46 and needing HELP!

[hallz4u@hotmail.com]

I just joined because I am 46, I'm 5'3" and I weight 140, just lost 12 pounds but my doctor says I need to get to 125. I get stuck at 140. Right now I walk 5 miles a day, ride the stationary bike for 15 miles at various levels and sweat like a pig. I have cut out almost all bad carbs and eat right around 1200 calories a day. I do put muscle on pretty quickly so I have been told to lose the weight first then get back to the weight training.

How do I get those last 15 pounds off and has anyone else had this problem?

I am desperately trying to do this the right way and don't expect miracles overnight but I have stopped at 140 for almost a week now.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by hallz4u@hotmail.com

I just joined because I am 46, I'm 5'3" and I weight 140, just lost 12 pounds but my doctor says I need to get to 125. I get stuck at 140. Right now I walk 5 miles a day, ride the stationary bike for 15 miles at various levels and sweat like a pig. I have cut out almost all bad carbs and eat right around 1200 calories a day. I do put muscle on pretty quickly so I have been told to lose the weight first then get back to the weight training.

How do I get those last 15 pounds off and has anyone else had this problem?

I am desperately trying to do this the right way and don't expect miracles overnight but I have stopped at 140 for almost a week now.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

I'm not entirely sure why the doctor is set on you getting to 125 lbs unless it's for an operation which must rely on weight alone. But, it's bodyfat that is the important thing to reduce and when we exercise our weight (good, lean tissue weight) may increase, for one thing, when we lift weights our bone density increase, which is a very good thing; muscle is also denser than fat so a person can weigh more but be slimmer. I'd have another talk with the doctor and see if you can come to some agreement about using waist size as a better gauge, still in conjunction with taking your weight, and explain these points to him/her.

Interval training is supposed to be a more efficient exercise for both weight loss and fitness, but apart from what you're already doing, there's not really a lot else to recommend...apart from keep up the great work

Oh, and welcome to RWF

[Padz2003]

Hi

I echo the comments of the previous post but wanted to make a point regarding age and finding the best thing that works for you.

I am 45 and have been exercising regularly for years. Until I reached 38 or so I could manage my weight effectively with cardio exercise. However, after that it just didn't work and my weight increased considerably. I managed to shift some weight by myself using weightwatchers but found the last stone really difficult. At this point I was only doing cardio. Then a semi-professional bodybuilder got hold of me and introduced me to a weights routine that could be implemented alongside cardio. It has worked, I shed the last stone and by changing the routine slightly every 4 weeks to relieve boredom I have remained the same weight for a couple of years now and have a much better shape.

Personally I think the weights routine is important and I am surprised that the suggestion for losing fat without it is made by your doctor. As the previous post suggests I would ask to discuss this further. Currently my routine is weights 3 times a week followed by 20 minutes of cardio. If I can make it to the gym more than 3 days I will do a 45 minute low intensity cardio routine. This suits me and manages my weight (alongside a sensible diet of course!) but you have to determine what is right for your body. A good personal trainer should be able to help you with that and determine a routine that strikes a balance and 'wakes' your body/metabolism to reshape you and lose whatever weight you need to achieve the look you want. It is harder for us older ladies especially if you are a late starter but stick with it and I promise you weight training, if done properly, will help.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

[beautygrl09]

Hi!

Honestly, I'd have to recommend a greater cardio workout if you need to lose weight. Some vigorous workouts can be really hard on the body though, which makes it harder to work out the day after. I really enjoy fun workout videos featuring things like dance, which is a great cardio workout. My personal favorite is Mirabai Holland's videos, which are specifically catered towards middle-aged women. You can google her if you'd like! Hopefully this helps, and good luck.