Weight Loss, Maintenance, and Age

[BellaHMB]

Good morning!

I have been thinking about the above topic and have a few ideas
and hope to hear from others....

When I was 22 I lost about the same amount that I lost recently (70+)
and kept it off for a long while. (8 years). I reached 144 and stayed pretty much there except when under stress I lost some and weighed very briefly
135 but couldn't maintain it. I was drinking then, lots of parties and such
and eventually my weight climbed to 155 where I stayed until my marriage
was not doing well and I regained. I do account for the gain in that I wasn't watching what I was eating.

Then in 1998 when I was 44 I lost again and reached 160 where I stayed until another crisis occurred. Started drinking again and up my weight went.

In the meantime my periods stopped also

So now I am almost 53 and working very hard at keeping my weight loss!
I don't drink at all, exercise, and monitor my food.

My question is this: can we expect to keep our "numbers" to what they were when we were younger? Do our metabolisms changes as we age?
And I sure know my stomach is alot flabbier than when I weighed the same when I was young! (I do have 25 year old). Actually it's my abs- even though I do sit-ups it seems that there is much less muscle tone.

Thoughts and experiences?

Bella

[JuliaL]

Hey Bella - well, you know I've been thinking about these issues too!

I am actually in better shape and at a better weight now than I have been since I was in my 20's. I started gaining weight after the birth of my third child when I was 28, and it steadily increased until I reached my all-time high weight of 190 at around the age of 43.

Since I was always thin before, I never dieted. The first and only time I've every lost weight was 4 years ago when I started Atkins. I think metabolism does change as we age, and I think we have to watch what we eat more as we get older. Unfortunately we can't eat like 20 year-olds and expect to stay the same weight. But I also think that if we maintain muscle mass through exercise we can eat more and still manage to keep our weight within a healthy range.

Stress, hormones and lack of sleep all affect weight too, so we're all bound to go through periods of fluctuation in weight. I know I will never have the body I had when I was in my early 20's (wish I had appreciated it more then) but I am just trying to focus on being the best I can be at 47. When I struggle with my motivation because I realize that I can't look like the fitness models in Oxygen Magazine, I try to remind myself that there are so many other reasons to eat right and exercise, especially as we age.

[LaurieRobo]

Good post... We all come from different backgrounds....

I was overweight all my life - from the earliest I remember I was in the 170's at 10 or 11 years old... I stayed between 170 and 190 until my mid 20's and dieted for the first time with WW to my goal of 146 for 1 day - LOL and then went back to my old ways...

3 kids and 60+ lbs weight gains with them all - my average adult weight was 170-180 - 230+ pregnant - YIKES..

I have been at goal which was 153-155 for about 5 years lo-carbing, then last summer dropped to 135 - too thin and now back to about 148-149ish...

I am in better shape physically than I have ever been in my life! I run, I hike and workout - I also fuel my body with good food.

It's all about being the best for me at my age and for the rest of my life....

Now for this perimenopause crap - Didn't I just have my period 2 weeks ago... what's up with the more than spotting today!!!! 2 weeks, 6 weeks - I just never know Can't wait unit it is gone for good!!!!

[liza15]

For me weight loss has become more difficult with age. As some one else posted, reference allergies, I seem to have become extremely sensitive to dairy and wheat, MUCH more severe over the years, and have to be careful with these foods. I find I can occasionally enjoy them if I rotate them in small quantities, but not everyday.

[Ailuros]

When I was younger I didn't have any weight problem. I was around 110 - 115 in my 20s and never dieted. Through my thirties a few more pounds crept on. I didn't really weigh myself, but probably drifted up to around 130, then by the time I started LC at 42 I was something like 145. Now it definitely takes attention and effort to stay below 120, whereas I was well below that while eating whatever I wanted when I was younger.

I'm 46 now, and drowning in whacky hormones , like Laurie. Can't tell what's heavy spotting and what's light menstruation. Feel terrible for the first half cycle, then suddenly improve when I'm premenstrual .

And my allergies have got worse the last couple of years too. Instead of taking antihistamines for a few days in the summer, I pretty much take them every day all year round now.

[BellaHMB]

Ah.... AGE! Ladies, you will make it through menopause and feel SO
much better afterwards! Lots of renewed creative energy.

Bella

[Ailuros]

Originally Posted by BellaHMB

Ah.... AGE! Ladies, you will make it through menopause and feel SO
much better afterwards! Lots of renewed creative energy.

Bella

Thank you. I need somebody to tell me that at least three times a day .

[JuliaL]

Me too, thanks for the reminder that life can be better after menopause, Bella!

[Kissa]

60 is the new 40.

