Don’t Just Lose Weight After 60! Keep It Off and Never Be Hungry
Weight loss diets are a big business in our country. There are so many books and diets on the market it could make your head swim.
For the most part, losing weight is simply burning more calories than you consume. However, experts have turned this simple idea into a very complicated process, which has led to lots of people getting rich with their original ‘new diet’ to lose and keep weight off.
Dieting After 60
Going on a quick weight loss diet when you are young is usually accomplished quite easily. You cut back on calories, or you go on one of those quick weight loss diets, and the pounds often disappear quickly. The older we get the tougher it is to lose those extra pounds.
Going on vacation and splurging is great, but coming home to tight fitting clothes is no fun. Retirement often creates more time which we happen to interpret as more time for cooking and eating. Additionally, there’s always the possibility of dining out more often.
As we age, our metabolism does slow down as well as our ability to get out there and work off the calories with vigorous exercise.
My Personal Commitment
Many years ago, I came home from college to find an angry mother. Her words have burned in my heart, “You have put on weight and you look fat.” I had gained 10 pounds and was not fat – well maybe a little round. She took me to the gym and put me on a diet of cottage cheese and other low-calorie foods.
I lost the 10 pounds and promised myself never to gain back weight as I hated being forced to diet and exercise. I came out lucky that throughout the years I only put on weight while pregnant with my two sons.
Resisting All the Temptation
I must admit that eating healthy is very easy for me as I have a sweet tooth that is satisfied by fruit.
I decided long ago that nothing tastes better than fitting into your clothes. And, it is a scary moment when you get on the scale at the doctor’s office and find out that you have gained several pounds, even with your shoes off.
I’m sure you’ve heard many lectures on healthy eating throughout the years. How can you resist a piece of that newly baked pie or walk by a plate of chocolate chip cookies? And let’s not forget that afternoon pick-up when you need some energy. You take just one cookie or maybe two – but who is looking?
The good news here is that once you pass up on the sugar stuff you will feel so self-righteous and may develop a new habit of not giving in to temptation.
My Best Suggestions for Staying on Track
I have put together a list of actions – some old and some new – that have helped me cope with weight gain through the years. I am not one of those people who can eat everything without gaining weight, but I made a commitment to myself, many years ago, that I was going to grow old thin.
So, I’ve had to be careful with what I eat. Many people will follow just about any diet to lose weight. The love of the quick weight loss is still alive and well. However, after going on one of these diets, many of us simply cannot wait to be off the diet to go back to our old ways of eating. Sound familiar?
- Keep temptation (food related) out of your house.
- Eat only when hungry. Monitor this on a regular basis.
- Avoid random eating.
- Stop eating before you get full. Wait about 15 minutes before indulging in a second helping. You may be surprised to find out you don’t want it.
- Keep healthy snacks in the house.
- You can make heathy and wonderful meals without bread, creams or starchy veggies, and they will still taste great.
- Don’t get sucked into whole wheat bread and pasta and think you won’t gain weight.
- Drink lots of water as it fills you up and rehydrates you.
- When hungry have a glass of V8 Juice, low on sodium, and add your spices.
- Eat very hot peppers and you won’t want to eat (just kidding about this).
- Treat yourself once a week to something delicious and wicked.
- Eating sugar on a regular basis causes addiction just like any other addictive substance.
- Have a love affair with soup.
- Avoid non- and low-fat foods (too much sugar, water or additives).
My mother-in-law had a lot of wisdom that she often shared. One of her favorite sayings was, “Nothing stimulates the appetite like eating.”
