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?  

[SunsetRunner]

Feeling like a slug today - no gym... out shoping with daughter, breakfast out, just hitting the mall trying to get some Christmas . but my heart is not in it this year ... hate all the commercialism!

[zapleahy]

Hi Pam,

It looks like this was the name you entered on the login page when registering for the new community. Probably intended to be a search phrase, and now it is your unique forum username. I'd be happy to help you change that to your preferred login name and will follow up by private message momentarily. 

Great to have you here!

[Linda]

In answer to your question Shelley. I think that an all gender inclusive over 60 thread is a great idea! Having said that tho, for me personally, I find that other women understand my issues as only another over 60 woman could and would hate to lose that feeling of ease and support that I get from this women only thread. Would it be possible to do both threads?

[Carol]

I agree with you, Linda.  I have nothing against men, but I do feel more comfortable discussing private matters like weight, etc, with women.   They seem to understand our problems better.

[Walkergirl052]

I also agree with Linda and carol

[kflannery]

I don't have a preference..sometimes it is nice to get a male point of view....

[Chamois]

Wow so much activity hard to keep up. Really ate to much yesterday and then nibbled again tonight. i have to get rid of food that is not good for me.  Not doing very well but not stopping. 

[tallson]

I now think this is a tougher issue than I first thought. I can understand
how some women would feel uncomfortable discussing weight issues and other
sensitive topics in mixed company. Also 60 is a rather arbitrary
number...if you were 58 would you feel excluded? I have been an active YMCA
member for many years. The friends I have made there are mostly female but
I have little experience on a message board such as this. This seems a
valuable font for information about exercise, diet and the use of Fitbits
so I am all ears.

[Shelley]

Thank you to everyone for posting your wants and needs for our group.

Tallman, you said you are new to these forums so I don't know if you were over on the old forum area but there were hundreds of groups over there.  There was a Women Over 50 group with even more participants than our group and ones for other ages as well.  I really do not think the issue about feeling excluded would have come up because there were hundreds of groups and people were starting new ones everyday.  People would just put it out there "Hi, I need friends and want to lose 50 pounds" and others would start posting to that thread.  There were no delimas for the 58 year old woman or for the over 60 men.  Everyone could find any number of groups to be a part of.  Everyday, new threads and topics were popping up.  If someone didn't see something for them they posted a new topic.  There were groups for everything you can imagine, different illnesses, different challenges, losing weight, gaining weight, you name it!  I don't know where they all went, maybe they went to the Groups section when this new forum area opened.  I am thinking since this is a new forum area that has only been open a few days, there may be an absence of groups that meet everyone's needs so it might seem like there needs to be more all-inclusive groups.  But I feel very certain that give it some time and they will emerge!  And anyone can start a group or topic.  So if you identify a missing need, you can start something up!  I have only had the Fitbit for 3 months.  I started participating in this group shortly after I got it.  It doesn't take long to get the hang of it.  I really love this Women Over 60 group and that is why I volunteered to help get everyone moved over here, because I didn't want to lose this group.

For those interested in coed groups, until something emerges in this area, you might also want to check out the Groups section.  There are several possible groups that might fill the need.  

[Shelley]

Today was both a good day and not so good.  The not so good part is that I haven't been getting my walks in and feel like I am off track.  Also, I have a cold and that doesn't make me want to go walk in the cold rainy weather or do much else.  The good part is that three months ago, I set a goal to be able to get back into a pair of jeans two sizes smaller by Christmas and I was able to wear them today!  Yippie!  And I also decided to go ahead and buy the Force.  I have the zip and it doesn't record sleep or stairs.  So, I am excited about getting the Force.  I ordered it off amazon and should get it next week.

What is everyone doing this weekend to keep moving?

[Carol]

Confession time.  Yesterday I stood for 4 hours at Christkindl Market and my legs and knees were really sore.  I stopped at a grocery store on my way home, but my mind went blank and I only bought random stuff like whipped cream, butter, cottage cheese, frozen green beans, probiotic coconut water and Lindor truffles.  THe problem was the truffles.  I just love them and this was the first time I've had candy for a while.  Needless to say, I mindlessly ate them while driving.  Good thind I had the probiotic water to wash them down--maybe they won't cause quite as much damage that way.

Today I am to go back to the show to sit and knit.  We are having demos in our meeting place with spinning wheels, looms, knitters, etc all working to let people know how the items are made.  The problem is that we are expecting about 8 inches of snow today.  So as far as exercise, I am again screwed.

