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?  

[DonnaJ]

Ha Cande, don't be sorry.  I should really say sorry because of my own frustration.  I'm really kinda confused as to getting around here sense I'm kinda new here but I had looked for your post several times to say I'm sorry for snapping back so quick.  If you knew me you would have said to yourself "I know that wasn't Donna who said that"  😉  I'm really a pretty easy going person although I don't like this getting old thing.;-) and it does get frustrating sometimes.  I know you didn't mean any harm so how about giving me another chance.  A good friend at my TOPs meeting died that morning too anmd I had just saw her being a retired nurse when I saw her monitor I knew she was pretty bad and I had begged her to get her flu shot.  I teach several groups on Facebook "To keep from losing my mind" '=)  so I think it hit me harder than I realizes.  Didn't mean to write a book Cande but I am sorry.

[Chamois]

Cande let us know how Zumba goes. I tried it once or twice. It was fun but hard for me to keep up. I am sure it will be a great cal burner! You really sweat! and thats a good thing....

[yogini-gayle]

Glad you're feeling better and that you're forging ahead in spite of the challenges. Good for you!

[SusanC]

In a study reported this morning on MSN:

"This is the first part of an ongoing study, and the first paper to look at the patterns of activity and sedentary behaviors," said lead author Eric Shiroma, a researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston.

"Some research says that sitting for long periods is harmful and the recommendation is that we should get up every 30 minutes...

"You have to mentally transition yourself when you get to the end of taking care of kids or working. You have to change and find other activities," she advised. "Tell yourself, 'This is a different point in my life. I need to look for other outlets of interest now that my kids no longer need me and I'm finished with my job.' Go out with friends, volunteer, get involved with your church, go back to school. Don't wind yourself all the way down."  I'm thinking my fitbit is helping me get and keep active for longer and longer periods.  Remember, they can't bury you if you're still MOVING!

[Shelley]

Thanks for reporting that study, Susan!  And glad to see you back here!  The rowing sounds excellent too!  I love it that you didn't let that ankle injury slow you down too much and found a way to keep active anyway!  

[Mauitn]

I'm new to Fitbit and to the discussions so will try to find my way around and figure out how to use this site.  I'm over 60, retired and inactive, and have lost and gained pounds over and over again.  Now would like to lose a few pounds, but more importantly is firming up, gaining muscle, and endurance.  I'm tired of dieting and weighing and any type of exercise is going to have to be fun (or at least enjoyable) for me or I won't stick with it.  Where's my magic pill?  LOL

[Shelley]

Hope everyone had a great day yesterday!  Welcome Mauitn to Women Over 60 forum.  Many of us have lost and gained over and over and this is a place for inspiration, support and information.  Come as often as you like and let us know how you are doing.  The Fitbit has been a real help in motivating me.  I love being able to track my activity, setting and meeting goals, and having Fitbit friends to cheer and receive cheers from.  

[Suzy]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a newbie.  Over that 60 mark.  Trying to be more active and taking off at least 30 pounds for a start.  I go to Curves and Zumba.  Love the Zumba classes.  All the ladies are over 60 and we have so much fun.  The first place I've been where everyone helps each other.  Tried a gym, but the like to have killed me.  Kept trying to tell them I wasn't 30 anymore, but they had me trying to do things that were just impossible for my arthritis riddled self.  Curves is just what I needed, and the Zumba class offered are helping so much. 

Wishing you all well in the battle.

[Shelley]

Welcome Suzy!  Glad you found the discussion and there is also a group in the Activity Groups section for Women over 60, if you want to check it out.  Sounds like Curves and Zumba are great ways to get fit.  Keep us posted on how things are going.

[SusanC]

It seems to me that the best thing to do with all the food and treats left over from our Christmas party is to take it to a shelter.   We had 18 good friends, and everyone cooked for 20, so if my math is correct, we should have had enough food to feed the original 18 plus another ...oh...about 400!  Waaaaayyyy too many cookies, fudge, bars, candy and oh that ham....mmmmm.  Plus another 3, yes 3, roasts, 3 kinds of potatoes...veggies galore, homemade rolls (hungry yet?)...what WERE these people thinking!  So it went bye bye this afternoon.  My only regret is that I took the car instead of walking it to the shelter.  Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!  Let's add a few more steps in our routine tomorrow!

[Suzy]

Susan, I'm grateful that I had to go north for Christmas.  So all those goodies stayed at my sons house or left with people who live close to him.  Unfortunately, that was not enough.  Yesterday while driving, I had a chocolate attack.  I drove fifteen miles without stopping and then I just couldn't take it anymore.  Yes, I stopped and got a dark chocolate bar.  Figured I should get credit for at least eating dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate!

