Weight Watchers & Middle Age

[Goldengirl1]

I have read some positive things on this board regarding Weight Watchers.

I am a 46 yr old female and need to lose 20 pounds. I just cannot lose it, it seems like I just don't know how anymore. I have cut back and started exercising but it seems like no matter what I do the weight will not budge.

Anyone around my age had success with Weight Watchers???

[janet23]

I did! I am 49 now, but I started WW when I was about your age and wanted to lose 20 lbs. It worked great and I didn't even exercise, so it probably would have done even better if I had. In the last year I have put back on some of the weight and I am trying to psych myself up to count points again. I know the WW routine--I just need to DO IT! One tip: as with any diet, drink that water!!! Good luck!

[joekerr30]

im only 30 but just my 2 cents worth. as you get older you lose more muscle mass, whichs slows your already slowing metabolism. If your metabolism has slowed with age as well as lost muscle mass, and you only need to lose 20 pounds (suggesting you may already have a low basal metabolic rate) then dieting alone may produce painfully slow results (if any at all.) Keep in mind when you diet your metabolism slows down naturally.

so you may have 3 things going against you big time, which are:
- slowed metabolism from mere age
- slowed metabolism from decreased lean muscle mass
- slowed metabolism (basal metabolic rate) from dieting

It may just be that your metabolism has slowed to the point where you simply cannot cut your calories enough (while still eating in a healthy manner) and lose weight.

my suggestion is to work some kind of muscle building activities into your exercise routine. This may actually initially result in increased weight (as you add muscle) BUT, within a few months (maybe even sooner) you'll have driven a stake through the heart of the three items mentioned above whcih are slowing down your metabolism. Lean muscle mass is everything when it comes to a healthy metabolism (and body).

Everyone is so focused on losing weight in our society and not building muscle (ironically most peopel will lose lots of fat when building muscle). As you age retaining (and even building) your muscle is critical not to just in managing your weight, but also enjoying life 20 years from now. Muscle is what keeps you moving, helps you keep your balance (not an issue now, but in 20 years maybe), absorbs the impact if you fall, etc.

I plan to lift weights for the rest of my life, because when im 80 years old i don't want to break a leg because i didn't have enough muscle to stop myself from falling or cushion the fall should i trip. Oh, and all the activities required to build muscle will give me a healthy heart and circulatory system and prevent arthritis, and a hundred other benefits.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

J

[Annee]

Joekerr,
Can you give us some specifics about weight-training when you're over 40 and in mediocre shape?

[joekerr30]

hmmmm, kind of too much to go in to to give specifics. do a google seach on weight training and you'll find tons of links with lots of info.

basically i'd suggest you buy yourself a couple of 5 pound dumbells and then you can do the following exercises from the comfort of your own home:

- puhsups (chest and triceps)
- crunches, reverse crunches, situps (abs)
- dumbell curls (biceps)
- dumbell flys (shoulders)
- wrist curls and reverse wrist curls (forearms)
- shoulder shrugs with dumbells (traps)

If you are doing some form of cardio (walking, jogging, running, stair climber, etc.) that will work your legs and theres really no big need to do weight lifting with your legs as the cardio will increase the muscle mass and tone on your legs.

like i say though, definitely do a search on google so you can see the full variety of options you have when it comes to weight training.

Perhaps i should use a different term other than weight training as people associate weight training with "pumping iron". Really what we are talking about here is resistance training - ie. any exercise where your muscles are engage in the action of moving something heavy (ie. something providing resistence.) Pushups are just as good as bench presses for example, as both are resistance exercises.

J