I don't know about the rest of you, but for me, I hope to maintain and not gain too much over Christmas, but I really don't expect to lose.

BTW, this is the type of thing that most men don't understand.  I think men in general lose weight more quickly and have more conviction because they are not tempted to stray like women are.  Women have so much to do that sometimes it is difficult to find an hour in a day to actually devote to exercise, and let's face it, we are surrounded by foods and must prepare it for our families and that makes dieting more difficult.

[Shelley]

Carol, I think we can all relate to doing that "mindless" munching in the car.  Been there, done that!  And chocolate!  OMG, I just can't eat it at all or my addiction will take over.  That thing about "enjoy one square of dark chocolate" does not work for me.  The one square turns into two and then "Oh what the hell, just eat the whole bar!" LOL!  Mindless munching also happens in front of the TV.  It is totally killer to getting to a healthy weight.  My husband and I got into eating in front of the TV and I know that contributed to a lot of weight gain for both of us.  We now eat dinner at the table and talk to each other.  I find that I eat slower, and eat much less doing that.  You are also right about men losing faster.  My hubby is not even trying to lose and eats a lot more calories than I but is losing right along with me because I am cooking healthier meals for dinner.  He still eats his eggs and bread and pancakes and such in the morning and sandwiches for lunch. Me, I am doing green smoothies and salad.  He told me this morning he lost another pound.  I am actually glad he is losing but I couldn't lose if I ate like him.

[Shelley]

Just walked for one hour!  I was doing that everyday and fell off the wagon.  Just checked my log and December 3rd was the last time I walked that long.  I hadn't even realized that.  Even with the Fitbit, one can slip into mindlessness.  I have noticed that I have a pattern.  Get motivated and really get into healthy habits and then after a few months start slipping and then eventually totally return to the old ways and gain everything back.  But I am learning that doesn't have to happen.  There are many people who have made lasting life style changes and I love to read success stories.  They inspire me to keep it up.  I am determined to get into a healthy BMI and body/fat ratio.  And I have a long way to go even though I have now lost almost 25 pounds.  Now to go Christmas shopping and get some more steps!  We can do this!  Lifestyle change is the mantra!  Remember that!!!  Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

[Walkergirl052]

Shelley...good job on your hour walk! We all have good and bad days I had one yesterday darned pizza!
I refuse to give up on me ! Yes, we can do this with all the support and inspiration on these boards.

[Shelley]

Thanks Pam!  I just decided to start a Holiday Challenge.  I posted it over on the Weight Loss section but the challenge is to either lose or not gain anything through the holiday up to Dec 31st.  Maybe this will help me and any others who want to do it, not to keep slipping.  Check it out if you are interested in participating.

[Carol]

Great idea Shelly.  That is just what we need--either a loss or no gains until New Year's Eve.

We are in the middle of a big snow storm here in the East.  I didn't go to the Christkindl today because I was only to be demonstrating and I figured they wouldn't miss me.  I saw online that there were already several fenderbenders by 10am and I didn't want to get into that.  It would have been a 10 mi ride each way.  As of now, I think we probably have about 6 inches of snow and it is still snowing.  I love to watch it snow.  It also makes Christmas so much more beautiful when there is snow on the bushes and trees that are lit up.  But it's not good for walking.  The eating gets worse, too, when we are stuck inside.

[kflannery]

I too find that it is best for me to just avoid my foods that I have a special weakness for....some people can have a treat, but for me it is a slippery sope..i don't miss them so it is fine.....I am convinced that my efforts to lose weight before were short lived because i was "dieting"...I have lost 76 pounds without dieting, i just adopted a new life style of eating...I don't buy any special foods, just sensible choices of things  and portion control.....balance this with exercise and it works......This I will be able to maintain and i believe that is the secret.....

[Walkergirl052]

I agree with this isn't a diet...it's a lifestyle change with exercise and I plan on enjoying the journey. I feel so much better without the junk food I don't keep it in the house either. Have a great night everyone!

[Daylight]

I found it. Thanks for the help. Left charger at home so am fitbit less for the next few weeks. My granddaughter and dog are keeping me actively walking. I have found myself tired more often and believe it is the weight .

[Carol]

I'm glad you finally found us.  I know how frustrating it can be --  I'm not to techno savy and I often can't figure out what I'm doing.  Gets me in trouble with my personal techy--my son-in-law.  Everytime I get into trouble, he says where did you go this time?