I love it (flabby tummy and all).

[Dharma]

I'll add my story here, since I'm wondering the same thing about AGE and WEIGHT!!

I weighed 125 when I graduated from HS. I thought I was fat. I had my first child between my Junior and Senior year in college. I weighed 135 when I got pregnant, and I got back down to 135 after my first two children. A few times I lost some weight, my lowest was 120, but I usually ended up back at 135. I didn't exercise then though, so I was unhappy with my body.

At 34 years old I had my third child. For some reason this time I gained a TON of weight (unlike my first two times). I guess it was the 1/2 dozen donuts a day. I gained 55 lbs, up to 190 at nine months pregnant.

Basically I have not been able stay at 140ish since then. My weight always ends up back at 155ish. I can lose weight, but it doesn't stay off. I gained up to 175 about 4 years ago. I lost down to 155 after being 175 for a year or so.

I weight train now, and I'm in much better shape than I ever was. Last summer I starved myself down to 136. I LOVED being that weight, but I could not maintain it. My hormones got really messed up and didn't straighten back out until I gained back up to 150. It's like my body thinks I need to weigh 150 to be healthy.

I'm at 155 now. I wear mostly size 8's at this weight, some 10's. It's not a bad weight for me, but I just really don't wanna be this heavy. I'd love to be at 145 and just stay there, but that's not where my body wants to be.

It's so hard for me to just claim goal at this weight. I don't really look overweight, but I don't look 'slim' either, ya know?

I've always thought we should be able to maintain the same weight all our lives. I never bought the idea that it was 'normal' to gain weight as we got older. I don't think I'd even weigh as much as I do now if I hadn't gained so much when I was pregnant the third time. It's like that changed my body permanently or something.

I'm not being really low carb lately, just moderate, and I'm watching calories and portion sizes to get me through the holidays basically, hoping not to gain. After that I'll have to make a decision about whether to lose more weight, and what I'm willing to do or not do to achieve that.

I'm not sure if it's worth the struggle for 10 more lbs? I mean, once I lose it, I always think it's worth it, but then the weight comes right back. I wish more people would share that are in their 50's or close to 50. I'd love to hear others' stories.

[BellaHMB]

Yea, it's work to keep my weight at 135-138. But I dont want it to inch higher....!
Ive been eating too many nuts lately- I havent had any sugars, not at all, but nuts
they are calling to me.... I have a jar of almond butter and my deal with myself is one serving per day, so it has to last 2 weeks. Ive been able to do that for 2 months, but I rally have to stick to my plan with it or I would eat too much of it.

Bella

[JuliaL]

Originally Posted by Dharma

I'll add my story here, since I'm wondering the same thing about AGE and WEIGHT!!

I weighed 125 when I graduated from HS. I thought I was fat. I had my first child between my Junior and Senior year in college. I weighed 135 when I got pregnant, and I got back down to 135 after my first two children. A few times I lost some weight, my lowest was 120, but I usually ended up back at 135. I didn't exercise then though, so I was unhappy with my body.

At 34 years old I had my third child. For some reason this time I gained a TON of weight (unlike my first two times). I guess it was the 1/2 dozen donuts a day. I gained 55 lbs, up to 190 at nine months pregnant.

Basically I have not been able stay at 140ish since then. My weight always ends up back at 155ish. I can lose weight, but it doesn't stay off. I gained up to 175 about 4 years ago. I lost down to 155 after being 175 for a year or so.

I weight train now, and I'm in much better shape than I ever was. Last summer I starved myself down to 136. I LOVED being that weight, but I could not maintain it. My hormones got really messed up and didn't straighten back out until I gained back up to 150. It's like my body thinks I need to weigh 150 to be healthy.

I'm at 155 now. I wear mostly size 8's at this weight, some 10's. It's not a bad weight for me, but I just really don't wanna be this heavy. I'd love to be at 145 and just stay there, but that's not where my body wants to be.

It's so hard for me to just claim goal at this weight. I don't really look overweight, but I don't look 'slim' either, ya know?

I've always thought we should be able to maintain the same weight all our lives. I never bought the idea that it was 'normal' to gain weight as we got older. I don't think I'd even weigh as much as I do now if I hadn't gained so much when I was pregnant the third time. It's like that changed my body permanently or something.

I'm not being really low carb lately, just moderate, and I'm watching calories and portion sizes to get me through the holidays basically, hoping not to gain. After that I'll have to make a decision about whether to lose more weight, and what I'm willing to do or not do to achieve that.

I'm not sure if it's worth the struggle for 10 more lbs? I mean, once I lose it, I always think it's worth it, but then the weight comes right back. I wish more people would share that are in their 50's or close to 50. I'd love to hear others' stories.

