looking for friends - 50s and female and getting fabulous!

[frauline_annie]

Hi!  I'm looking for some friends for motivation and support.  I'm 51, female, and working on losing 30 lbs.  My A1c is pre-diabetic so I'm shedding some weight to try and get it under control. 

Anyone?

[Pennalynn]

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@DDFly wrote:
I started the walking but now my knees are bothering me. I was thinking of
doing so cycling so maybe that would help to. Anyone else thinking of
doing some cycling?

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I've been using my stationary bike -- the one that has collected dust for the past three years! -- and while my knees are OK, my butt hurts like heck! Even after I added a gel-cushioned seat cover, I can still only ride for about 10-15 minutes before my rear end forces me off the bike. Ouch!  🙂

[CALEE]

Maybe yall are overdoing it, take an approach to doing exercise (especially if it is a new thing)

Its like eating an elephant, One Bite at a time.

[Helen2478]

I know, when I am close to my 10,000 steps, I make sure I do something to get to my goal! Love my fitbit!

Sent from my iPhone

[DDFly]

Ha Ha to Pennalynn. I can do 30 minutes. Thinking of doing some of both
since I cannot walk everyday (too boring). What I don't like is that if I
cycle (I put my fitbit on my foot) I don't think I get as much steps out of
it. Makes challeges tough especialy when some people can do 20K a day
(Never for me).

[honeygram]

Awww DDfly don't sell yourself short.  I raised my goal to 15000 and everyone thought I was nuts.  Once that became doable and I could make it every day I raised my goal to 20000.  I'm making that goal durring the week at work but weekends kill me.  I try to get a good cardio walk in on Saturday and Sunday since I'm not getting the steps.  I have been reaching 25000 a lot now and will probably raise my goal again. I have to say I love the fitbit.  It keeps me so motivated.  Good luck with your journey.

[ksollod]

honeygram - This is my first post since getting my fitbit in February. Are you getting 25,000 steps a day? That's awesome. I set my first goal at 7,000 which is doable and am thinking of increasing to 10,000 since I hit that most days.

[ksollod]

I've been using the fitbit just for steps since I got it in February. Used the food tracker for the first time today. I don't have a smart phone so getting on the computer to log food seems time consuming to me.

[sunshine518]

If you can tolerate the time it takes, the food tracker feature is amazing. I have been using it since March- and am down 36 of 45 pounds. I love how it simplifies it all by breaking it down to a math problem. Calories in vs calories out. LOVE LOVE LOVE this part. After awhile it is second nature to track...and keeps me accountable.  Good Luck!

P

[ksollod]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sure once I get used to it it will become easier. 🙂 I just found it difficult to log things like the raw tomato I had for lunch. It's been a while since I weighed/measured everything so have to get back into the habbit of that.

[CALEE]

you can tolerate the time it takes, the food tracker feature is amazing. I have been using it since March- and am down 36 of 45 pounds. I love how it simplifies it all by breaking it down to a math problem. Calories in vs calories out. LOVE LOVE LOVE this part. After awhile it is second nature to track...and keeps me accountable.  Good Luck!

I gotcha with the calories and tracking them, yes it is wonderful

But you have been averaging 2-3 lbs per week.  How many calories are you figuring that you have to be in deficit to loose weight?  How many calories a day are you consuming and how much are you walking?

It amazes me that you are WAY ABOVE the norm and very curious as to the plan that you are using.  Please share

[CALEE]

Please share with us how you are managing to lose 2-3 lbs per week.

You are doing wonderful and WAY ABOVE the norm.

What are you eating, how many calories and how many steps a day?

How many calories do you figure to loose a pound?

[Grandmagege]

I was wondering if you are in the yellow on the calories each day or in the green. I'm not losing any weight

[BarbHELLO]

The basics of losing weight is that you need to be 3500 calories less over a weeks time. That is the same as 600 calories a day off.  So I regularly eat around 1800 cal a day. To lose weight I will have to reduce it down to 1200 cals. and that is just one pound a week.

[Pennalynn]

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@CALEE wrote:

Please share with us how you are managing to lose 2-3 lbs per week.

You are doing wonderful and WAY ABOVE the norm.

What are you eating, how many calories and how many steps a day?

How many calories do you figure to loose a pound?

