and vegetables to be back in season! 

Have a great weekend.

[tishtx]

Hi everyone.  I got a Fitbit Zip earlier in January but just now figured out how to post in the community.  I don't really know anything about the groups part of the community so I think I'll just stay here.  I'm 63 and have a desk job.  I go to Curves to workout 3 times a week and follow the Curves eating plan.  I have been doing that since late September 2014 and have lost 23 lbs. so far.  I really like the Fitbit.  It has made me more aware of my need to get up and move.  Since I got it I have started taking walking breaks at work twice a day.  So far I haven't gotten up to 10,000 steps a day but I did get a exercise bike for Christmas and am riding it at lease 20 to 30 minutes a day. 

[billbettie]

I go to a gym everyday and I have a trainer twice a week. I have just got
the new Fitbit HR. it is wonderful.I like the other one
I had but this one is great I think it is more accurate in counting my
steps. The most steps I have done was 2500 we were at a football
game and we do not park close. I also do Zumba classes and Pilates I have
lost from 149- 124 I started in Aug. Fit Bit is a great encourager to me. I
am 71 and want to keep going strong.

[bscmem51]

Hi

How current is this forum? I have seen messages from several years ago. I am just getting motivated again to use my Fit Bit and try to loose weight. I find it difficult at times to log all the information in and then I can't always find the foods that I need in the list.

[GrammyMax]

I understand that! Logging my food is hit and miss! I am not always near the computer to enter as I eat. I would love to be organized enough to enter for the whole day and then actually eat what I log😚

Sent from my iPad

[dwilliams2759]

Thanks Shelley,  So glad to find this group and having the discussions.  Look forward to hearing from more of you.  I am from WI so lots of snow and ice here right now but make the best of it with my threadmill and diet of good healthy foods.

[cwmoenke]

Hi,

I am over 60 and needed to get in shape.  I have hypothyroidism and was going from pre-diabetic to diabetic.  I needed to lose weight.  Two years ago I joined WW on-line and started counting points.  I began losing weight SLOWLY.  A few months later I found the Flex and purchased it. Seeing my activity level and joining with my daughter, I got the incentive to get more active.  I purchased the Leslie Sansone 3 mile walk and exercised at home.  Two years later I am down 86 pounds and no longer diabetic. The fitbit gave me the motivation to keep exercising and dieting and more inportantly to challenge myself to keep active. With the fitbit, I know that by keeping track of my exercise, I can keep the weight off.

[kwow]

Just read your post on Fitbit and want u to know it is giving me hope that I too can do this. Like you Im trying WW again with minor success-- at least not gaining. Slow loss is better than no loss. I have Leslie tapes and TODAY will dust them off and use them. Congrats to you and a big thank you too! Angela

Sent from my iPad
Angela
VRBO.com/53498

[gink54]

keep up the good work. I heard on the news lately that it's more dangerous to your health to be inactive than it is to be overweight.