I've noticed a few of us are somewhat more - mature - than the rest of the posters, so I've decided to start a 50+ thread to discuss the problems and challenges of doing low carb as we age.

Both men and women are welcome here. I realize that some topics will be more for one gender at times, but still, I think we need to address some of the issues that affect our general health and weight loss, regardless of whether we are women or men.

This is also a place to vent and let off steam when you are frustrated. We are all of an age that we can handle it with calmness and maturity - usually!

Any news items you find that directly relate to our age and woe would be greatly appreciated.

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Nita

I'm not yet 50 (49 1/2). But surely have experienced some of the aging issues. Can I play too?

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To think is to create!
So What? Now What?
Tom
Restart LC 7/05/08

You bet, Tom! I'd love to hear about your challenges. I know you've had a few.

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Nita

Everything slows down ... well, except for time, which seems to pass more quickly the older I get.

But, seriously, my metabolism (which was already skewed by the type2 business) has definitely slowed down. I've had to adjust my way of eating over the years. Kind of like aiming at a moving target. I know what works until it's not working as well, so I re-adjust. Such is life.

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Yay! You started a thread for us! Can you think of some discussion topics under this headline that would be appropos?
Exs. What's different about this age group and weight loss than other age groups and when do those factors begin? Or~is it a myth?
Is there a point in time when all the things that you "got away with" before come home to roost serving as an underlying factor to difficulties encountered?
How about exercise and muscle tone--what are the realistic expectations for 50+s?

Just thinkin'.

I've always read that exercise can build muscle, regardless of age, it's just harder as we age.

I have deleted several things from my diet that I used to be able to eat, or have had to cut back. I used to be able to have an occasional potato when we ate out, and still lose, but, alas, no more! The occasional low carb treat used to be no problem, now I have to have them rarely. I no longer drink sodas on a regular basis; they make me crave more sweets.

For me, I have definitely slowed down. I lost much faster before menopause, but now it's extremely hard to just stay in one place, let alone lose.

On the bright side, I am much healthier than I ever was, my arthritis, while still a problem, is not nearly as bad as it has been in the past. It's much easier to control now. I no longer get acne, but that's probably more menopause-related than diet related. I don't get major cravings anymore, just the occasional twinge, which is usually easily handled. And I have much more stamina than I had before I lost 75 lbs.

For my husband, this is the ideal way to prevent diabetes. Both his parents had Type 2 diabetes, and his mother died from complications of the disease. They also both smoked, but DH never has. His blood sugar is perfect, and he is now 57. His weight dropped 40 lbs, but he's gained back about 10, and he's trying to get that off again. He is extremely healthy, takes tap dancing lessons once a week, has for the last 3 years, even danced in the annual recital! I don't think he would have considered it before he lost the weight.

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Nita

It's definitely much harder for me as well since turning 50. though I guess it started becoming noticeable in my 40s. Entering my food intake and exercise into Fitday.com They say that I should burn 3000 calories without exercise. I'll gain weight on 3000 calories. Even with exercise. In my 20s a diet was an 8 to 10 week process. start a diet to lose 25 and within 10 weeks later I was at goal. Anyone have any insight as to how much worse this will get.

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my blog

Happy to join in, Queen Mama. Good idea! Experienced losers have a lot to share.

As a lifelong yo-yo, I've always struggled with weight issues. My difficulty has always been just plain over-eating. Too much food, and an unwillingness to make a long-term commitment to real change. So over the decades, the gains got greater, and the losses got harder. Up and down, up and down. 20, 30, 40, and finally 50 lbs. to get rid of. When that last low-cal/low-fat commitment wore off, I discovered low-carb. And so far, that has been the key to weight management heaven for me.

Over the years, I made on-and-off again forays into fitness activities. At 33, I ran a marathon. I was one skinny gal. Ate everything in sight. But that level of exertion is truly hard to sustain, and I fell back into old habits.

Now, at 60, I'm healthier, fitter, and feistier than ever. Bit by bit, I built my good habits into...well, habits. Finding ways to keep moving is second nature to me now, and the LC lifestyle is the new normal.

What do I struggle with? Mainly the idea that commonplace food pleasures will always be pretty much off limits to me. It's not that I NEVER get to have ice cream and cake. I just always have to weigh the consequences. But when I start thinking about how "unfair" that is, I try to remember to hold it up against the truly unfair things of this world, and it doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Or broccoli, in my case.

Having a place like this Forum to hunker down and philosophize helps a lot. I'll surely be checking in from time to time.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Barb is exactly right... as we get older, if you make bad choices it seems like it takes longer to repair the "damages". At 67 I have found, if I skip exercising very long, I lose the muscle tone very quickly. Consistency in all areas is very important, consistency in eating healthy and consistency in exercising.. and wow, is that hard sometimes... and the older we get consistency, consistency...

It's nice to see more of us "mature" ones jumping in here!

I found an interesting site about exercise and aging, and how important it is to keep our brains healthy. It emphasizes that an active senior is in better health than a sedentary youth (duh!). Anyway, it's a short but interesting page.

http://pweb.jps.net/~prichins/aging.htm

There's also an interesting blog by Dr. Mary Vernon, who used to work with and write with Dr. Atkins.

http://rjr10036.typepad.com/askdrvernon/

She has some thoughts on slower weight loss with menopause.

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Nita

Another interesting article about aging and weight loss:

http://www.womenfitness.net/weight_longitivity.htm

Yep, it's a whole lot of work to just stay where you are, and even harder to lose after 50. We might not have the greatest bodies (well, some of us might not), but at least we have lots of wisdom. Sharp wit should be a lot more important than a flat tummy.

Another site that has interesting info on exercise for over 40s is http://www.strongover40.com/

She has a few exercises demonstrated on her site, tells the importance of exercise as we age, and has stuff for sale, too, of course.

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Nita

I found an interesting site with a huge PDF file on the importance of exercise as we age, and it's not a one-size-fits-all thing; it actually stresses how each of us are different and what is easy for one person could be quite strenuous for another. It's from the National Institute on Aging.

http://www.niapublications.org/exerc...deComplete.pdf

I'm not sure that I want to print out all 88 pages of this, but it can be viewed fairly easily on the computer. It sure gives us food for thought, and really stresses the importance of regular exercise, especially strength training.

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Nita

Nita, are you currently exercising regularly? If so, what kinds of exercise do you find most comfortable? Most effective? Most fun?

Same questions to other participants in this thread.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

No, I am not exercising. I did all summer, but right before we took our NY trip, I got out of the habit, and never got back. That's why I've been perusing sites looking for something different to try, something that will strengthen my legs so that the arthritis is easier to bear. I got up to 30-40 minutes on my Gazelle at least 5 days a week. Just have not been able to get back to it regularly. No excuses, either, just facts.

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Nita

I work out on weight machines and do free weights... eliptical and treadmill.... I am very fortunate and do not have any arthritis or bad knee... I didnt really start exercising until I was about 63.... and if you workout regularly even in your 60's you can firm up..but also, if you don't keep it up, you will lose the firmness quickly.