Dharma - I could have written almost every word of this post. I'm in exactly the same boat as you are. How tall are you?

The lowest weight I've seen since high school is also 136, but that didn't last long. I was able to keep it around 140-143 for 3 years, but lately it's been creeping back up, even though I swear I haven't changed a thing about my eating or exercise. I am also wearing 8's and 10's, eating moderate carb, and just trying not to gain any more during the holidays.

It will be very interesting when I go back to the endocrinologist on January 2 for the results of all the testing she ordered on me. She is testing me for Hashimoto's hypothyroid, Cushing's Disease, and Celiac Disease. She is also testing my B12 levels, TSH, Free T3 and Free T4, Cortisol and Creatine. Once I get the results of all the testing I will decide my next move. If I do not have a thyroid issue or some other reason for the recent weight gain I'll have to evaluate what I'm willing to do, and how important it is for me to weigh 140 lbs.

Like you, I don't consider myself fat at all, and I'm in better shape now than when I was in my 30's, but I'm just scared to death of gaining back all the weight I lost.

[Dharma]

Hey Julia - I'm 5'6 1/2" - only 1/2 inch shorter than you!

I'm anxious to hear your test results....be sure and post them here if you can. I'm curious how hormones can affect weight. You're doing the exact same thing you've always done, yet gaining. That is just so frustrating!!

I'd even be happy to just be 149 at this point, but 155 is just easy to maintain. Well, I say that, but carb creep can really catch up with me and then I start gaining.

I would so love to be a size 6.....but I guess I don't want it bad enough at this point. I am so scared to mess up my hormones again. That was a nightmare!!

I would love to have a bunch of tests run myself, but I'm not really even having any problems, so I can't justify the money.

We'll figure it out eventually!!

[Seal]

My plan is to knock off the spare fat prior to menopause (I'm almost 41 and no signs yet).
This seems to make sense for so many reasons.
1. Since I was 13 years old I've felt like crap at that TOM every month from water retention but less so when I'm eating right.
2. If I lose 20 more pounds I figure it will be easier to remain active the rest of my life and hopefully avoid the dreaded arthritis and hip and knee replacements.
3. Losing will set me up to hopefully avoid the heart disease so many women get about 10 years after menopause.
4. I don't want to turn into an apple like my mother!
5. Dr. Eades says ketosis is a good antidote to hot flashes. I hope so!

[JuliaL]

Dharma - I'm fortunate to have good health insurance that's paying for all the tests, otherwise I would hesitate to have them as well.

Seal - you're smart to get a handle on your weight before you start to hit menopause. I don't know about ketosis and hot flashes, but I do know that exercise really helps me with them, as well as the other symptoms, like insomnia and mood swings. Exercise keeps me on an even keel.

[BellaHMB]

Seal,

I just responded to your avatar (I have 2 cavaliers myself!)

Im 5 ft 7 and weigh 135 so I can see that you might want to lose a few.
What is your new goal?

Bella

[Kissa]

Seal good choice! Be prepared, as they say.

[Charski]

Hi Everyone! I don't hang around here much and I should, because maintainers have a whole DIFFERENT set of questions and problems, it seems!

I maintained my weight for years between 130-135 in my 20's, then got divorced and went down to about 120 for a while, then remarried and went up to close to 200! YIKES! I stopped weighing the day I saw 185 on the scales, but I KNOW it went beyond that!

Tried to lose some myself, and did, then DH wanted to do WW, so started THAT at 174 - lost to my WW goal of 150, then to my personal goal of 140. Maintained that for a bit, got sick and tired of the WW WOL and switched to Atkins (had tried it once before also but without regard to portion control so it didn't work well that time) and maintained fine until 2 years ago, when I overdid the LC baking and went back up to 152. Called a screeching halt, went on induction, got down to 128, and now once again I maintain between 130-135.

During all the fun of the last 6 or 7 years, I progressed up to age 54 where I am now, went perimenopausal, and am now post-menopausal - no big weight problems from it at all - in fact I credit LC to my lack of any really problematic symptoms at all! So I can't say that I think my metabolism has slowed, although in reality it might have. DH and I hike several days a week in a hilly nearby regional park, and I recently added Nordic walking poles to my regime. So in my particular case - age has NOT = slowed weight loss or problems maintaining, nor any noticeable slowing of metabolism. In fact, I feel better at THIS age than I did during much of my 40's!

[Ailuros]

Originally Posted by Charski

In fact, I feel better at THIS age than I did during much of my 40's!

That's very good news .

[BellaHMB]

Thanks for posting, I am 53 and feeling much better than I have in the past!

Bella