Weight loss in older age-groups

Pyxis

Re. Calorie-counting on the 5:2, you don't really need to, at least, only on the fast days, to make sure you don't go over the 500. But if you plan in advance what sort of things will keep you within the 500, it then becomes easy. You can't have very much with 500 anyway!

I never calorie count on non-fast days, I just eat more or less sensibly, and I do have the odd biscuit or cake. That's the joy of it!

On some fast days, I find that it's better to have nothing at all, becomes when I eat the 500, it can act like an appetiser and stimulate my appetite, so that I'm hungrier than I was before! For that reason, if I have to have the 500, I have them in the evening, so if I get too pangy, I go to bed!

For the same reason, I only do the fast days on busy days. Less time to think about being hungry!

ab.da54

margaretclare wrote: »

I've been struggling with weight over the past few years. I was warned about weight when I went for pelvic surgery and hip surgery, then about the risk of developing Type II diabetes. I did manage to lose some weight, got down to about 10 1/2 stone but never managed to get to where I should be for my height. I gradually started to creep up again, little by little by little, another stone then a little more...

About a week ago I heard the name of Dr Charles Clark and got his book from Amazon (very MSE, I paid £0.1p for a used copy!) It's called 'The New High Protein Diet'. And it makes sense. The only time I've ever succeeded in losing any weight, in recent years at least, was when I tried the Dukan diet. Trouble was, that was unsustainable, and I could not live without any bread or any fruit at all.

I've come to the conclusion that what we should eat in retirement is much different from what we were in the habit of eating when we were much more energetic than we are now. We used to need carbohydrates for energy. Carbohydrates turn instantly into sugars and what we don't burn up running around is stored as fat. Why aren't we told all this? Why is it assumed so blithely that we shall inevitably be fat little grannies and accept it as if we could do nothing about it? Whenever we read about weight loss it is inevitably linked with wanting to be slim to wear a wedding dress or a bikini on the beach for this summer's holiday, which is not relevant for the older age-groups. I have been warned over the years by various medical people about the bad effects of weight, but not one has actually given me any useful advice.

Some of the comments/reviews here say it all much better than I could. I'll keep you posted. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...=1&*entries*=0

I seem to have lost a pound since starting this on Monday. We were out for a picnic yesterday to celebrate St George's Day. The 'picnic' we had was actually a darned good meal containing everything - salad, hard-boiled egg, cheese, ham, tomatoes, cress. DH put salad cream on his but not on mine. On the way back we stopped at a Little Chef for tea. I just had tea. DH had toasted teacake. When we got back I had a sliced tomato and a slice of ham. This morning, eggy-onion and one slice of wholemeal bread with butter.

Thank you, margaretclare, I have subscribed to your thread.

Many people find it harder losing weight as they become older so will be interested in your experience following this new book you have purchased.

margaretclare

ab.da54 wrote: »

Thank you, margaretclare, I have subscribed to your thread.

Many people find it harder losing weight as they become older so will be interested in your experience following this new book you have purchased.

Thank you for this. I have had a lot of helpful and supportive comments to balance out the minority of negative ones.

A week since that book dropped through my letter-box and I've lost 1 kg which is 2.2 pounds. Or, two pounds and just over three ounces.

PennyForThem_2

Good luck MargaretClare.

I agree with Pyxis. When I started I used M&S and Waitrose calorie counted meals. I too just was NOT going to calorie count.

The Fast Diet Recipe Book came out and each recipe is calorie counted and there are lots that I love. So I plan an evening meal and make sure I have some in the freezer. I eat recipes from this book during my 'feed' days too. I no longer buy M&S/Waitrose calorie counted meals.

If anyone is thinking of doing this diet I suggest you look at this forum (link below) - some people find the support helpful and they are reasonably friendly lot.

http://www.fastday.com/

I eat what I want on feed days but I have found I don't eat excessively and I eat far healthier than before I started. I do drink wine and beer but I try to limit myself to weekend but mainly for health reasons rather than worrying about the feed days - that is my equivalent of donuts and biscuits.