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What are you doing to lose weight, keep it off and never be hungry? What healthy habits are you establishing in your life? Please share them in the comments below.
unfortunately, i have no willpower when i am under stress. having been thin as a kid, teen and part of my adult life, at 80 it’s not that easy to keep weight off. with health issues exercising can be difficult – i would love to lose 20 lbs without taking that wegovy but it is distressing when it takes forever! anyone have any advice for taking something to curb the appetite that has worked for you and is also not harmful. would love to hear about it thanks
Thank you Carol! Health is the most important. Sugar is a drug. Fruit is life. Eating at night is not good. Metabolism slows way down and it interferes w/ sleep and healing done at night. I lost weight just by cutting out eating after 5pm. I found I could eat what I want at noon to 3 and then just some fruit after that and still lose bc I didn’t eat at night. Lifting weights is so important and so easy to do! I have a home gym. I ride my bike early mornings, fresh air and nature, time alone with God. It’s great. I also do an at home spin class a couple times a week. It really tones your stomach, thighs, butt etc. Thanks again. I pray all find their fitness and become healthy. It’s not hard.
To the author, Ms. Stanley. There is so much disturbing in this article. Your mother reacted to your weight gain with cruelty and criticism, instead of understanding, support and even humor about “the freshman fifteen.” This set you on a path of conviction to “growing old thin.” Words matter. Why is thin better than fat? Do you mean “slim” because “slim” is a positive word, but not meant for all of us. I had many years of “slim” and some gradual weight gain is often a part of growing older–so long as the INSIDE numbers matter (as reader Christine and I discuss below). With some wistful humor, I say, “Well, I had 20 good years in a bikini. . . . ” Many celebrities have allowed their bodies to hold onto some of that natural weight gain because they recognized a few more pounds looked good on them, particularly in the face and neck. Noteworth examples: Morgan Fairchild, Catherine Bach, Candace Bergen, Tina Turner, George Clooney and the olden days Clooney–Cary Grant. The list goes on. Your article gave us nothing new–it is a regurgitation of stuff we’ve heard forever. No, readers, do not live a joyless life where you get a treat once a week. I have my 160-calorie ice cream bar DAILY because I’ve found room for it in my lifestyle and healthy food choices. You admit food choices were easy FOR YOU (no sweet tooth) and that makes YOU lucky. Not so with all of us. I say, “Have a piece of that fresh-baked pie—a small piece. Have that ONE incredible cookie. HAVE the piece of cake at the wedding. Then have smaller food intake the next day and make up for that. We are smart enough to find that balance without “aging thin” which doctors will tell you is not all that healthy anyway. That good ol’ 80/20 rule (80 percent healthful eating/20 percent ‘fun’ eating) actually works.
Hi Catherine (and Ms. Stanley), I agree that so much of the article is disturbing. Body shaming by your mother and your resulting lifelong quest to age thin is actually very sad. The old script that fat is bad and skinny is good is incredibly harmful and incorrect. We need to focus on healthy eating habits and stop shaming people. Everyone’s body composition is different. Just because someone is rounder than another does not necessarily mean they are unhealthy or overeat, for that matter. Time to get up to date on the science, Carol.
Everybody is not different. Healthy is healthy. No excuses.
Well, thats too bad that you xant recognize that healthy looks different on different people. Ive worked with and known healthy and unhealthy skinny people and healthy and unhealthy heavier people. Please stop, just stop, feeding the myth….it’s an uninformed opinion.
Nobody should be shamed but we should all do our part to be healthy and alive for our families. Not medicated and addicted to food. Freedom is amazing.
Ditching the sugar and other starches was the best decision ever. Not only did I lose weight, but my gut feels great and I’m never bloated. I fill up on protein, the fat that comes with it, and non starchy veg. Homemade yogurt with a few walnuts and blueberries are my nightly treat.
I have been using a fitness app since March called Simple. It forces me to track everything. Food Drinks. Exercise and comes with an AI coach. I was skeptical at first and it took several months before I got fully on board.. I started at 211 lbs. I’m at 191 now and shooting for 180 by end of year. It’s slow but good habits are starting to stick. I walk 4 to 5 days a week for 45 to 75 minutes and start a pilates class tomorrow. Wish me luck. I need it theory is getting flabby now and I can’t have that.