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I'm not the person you asked, but I've lost 18 pounds since June 20. I set my Fitbit for a 50 lb weight loss goal to be accomplished in 6 months (I think the default is one year) so my daily allowable calories never goes over 2000. (And perhaps never goes over 1800). Then I cut out all refined sugar and flour, and cut waaaay back on carbs. I try to keep my carb intake to around 50g/day, but if it stays under a 100g I still call that a win. I also try to get in a couple thousand steps first thing in the morning before I've eaten anything, so that my body will have to pull the energy from my fat reserves and not from the food I've just consumed.

I haven't always hit my 10,000 steps. Some days it's only 7000 or so. But most of the science-based books I've read on weight loss say that what goes into your mouth accounts for 80-90% of your success. You shouldn't exercise to lose weight; instead, exercise to increase strength and mobility, and to keep your heart healthy.

[MaryFolse]

I'm in the same boat....15 down for the year so far....but I got to a point...i'm always in the yellow or even the green zone and NOTHING IS MOVING.  It doesn't help that my MS is acting up  right now either....

Means my ability to MOVE is greatly diminished.  i know that will change, I just wish I could see the my goal to be thin for the rest of my life as reality.

[DDFly]

I also heard that to really lose weight is to watch the calories and
exercise keeps it off once you can get it off. I have been getting on
average 9000 steps but I fell off the wagon over the summer on calories.
In fact gain a couple of pounds. Going to start keeping better track on
Sept 1 (after I take two of my kids to college and I can clear out the
food). I also am starting to do cycling at the gym instead of just walking
to change it up. (I put my fitbit on my sneaker to get the steps to count.)

[CALEE]

It is much harder for us (over 50) to lose weight than someone in their 20s or 30s.

After the age of 40, our metabolic rates slows down and then just creeps.

I have lost a chunk of weight and have been successful in maintaining my weight loss.

I had no problems seeking the insights of an dietician. 

Dont believe the terrific weight loss stories that you read and be discouraged by them.

Your body will respond the correct way when you have everything in sync.

Its all about making changes and incorporating some exercise into your life.

Losing weight is a plus but getting healthy is even better!

[sunshine518]

Hello,
Actually, it's been 20 weeks today...and I'm down 37 pounds now...So that is less than 2 pounds a week average. I have lost something..even a few .4s or.6s all but one week.  I've never been able to lose consistently like that before...in the beginning I had a few weeks that were larger losses...but most have been 1-2 pounds. 
I am following my own plan...trying to put all I have learned over the years together with a lifestyle I can follow for the long term. I have put nothing off limits...but there are many things I choose not to eat...but without saying I cannot have this or that, but rather I choose not to have this today. 
Basically, I try to stay within 1200-1400 calories ..and try to only put things in my body that fuel me..trying to avoid stuff that gives me nothing healthy..but if I want something bad enough I will have it. It's just easier for me to choose good stuff knowing I not only look better but I feel better.
I walk 3-4 miles before I go to work most week days..I intentionally get up at work and walk around the building, or will walk in place 10 minutes...trying to get in 3-4 of these breaks during my work day. I park as far as possible from any where I go..and will bring the grocery cart all the way back to the door when I shop. I walk the dog for a short bit at night when I can...during the week I usually get in 15-20k...a few days going over 20. 
Most weekends I pass on the early morning walks, but will amass at least 10-15k in any way I can.
When I make my goal..8 more to be in the normal range..then 5 or so more for comfort..I plan to walk a bit less and to step it up with more weights and such. 
Any way..It's been something I've struggled with for ever...and I imagine I will continue this struggle forever...but I am done accepting my own excuses..it is easy if you want it bad enough...someone said " if you want it bad enough, you can make anything happen." You will find the time, take the time, make the time, stop accepting your own excuses...and do what it takes...move more, eat less.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

[CALEE]

You are doing great.  I dont know what weight you started at and that makes a lot of difference in the rate that you will lose weight.   Most of the first pounds coming off are water anyways, and it takes longer to start burning the fat off.  Your weight loss will slow down and maybe plateau.

Plateaus can be very discouraging, but recognize them for what they are.  Change it up a little bit.

I know I lost a chunk of weight and inches as well.  When I upped my walking, I gained weight because I was firming up all that loose skin.  That is what is a NSV - Non Scale Victory.  And the inches kept coming off

Good Work Keep it up

[Helen2478]

I joined weight Watchers & got my fit bit there. I will be 69 in Sept. I have lost almost 25 pounds, since 4-23-15. I enjoy walking again and eating the right size portions of healthy food. It doesn't come off as easy as I did when I was young, but I am determined to loss another 20-25 pounds.

Sent from my iPhone