SevenOfNine

Portion control was my main problem, even bought a smaller plate but then just piled food up like Mount Everest instead!

I used (& still do) Asda prepared calorie counted meals - love them. Stew & dumplings, spag bol, ham carbonara, fish pie, Jamaican bean thingy all in the chiller section but can be frozen and £4 for 2 at the moment.

Of course, that would not suit everyone and you must be aware of other ingredients (salt etc - I'm usually an extremely salt free person for no particular reason). All their calorie controlled meals can obviously be home cooked, but then I'd have a massive portion & kid myself I was only eating 300-350cal.

This is the only diet where I've been able to maintain the weight loss (Atkins was brill, lost a couple of stone and regained 2 1/2). Won't suit everyone but I love it, or rather I love not being/feeling/looking so fat.

One thing I feel I've learnt is that whatever our 'diet' choice, it isn't a temporary thing. You aren't 'on a diet', it is an eating habit change, permanent, and you should not expect to just 'come off it' when your goal is achieved. So whatever you're 'on', if you're struggling then you're doomed to 'come off it' and failure.

I started 5:2 rigidly around Oct/Nov 2012 lost around 21-23lb by Feb/Mar 2013 (slipped a bit at Xmas which slowed my progress, but I expected that), I regain about 6lb on holidays and take it straight back off usually within 2 weeks of returning home and back rigidly on 5:2.

When I'm on my goal/comfy weight the rest of the time I probably eat about 800cal on my 2 fasting days. But I watch my weight and fit of clothes MUCH more carefully than pre tubby time. Yes, I could do with shaking off another 5-7lb but I think that would take more effort (eek, exercise) than this effortless regime.

margaretclare

One thing I feel I've learnt is that whatever our 'diet' choice, it isn't a temporary thing. You aren't 'on a diet', it is an eating habit change, permanent, and you should not expect to just 'come off it' when your goal is achieved. So whatever you're 'on', if you're struggling then you're doomed to 'come off it' and failure.

This is so true. It really has to be a change in lifestyle and that will not happen without a change in mindset. It is no earthly use talking, as some people do, about 'cakes jumping into my mouth' or 'biscuits calling to me from the cupboard'. I can't talk to people who talk like that, as if it was a joke, as if they had no will of their own. They're just a lost cause.

I have decided that, as I'm now so inactive compared with what I was for so many decades, what I don't need are the energy-giving carbs. Very sweet food items no longer attract me, not at all. So I shall stick with what I'm doing. Thanks to all for the helpful comments and the support.

trailingspouse

Totally agree that weight gain in older people is, well, just different.

I'm 53, and had a hysterectomy 7 months ago. Until now I've never, honestly never, needed to diet. At 5'8" my natural weight was 7 1/2 stone from the age of 14 until I was in my mid-40's. After the kids were born, I was back down to 7 1/2 stone within 3 months, without trying. Sickening, I know. Then my weight crept up to 8 stone, 8 1/2 stone, 9 stone. I was happy with this as 7 1/2 was very skinny, and at 9 stone I actually had boobs...

But now I'm heading past 9 stone and struggling to stay below 9 1/2 stone. I'm still active, scurrying around renovating a house, looking after the granddaughter, I walk, I do Pilates. And my diet hasn't changed. But nevertheless the weight is going on. I'm just about at the supposed 'ideal' weight for my height, but for me, I feel heavy, and my granddaughter just poked my belly... And there's no guarantee that the weight gain will stop here!

It could just be part of the ageing process, it could be (probably is) related to the hysterectomy. But either way I'm going to have to either come to terms with being heavier, or embark on my first ever diet.

