Why didn't I listen?

     I suppose, if I think about it, I could reason why, when we get older, why losing weight is so much harder! Why didn't I listen, , to those, other wise people, before me?
     Ah! youth, we think we know it all, why didn't I listen? I have been experiencing stalemate after stalemate having, to work harder, for what once was a little effort, but there's still Hope, I live, I still am alive.
     Have you noticed, it getting harder, as you get older? How are you handling it? (making it work?)

Twilight 

A sharing moment

Hey Twilight, I know it sucks but it's a simple fact of life, weight loss gets crayzee hard once you go through menopause.  It's the ratio of estrogen to progesterone and testosterone that makes you estrogen dominant.  That weight is gained especially in the belly and hip area.

Another sad fact of life is that yo-yo dieting has it's toll on weight loss, too.  Every time we start a weight loss program and then go off and gain weight we eat away at our metabolism.  That's why some people can go on a plan like Weigh****cher's or Jenny Craig and lose a lot of weight, but when they get off it, gain weight, and try again later, the weight takes much longer to come off because your metabolism thinks it's going back to starvation mode and doesn't want to give up it's stored energy (fat).

We CAN lose weight, it just takes us longer and we have to be more patient and a lot more active.  Once we reach this point, exercise becomes crucial to burning that stored energy.  I'm handling it but it ain't perty!  Hang in there girlee, knowing the problem is the first step in dealing with the problem but it still doesn't make it any easier!

Mary

I'm glad you posted this because this is exactly how I thought I was going to feel, but I'm finding no problem - at this time. Maybe in a few months if I hit a long plateau or something.

I try to never compare myself today to what I did in the past. I just turned 56 and I'm thrilled with the amount of weight I'm losing now. I'm losing about 2 pounds a week which is a healthy loss. I don't think I would do more if I was younger. Now to be honest, years ago I lost 100 pounds in 6 months on Medifast - I don't think I could do that again but not necessarily because of my age but because I just can't stomach another weight loss shake in my life and I don't want to give up food again.

What I am concerned about is what will happen to my skin - last time everything went back into place and looked good - I'm certain I won't be this lucky this time.

Skylar

edited to say that I'm post menopause.

I've been talking to my daughter about this exact topic a lot lately.  She's falling right into my footsteps.  She just moved out so it's scaring me to death that I can'****ch her and talk her out of that extra helping that she so often eats.

Why don't we listen?  Because kids are stupid and stubborn!  Thing is we stay that way for a longggg time.lol  I am finding it a lot harder the older I get. Plus my stress level as I get older doesn't seem to be helping me one bit.

Sometimes, as parents, we have to just sit back and bite our tongue while our children learn from their own mistakes. Unfortunately some of what they learned from us is our bad habits. If you can make those changes, she will be watching and learning even though she and you may not realize it at the time. BTW, I bet she is going to do well and you're worrying because you are her mother and love her and want only the best for her.

Not all stress is bad - but when it is bad it raises our cortisol levels which makes us hungry - so you have to find a healthy way to deal with the stress so it doesn't sabotage your healthy eating. Easier said than done LOL.

Skylar

Have i????  oh yes. I know it is not impossible, but crap alive, it is difficult. How I am making it work is to accept it without becoming completely complacent. Which means I still try every day to do what I know is right by choosing well, planning well, and moving.

I need so little food now, Atila the Hun did not have that kind of resolve to eat this little. On top of it, even my workout are less effective. I saw a pic of my normally tight butt - NOT.

I spent yesterday with 7 other over 45 ladies who say the same thing: we are acquiring cellulite in places we never knew we had.

Sigh...but as I say i am getting to where I care less on how I look as how i feel!

PS:  I am in early stages of menopause:  no TOM for the past 6 months.