Hi, I hope someone out there can help me!

[sidneyworm]

Hi, I'm new to this website/forum. I need to lose 1 1/2 - 2 stone and am seriously struggling and just don't know what to do next. I eat around 1500 calories a day, walk for 40 minutes 5 days a week, swim 2 times a week and attend a swimfit class once a week but lose no weight whatsoever. Until I reached 40 I was never more than 9st 4lb, but the older I get (now 51) the more I weigh and I can't seem to shift it. I currently weigh just under 14 stone and am 5'9. I spent my life as a 10 or 12 but now my size 16s don't fit and I really don't want to go to a size 18. Can anyone give me any tips as to what else I could do. I asked my GP and she says there is nothing she can do as I'm not obese, just overweight and to eat less and exercise more - I don't have any more hours in the day to exercise (I forgot to mention that I also do floor exercises - stretching etc some nights). I look forward to any helpful replies I may receive! Many thanks!

 

[Spinner19641]

Hi & welcome to the forum.

I am 48 years old and I have learned the older I get the harder I have to work at maintaining weight. For me this means a vigorous exercise programme that involves intense cardio, strength training and complex core work (using a weight ball) 5 - 6 days per week PLUS I have to eat a very healthy diet with no room to indulge much.


It's tedious but I do a lot of public speaking work so I am motivated to stay a UK size 8 - 10 at 5ft 9".


But I cannot stress enough that it is truly hard work, takes a lot of discipline and, if I didn't have to get up in front of loads of people, I'm not sure I'd have the motivation.


I think you probably need to up the intensity of your exercise considerably. The upside is you will probably need to eat more calories in the long run (providing you stick to healthy choices). You don't need more time to exercise, you just need higher intensity. I use a spinner bike for 45 minutes plus 25kg bar and 10kg bar bells with a 5kg medicine ball and do 1.5 hours 4 times a week and 1 hour 2 times a week.


But the frustration is that at our age the body wants to retain more fat due to hormonal changes plus simply the aging process.


If you want it you really have to fight for it.