[Deleted User]

I have been reading through the different mails and have found it very interesting . Until I was in my 40s (a good while ago now ) I was 5'4" and 9.5st wet through.Then I had a hysterecomy and the weight started to creep on gradually over a period of time.I retired 19 years ago and it had piled on a bit more by then.
I lost my dear OH almost 11 years ago and it went down slightly for a few months then started creeping back on by the year almost. I never really noticed it much as I look after four of my grandchildren before and after school and so am kept quite busy. I went through a mastectomy in 2007 with chemo and r/therapy and various treatments that lasted a year and by that time I was far less mobile than I used to be as my joints were also not working very well due to osteo-arthritis. Last year I had the all clear from the breast cancer (you don't get that until you have finished the drug therapy and five year are clear from MRI's and bone scans etc ) I saw the plastic surgeon in August and he said he would do a three part reconstruction for me if I could lose the weight Apparently he wouldn't do any surgery until I had got my BMI down (46) as it was dangerously high and a general aenasthetic was too dangerous. Having been weighed I was shocked at how much I had gained over the years. Over double my weight from the age of 43 !!!I was found to be 18st 7lbs !!! I looked like a weeble :) I went to see the diet nurse at my local Drs surgery and bless her she was wonderful.I came home with lots of good advice and a regular weight weigh-in once a week at first then fortnightly.I have since lost in total 2st.7lbs and feel so much better for it .

7 weeks ago I had my first of three ops for the reconstruction.My Dr was so pleased at how I had done, and stuck to the sensible eating plan ,no fancy foods or special meals just lots of fruit and veg gallons of water and three meals a day .I don't snack between meals and gave up bread altogether.I have bran flakes and a banana for breakfast Lunch is usually HM soup and crackers (I put low fat soft cheese instead of butter on the crackers with a sliced tomato on top).Dinner is usually either a large salad with lots of green veg ,beetroot and chopped peppers for flavour (I find someimes salads can be a bit bland so instead of salad cream I add a dollop of sweet chilli sauce (not too much though :))
Pudding is usually fresh fruit salad or as yesterday I had some chopped apple mixed with plain low-fat yoghurt.
I eat steamed fish with large quantities of steamed veg and have a sardine salad at least once a week for the oil which is good for my joints.I am still losing around a lb+ a week and as the diet nurse said aim to lose 12 lb in 12 weeks if you can as losing it gradually will help to keep it off. I no longer finish up the DGC's left over bits and I am very careful about stuff now where I used to just throw it on the plate and scoff almost on the run as I do lead quite a busy life (for a retired lady I have five different clubs that I go to as well and the children to look after )I think that when you find what works well for the individual then stick to it.I certainly will never be that weight again and it may take me a year or so but it is going to come off.If I have a family function to go to or a Christmas I may eat a little more but last Christmas I actually went to several family 'do's' and in January had still lost 2lb. Also as I lost the weight I got rid of my 'fat' clothes so there is no way I am going to go back to the size I was My BMI is now 35 and its still high but its slowly coming down Weight can creep on as you get older and less mobile.It so easy to comfort eat when you feel down or a bit fed up with life and think that a cream doughnut will cheer you up.Its easy to gain weight and hard to lose it but its so well worth it when you feel so much better.I fine my joints hurt less than they did as I'm not carrying two and a half stone around extra on them.I feel far more alert and energised than I did 6 months ago.So if you really want to do it ,you are the only person who can make that start and with effort and determination it can be done I did mine to get my body back and to stop looking and feeling like a blob.If I can do it, anyone can
Good luck to anyone who wants to give it a go.It took a long time to get that big and it won't come off overnight.There is no quick fix its a long term objective.
Hope this has helped some of you a little bit
Cheers JackieO xxx

Mrs_pbradley936

I like this approach to slimming:
http://www.wellnessresources.com/weight/articles/the_five_rules_of_the_leptin_diet/

mgdavid

zygurat789 wrote: »

The topic is moneysaving or am I on the wrong board>

yes you are, now go away like a good chap, somewhere else please.
you've already said this thread does not apply to you so why you continue to argue and antagonise is a bit of a mystery;