Fit by Forty!
 

I'm 39 and plan to be fit by forty! I did it 3 years ago and plan to do it again. It is so hard for me to look at myself in the mirror. I know in my heart that I am double the size I was three years ago. I lost 40 lbs. in 3 months then. I can't get myself to get on the scale, but I am wearing a 1x now. I have been on a diet a week now. I'm seriously depressed over my weight gain. I would love to have a "diet buddy" to talk to and compare notes. :)

Hi jenn and welcome to 3FC!

Hugs
Michelle

Thanks!

I am so impressed by your weight loss! How did you do it???!!!

Thank you so much :)

I count calories, I eat healthy, nutritious foods and I exercise :)

How many calories a day? I am on a low fat diet. That seems to be the one that works for me. It's just doing it. I think I just love food too much...I'm only in my second week; but that is better than still eating everything I want to.

Hi Jenn, I started my (most recent but truest) journey to a healthier being last year right around my 38th bday.

this august will be my one year anniversary of maintenance.

stick around, it's all good :)

You'll do great! I just did the same thing last year for the same reason, and we started a similar size. It's a great gift to give yourself.

Do you have any suggestions for meal planning/exercise?

You are right; weight loss is a great gift to give yourself. That's a great way to think of it. It's hard to stay on a diet though. I'm just not totally dedicated to diet mode yet.

I do calorie cycling. My range is from 1200-1600 depending on what activities I am doing that day.

I have never heard of calorie cycling. hmmm....interesting. Do you exercise every day? If so, how long and what type?

I do cardio 1 hour 5-6 days a week and strength training 3 days a week (upper, lower, core).

Hugs
Michelle

:wave: Hi Jen,
Welcome aboard.
I too wanted to be fit & fabulous before turning 40 & by golly I done did it! I am now 42 and still rockin the new and improved me. You can do this, with a lil effort all things are possible. For me working out daily and weightlifting keep my pounds at bay. Best of luck to you, pick a food plan and exercise plan and follow it thru and you can also be fit at 40 and beyond.. YOU CAN DO IT! :D

Thanks, Sunshine! Living in CA I'm sure you are in your bathing suit a lot. That's great will power in itself. Today is day 8 for me. I think I'm having a difficult time because I am still mad at myself for gaining all of my weight back. I worked out every day for 5 months and dieted myself down to a size 6. I guess I have to get over that and take one day at a time. What are your dieting strategies?

Thanks for introducing yourself to me. I really could use some support right now. I watched a film my husband took of me and my children yesterday. I literally busted out crying in front of my family. I can't believe how big I look. I am mad at myself for gaining all of my weight back. I worked so hard to get to where I was. Here I am again....right where I don't want to be as far as weight goes.

You'll figure it out. Do expect to do 100% from the first instant in anything else you start / learn / change?

Hi, Jenn. I'm new here, too. I just started AGAIN this past Friday. I have lost all the weight before as well, and here I am again. I turned 40 in January, and for a while, I was telling myself, you know.. I'm 40. I'm tired of constantly worrying about how I look, I've earned being able to eat what I want. Well, that's just dumb, and I finally realized it. I want people to look at me and say, WOW. She's 40!? :D

We've both done it before and we can do it again. I think this is a great place to start. Hopefully we can support and motivate each other. :)

Hi! You are absolutely right...we can do it again. I know that we can. We gained our weight back again. I never thought I'd do that! It totally "snuck" back on me. I had compliments every day when I was thin. I don't get them anymore. I actually got sick as far as my nerves went from dieting too extreme and exercising too extreme last time. I won't do that again. Lesson learned. I would love to be here for you for support and motivation; and happy that you feel the same. p.s. I love to cruise myself!!!! :)

Late 30-somethin' here and I made the same decision just over a year ago. You can do this. I am a PM away if you ever wanna chat!

I so understand about not wanting to get on the scale. I was a couple of months in before weighing the first time. I had been qualified for additional life insurance in May '09 and it required a physical. I had to get a copy of the papers to figure out my starting weight. I wouldn't even let the nurse say the number--I just looked away.

Don't "diet". Make changes that you want to dedicate yourself to lifelong. Get activity back in your life and DAILY. Make changes in your cooking to support a thinner body. Take care of yourself the way you would your very best friend visiting from afar.

Same here...I really think having someone to talk to about your diet frustrations is helpful! By the way....my thighs are never gone even when I diet myself down to a size 6!! I swear I can never get them thin....exercise and all! :?:

Right now I even refuse to be seen in a bathing suit. Maybe by the time Summer is over! lol I guess I will have to go to an indoor pool after my weight loss. How does the South Beach diet work?

Hi jenn! I, too, am a yo yo dieter. About 5 years ago, I got to my goal weight and since then I have managed to put it all back on and about 40 additional pounds. It happens. Don;t beat yourself up over it. Now is the ti e to make a change. YOU CAN DO THIS!

BTW, I am 3 years away from 40 and would love to be looking fine by then!

Like Sunshine, I am on the South Beach diet and I love it.

I hope everything goes well for you! Do this for yourself!

My problem is my upper thighs....hard to hide those!!! :o I use the wraps...I found one a few years ago that you can actually get wet. It is hard to find those in a longer version though. I will definiately check out the South Beach Diet Forum! Thanks for the advice!:)

Nice avatar!!! I have a thyroid problem which doesn't help matters. My metabolism is slow. But...I can lose weight as long as I am exercising. It's just staying dedicated. My sister is coming into town tomorrow for a few days. I think it will be tough staying on my diet.

My BDay is April 8th. I still have time!!!!! :D

You're hysterical! :) I had a great dinner tonight. I went to Chipotle Mexican Grill for the first time ever. Got a salad with corn, peppers, onions, cilantro, chicken. No dressing. There was something spicy tasting too. Loved it...Did you work out today? I'm about to soon.

My friend loves Jillian Michaels! There are Jillian Michaels exercise programs on our "on demand" telelvison. I'll have to give them a try. I currently use the treadmill (which I have at my home). I don't go on it long; only a half hour a day. I also use small 5 lb. weights to shape my arms.

I totally agree that chasing the kids around, cooking and cleaning is a great form of exercise! I have two chldren myself. :)