My right weight.....

[Pie4me]

Most of you that read this 50+ forum know that I have
been struggling with turning 50. I want to know if I am
making excuses for my weight or maybe I am at a good
weight for 50.... I am 5'9 and weigh 165. In high school
30+ years ago I weighed about 150. I have had 2 sons
later in my life at 32 years old and 36 years old.

I am wondering if I am trying to hang on to 145-150
so being 50 years old won't "seem to bad..."

I can get to 150 but I have trouble staying there
for any length of time and it is stressful for me.

I just stay stressed out because of my weight
although I know I am not that overweight and
have never been. I guess I am looking for
permission to take it easy and maybe enjoy being
165 and not wish for 150 all the time. (or to have
my youth back...)

I just don't know at 50 if I want to put out the work to
have a tight muscular body but I can tell my body along
with my emotions are changing age wise. Yes I do wish
for a different type body but am I wishing for my youth back
and wishing for something I will never have or need to
have at 50? I just wish I could settle down and see where
I need to be or maybe I am there and enjoy this time
in my life a little more. I am healthy with no health problems.

Any 50+ I need some of your input.....Thanks so much

[Elizellen]

Have you had your bodyfat assessed. Pie? I cant remember who it was but I do remember one member posting that she was getting frustrated at not being able to get to her goal weight but on having her bodyfat measured she found she was at the low end of healthy so decided to call it goal!!

[sallyseachange]

I'll ditto what Elizellen said. You might be surprised!

On the other hand, when I measured my body fat (at maintenance) it told me I was obese!!! Go figure! I don't understand it, but I refuse to believe it, especially as I exercise regularly and feel very fit and healthy.

[ttdriver]

Pie, I'd say if you're happy in the skin you're in, then no need to stress yourself out. The ultimate goal is to be happy and HEALTHY first and foremost. Whatever the scale says is irrelevant, yanno?? To each their own, honest ... if you like YOU, then that's all that matters. Age is a number, nothing more.

Shoot, I'm 52, and I'm in complete denial of my age. In fact, its that willful denial that has me out running 35-40 miles every week. I *know* my birth certificate says 1955, but I refuse to acknowledge it....matter of fact, this past weekend, I read that a high school mate of mine was a grandmother of 2 .. she was so proud of it .. I say "good for her", but I told DH, nobody better ever call me grandma....

Betty

[pamelainaustin]

Hi Pie4me,

Hey I just turned 5-0 last month and even though I had been dreading it, it has not been nearly as bad as I thought. I think the main reason is discovering this WOE 3 months ago and feeling so confident (and relieved ) that I am finally addressing my weight and health issues that have "weighed me down" so much for the last 10 years. I feel much happier, energetic and optimistic than I have felt for a long time.

I am not sure if you were ever higher than 165--that certainly could be considered a healthy weight for someone 5'9" but only you know how you feel, how you feel you look and if you would feel better at a lower weight. I see a lot of changes in my body from when I was 20 and weighed 130 pounds too--damn, I should have walked around in bikinis and Daisy Dukes ALL the time back then but as a whole I am happy with where I am in my life and can not wait to get to my goal weight. I picked 145 but actually have no idea where I will wind up--I just want to look and feel as good as I can at age 50. I think exercise (especially resistance training) is key to keeping your body looking "youthful" and while I am no fanatic, I do think it makes you look better at any weight.

Funny story, a couple of weeks ago my best friend and I were shopping at a Goodwill store here. We have been friends since our early 20's and she turned 50 7 weeks before I did. After I started Atkins, she decided to cut out some carbs and has lost about 13 pounds (from 143 to 130--she is also 5'6" so she is really slim). She likes GAP jeans and took some in the dressing room that were size 6. She got them on and they looked GREAT--I looked at her and said "Girl, that does not look like a 50 year old a$$--you gotta get those!!!"
We both laughed so hard. Really, age is just a number.....it's gonna be okay

Pam

[Desertthorn]

I'll tell you how I decided my goal. I went to fitday and put in my height and when the chart said I was in a health weight, I stopped right there. 5/11 - 175. Thank you Ill take that and be VERY happy with it.
Stressing is way more unheathy than being on the high size of your health weight. If your exercising and eating well, your doing just fine

[Condor]

I decided last year that getting to my ideal goal weight (135lbs at 43) did not look as good on me as it did when I was 30. My body did feel incredibly lean but my face had got quite thin and people thought I looked unwell. I do quite a high fat version of Atkins and I have discovered that although the scale doesn't reflect what I would like, I am some how leaner anyway ie; can fit in clothes that in the past would have required me to be at 135/140lbs, I'll take that anyday above what the scale says.