Weight loss in older age-groups

yangptangkipperbang

The human body is a machine - albeit a very clever one.

It needs energy to run. That is provided by food. The energy provided by food is measured in calories (sorry to use this so old-fashioned term - but that is FACT).
As you get older you (usually) require to consume fewer calories than you did when you were younger - due to a different life style.
The ONLY way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than you use.

All the "crackpot" diets are there to sell books/DVDs - nothing else. Some of these diets may work - you can eat vast amounts of raw rhubarb on the "rhubarb diet" and lose weight - but that is only because it is low in calories - until you add lots of sugar and crumble - and custard

It becomes even harder to lose weight as you age, as your body requires even fewer calories to keep going. When you are 40 you may need to cut your calorie intake by 20% - that may well rise to 40% in your 60s.

whitesatin

I am pretty active in my retirement, I think.

Last year I decided to try and lose some weight and just cut down on calories. I never starve myself and eat a bit of everything. I lost (and have kept off) around 2 stones. I could do with losing a bit more but have decided not to as I feel that I look much older than I did before I started as my face was the first place to show the weight loss and the skin hangs a bit now.

I have decided now that I will forget about counting calories or considering too much how my diet is made up - it is fairly healthy anyway but, perhaps, too much of a good thing, at times.

Anyway, now I have decided to tackle things in a different way. It will cost me nothing at all as it just involves getting out and about more, walking mostly. As long as I don't reward myself with a coffee and cake at the end of a walk, I reckon it should work.

Life is too short to count calories obsessively any more or, indeed, to follow any prescriptive diet.

zygurat789

kittie wrote: »

This thread is very applicable to the over 50s, It is a pity that some people only come on here to provide destructive criticism but I suppose that is easier than providing constructive help
This thread may be applicable to the over 50s, I don't know it doesn't apply to me, but this is NOT a board for over 50s, it is a money saving for over 50s. If you want me to be constructive, take it to the Arms.

I, unfortunately, am one of those in that group who find it extremely difficult to lose weight but then I was born during the post war rationing years when my mother was on enforced poor rations. My body does very well on very little food so I could survive a famine. I do not eat a lot and have just sent for a book relevant to my blood group AB+ in the hope that eating certain foods and omitting others might help

Yes this thread is money saving in that eating the wrong food is a total waste of money and not cost effective. Btw I may be far too overweight but at age 66 am not on any medication and can still ride my bike without getting too puffed. My eyes are bright and my skin is clear with a healthy glow and for what it is worth, my mother was in a large ward of stroke patients, all of whom were thin. I don`t fret about being overweight, there is no point. I am happy and have a very happy and fulfilling life
How long did you have to scrape the barrel to come up with this? Anyway this is money saving for anyone, not the over 50s so it doesn't apply.

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retiredlady

Interesting posts, although I am amazed at some of the rude responses. What happened to being nice to people?

pollypenny

I suppose MC's thread can be considered MSE as she told us about the very cheap diet book.

I find it hard to lose weight now, although I'm very busy in retirement, most of it involves sitting down and talking! ( well, discussing books, poetry or topics). Tai chi keeps me supple but doesn't really burn off calories.

OH is such a good cook, too.

zygurat789

retiredlady wrote: »

Interesting posts, although I am amazed at some of the rude responses. What happened to being nice to people?

I take it yiou are refering to me.
Why is it that you think it is rude to disagree.
I have a point of view which I know is valid because no one has proved it wrong.
This kind of post has no place on a money saving board and should be kept in the Arms

That's not rude.

desert_rose

Interesting thread as there are a number of us in the 50 + age group who have to watch the weight.

Like Margaret, I'm a petite person who easily piles on the pounds.

What I heartily recommend is to avoid processed food as far as possible and anything, but anything, that has added sugar.

You'd be amazed at just how much foodstuff has added sugar in it and its this more than any other factor that causes weight gain in several experts opinion.

Since cutting out all forms of sugar (except naturally occurring sugar in fruit and vegetables), I've lost most of the excess weight - maybe another five pounds or so to go - and this is since January when I was a good stone and a bit overweight.

Hubby has lost nearly two stone but he's also been on the 5:2 or fast diet and was diagnosed pre-diabetic prior to beginning the new regime.

What's neat though is that its easy, affordable and a real eye-opener when you scrutinise packaging in supermarkets to discover just how much sugar is added to seemingly innocent looking produce.

Give it a go and you'll see a difference in just a couple of weeks.

margaretclare

Thank you for the above. Just a few people, like yourself, are on the same wavelength.

I've been warned about the risks of developing Type II diabetes, which is an added risk as you get older. Seeing what DH does day in day out is something I'd prefer not to happen to me. He's been coping with it for 30-some years.

Yes, I agree with the added sugar, the pre-made foods. I was recently told that 'all foods have nutritional value'. I noticed in the supermarket this morning that you can hardly avoid the big notices all about KrispyKreme doughnuts. I've no doubt that they have 'nutritional value' but I wouldn't dream of buying any.

whitesatin

Margaretclare, I enjoy watching that Secret Eaters programme and always think of it whenever I pop some of my grandchildren's tasty leftovers into my mouth. It is so difficult as we are surrounded by food and temptation. I was brought up on an unhealthy diet and it has been a bit of a battle to get a balance but I do try. I still have the tendency to beat myself up over what I eat but, as I said, I try to keep as active as I can while I still can. I suffer from back pain and how I cope with things is very dependent upon how that is affecting me at the time. It is the same with Pilates which I try to do at home as I can't really afford class fees but, whilst on a "good day" I have the energy and enjoy it, on my other days it is such a struggle. We can only try our best.

PennyForThem_2

Getting back on topic:

I have found 5:2 diet absolutely sustainable and it is free. Skip the next bit if you are aware of it.

(You eat normally (not over eating but whatever foods you want) for 5 days but restrict your calorie intake to 500 for a woman and 600 for a man for 2 days.)

I have lost 3 stone on this diet and maintained it for 2 years.

What I like is the total flexibility of it. The fact that if you eat or drink something 'bad' in your 5 days it really does not matter. You can go 4:3 - you can not eat anything if you want for your 2 days. You can eat 3 small meals a day on your 2 days or just one.

Yes, there is a cookbook associated with it - but the recipes are tasty and practical and I actually use them for everyday eating.

I have changed my eating habits - but I have not given up alcohol - that was a not an option.

I walk more and I use Fitbug to help me. This measures my paces so I know when I have done 10K and I have worked up to doing this - yes, 5:2. I tend not to do 10k at weekend but more like 3k

I am 5.5 in height and 10 stone in weight now (give or take a couple of pounds either way). Until that iconic Panorama programme in Aug 2012 I did not 'do' diets. But I lost some weight do to death of OH and felt better for it. So the fact that little calorie counting and flexibility really appealed.

I eat more healthily and I eat less as I feel full sooner. When I retire I will eat main meal lunch time - I do this at weekend and on holiday and tend to eat only one meal a day.

Good luck with losing weight - it does take persistence, and it does mean cognitive training (right word? - where you train your 'expectations' i.e. if you always have an afternoon sweet snack you 'train' yourself not to by substitution or changing routine).