[Daylight]

Can't wait to be heading home this weekend. Will finally be able to charge up the fitbit. Looking forward to hitting the gym and preparing my own meals. Routines are so important esp for us gals who want to lose a few. Lol. May we all have the best of health happiness and fitness in 2014.

[SusanC]

Suzy, never fret! All indications point to dark chocolate being VERY good for us...as a matter of fact, wine and chocolate are my favorite antioxidants!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

Actually, for my chocolate fix, I mix a tbsp of dark cocoa in my smoothie every morning.  nom nom! 10 calories, and goooooood!

AND, about 20 minutes hard walking will work most of that candy bar off!  Sometimes we just gotta!

[Suzy]

Well Susan I forgot to tell you that it was a 4oz candy bar and I ate the whole thing in one sitting. I thought you were only suppose to eat only 1oz. So, I guess I don’t need any chocolate for the next 4 days. I will try that cocoa in my whey protein.

[Shelley]

Have you guys tried raw cacao (yes, that is the correct spelling!) powder?  Basically it is raw unprocessed chocolate and it is full of antioxidants and perhaps natually occuring caffiene.  I cannot use it at night or it keeps me up.  But I have noticed it is a mood enhancing agent.  I don't get that same feeling with a dark chocolate candy bar or cocoa.  Not sure why but I always notice feeling happier and in a good mood after a tablespoon or two of this stuff!  LOL

Makes a nice substitute for a milk shake.  I put it in unsweetened almond milk with 1/2 frozen banana and one or two medjool dates or a few drops of stevia extract and blend in high speed blender.  Also make hot chocolate by heating up the almond milk first in microwave, then blending with the cacao and dates or stevia.  If you throw in a few raw cashews it makes it extra creamy.  And I just watched a video about how good nuts are for you and not as fattening as one thinks.  Here a link to the video is you are interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3USUwx6KIM

[SusanC]

Shelley, you can bet I'm gonna try that!  I'll see if I can get it at Sprouts or Trader Joes, next time I'm out...which may be very soon!

[Judith]

Cheers, Girlfriends!

Great fun that our 'Over 60 Women' thread didn't evaporate into the blogisphere with all the rearranging on FitBit!  I am so happy to find you all back again after my break and find out you're still stepping with vigor.  Thanks Susan for pointing me the way to it.  Now all I have to do is sit down and read thru to catch up with everyone and say Hi! to all the new gals too.

I am back from France and we had a lovely time.  I even broke a couple of my step records, reaching 16000 steps a few times.  Seems that when I can walk down the Champs Elysee and look in all the fabulous shop windows I can rack up steps in no time!  And not a fat French lady in sight, so I'm sure it's their secret to staying fit--just walk down the street and see all those gorgeous clothes and that will get a girl motivated to slim down!  Can't say that I lost any weight but I didn't gain much either.

Now back to reality.  Sent our last Christmas guest to the airport with the extra Buche de Noel and will make a nice light supper of salad and left over filet tonight.  Also found time to walk today to clear the cobwebs (or is it a holiday hangover?) from my brain and write down my 2014 Resolutions that of course include stepping up a storm.  

Anyway,  it's nice to be home and I missed all my girlfriends here on the thread!  Happy New Year!  Judy

[Dardar]

Hi,

I'm new to all this and am enjoying it very much. Just got the force fitbit 2 weeks ago so I'm still learning.  I have been on a routine for 6 weeks now and have lost 8 pounds. Almost one lb per week which is a good healthy way of losing weight.  I started at 148 and am 140 now. Now goal is 130.  I also use another phone app called: loseit   That's what I originally started out with. I'm trying to transition completely to the fitbit, but it's a pain.  I'll do it little by little. I encourage everyone to keep up with the hard work!!! And it is hard work. It's a way of life if you want a better quality life. We all need to encourage each other... Blessings!

[runnergirl318]

Hi Shelley~

Weight lifting is the key.  You don't have to lift like Arnold S but weights will help you gain muscle which in turn burns more calories than fat.

[SusanC]

Judy, welcome home! I envy your travels to France, LOVE Paris! I'm impressed that you were walking so much but the Champs E. is a great way to do it. Did you go to Mont Marte? (my favorite). In any case, again, welcome home and the new year holds many promises for all of us!

I feel like I'm back in the work-out routine every day, but still don't completely control my carbs...not buying any more! Whole wheat bagels...YUM!...just too many calories and carbs. Company and ham for supper...doesn't sound EXACTLY like I mean it...although I'm guessing they'd be pretty tasty!