LOSING WEIGHT WHEN YOU’RE OVER 50
I am trying to find ways of keeping active to get healthier and lose weight. When we turn 50, it does something to our minds and a lot to our bodies, and losing weight gets harder and harder. We come to a crossroads, and we have a choice to make; we can continue to think and act vibrant, or we can start to act and feel old. You would think it would be an easy decision, but so many outside factors influence us, and our choice is harder than it should be.
Society can be very judgemental and not always kind to women after the age of 50. It is amazing to me how critical “they” can be about decisions we make that are personal and shouldn’t even matter to others. How we dress, wear our hair, or whether we choose to wear makeup or cosmetic procedures should be choices that others don’t weigh in on.
As a woman over 50, if you wear the latest trends in fashion, people may say that you are trying too hard. But, if you don’t keep up with fashion trends, then you are considered old and frumpy. There is also a huge debate on YOUR choice of coloring your hair or letting it go gray. There are many beautiful women who color their hair and who let it go gray. The same holds true for wearing makeup, and while I LOVE wearing makeup, if you choose not to, that is YOUR personal decision and shouldn’t affect me.
Cosmetic procedures are something that scares me, so I’ve steered clear of them and chosen to go the route of really good skincare instead. However, that doesn’t mean that I judge those who choose to use Botox, Fillers, or cosmetic procedures. There might come a day when I get brave enough to have a neck lift, and if I do, then it is a personal decision that only applies to me.
Are you wondering why I am on a soapbox today? Part of the reason is that I am tired of women feeling like they aren’t good enough, aren’t relevant, and are over the hill once they turn 50.
The other part is that I am going to talk about losing weight. I want to make it very clear that you are beautiful at any weight, so don’t try losing weight to make yourself more attractive. We look at magazines and online retailers, and for the most part, the models on those pages are 20-30 years old and a size small or extra small. So, when an ordinary woman like me looks at those models, we judge ourselves and think that we should also look like that.
I’m raising my hand here because I am guilty of all of those feelings. I’ve struggled with gaining and losing 20 lbs for most of my adulthood. I have been on every diet there is, and they all work as long as you stick to the diet. The problem is we have old eating habits that we revert back to once we go off the diet, and the weight creeps back on.
It seems like when a new year rolls around; I always make a resolution to make my health a priority. Like most resolutions, I stick with healthy choices for a while, and then the old habits that are unhealthy have a way of sneaking back. By March, I am back to my old ways, and my health resolution has been thrown to the wayside. I have all of the excuses in the world, I’m too busy, it costs too much to buy fruits and vegetables, I don’t have anyone to exercise with me, Joe doesn’t like my healthy foods, and I don’t want to cook two different meals.
What I’m really saying to myself is that I am not a priority; I’m not important. Let that sink in for a minute.
My son in Tennessee is a Nutrition Coach | Pn1 and CrossFit Coach | CF-OL1, so he started helping me with my food choices. When we first spoke, he asked me what diets I had previously used, which ones I liked, and which ones worked the best for me. Then, he asked me about the foods that I ate and wanted me to choose the veggies and fruits that I like the most. I was shocked to see how my vegetables I liked, especially since I always said that I didn’t like them.
For me, I like intermittent fasting, and a low-carb diet is what worked the best for me in the past. So, we started working on small steps like drinking LOTS of water and cutting out everything else but black coffee or tea. That took a long time to adjust to, but I’ve done it so long now that I don’t miss the creamers. Then, he wanted me to work on eating slower since I tend to inhale my food. That one is still a work in progress. Lol!
Then a couple of months ago, I saw a friend of mine post a before and after photo, and she talked about the weight loss journey she was on. Turns out, she had joined a FaceBook group that is an 8-week program. Every 8 weeks, it starts all over again; you pay $40/week for the first 8 weeks, and then the program is free after that, and you never have to pay again.
I called my sister, and we decided to both join the group (membership is free for your spouse) and support each other in the journey. You don’t have to have a supportive partner, but it does help to have someone you can talk to about the meals and exercise.
This program uses Intermittent Fasting, and since I am not a morning eater, intermittent fasting appeals to me. I eat between the hours of 12 noon and 8 pm, so I have an 8-hour window to consume my meals. You can have up to 3 meals a day, but I generally eat 2 meals with snacks in-between if I am hungry. Each week the meals and exercises change, and the new meal plans are announced every Thursday night. I’ve had access to this plan for over a year; the food plan has been the same as the first 8 weeks, with only a few minor tweaks.
Lean proteins, healthy fats, and a couple of cups of vegetables are what most meals consist of each day. You eat meals with no added sugars or processed foods, and you only eat fruit on a week that includes more carbs. In those weeks, I’ll usually eat an apple, berries, or an orange with each meal. For snacks, I usually choose a handful of cashews or almonds. That fills me up and tides me over until it is time for my next meal.
Once a week, you can have a treat meal to keep from feeling deprived. This is one meal, not the entire day. Lol! Joe and I have chosen to have a date night every Saturday, and I look forward to that meal all week long. I have a glass of wine, eat anything on the menu that I want, and I always have dessert. The waitress will come over and ask if we want to see the dessert menu, and Joe always says no. I pipe up and say, “oh, yes we do!” Lol! That dessert keeps me on track the other six days, so it is worth it to me.
Since losing weight wasn’t my primary goal, I hadn’t weighed in about 3 weeks. Right now, I’m down about 20 lbs, and I am thrilled. I lost around 25, but the past few months have brought on 5 lbs, so I’m ready to push those to the curb. My goal was to feel better, have more energy, get active, and be healthier overall. The holidays are hard since there are lots of goodies everywhere you look. I chose Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner as my cheat meal for the week, but I wasn’t staying true to the plan, so I’m re-booting on Monday.
The next 8-week program will start on January 2nd, and here is the website that you need to join first. Open enrollment will be from Thursday, December 29th (You can sign up any time during open enrollment. There isn’t a cutoff for the number that can join.) through Wednesday, January 4th.
I would always recommend that you check with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise or diet program to make sure this is a program suitable for you. After you sign up, you will be put into a FB group where all of the information will be posted. You will stay in this group from that time forward, and you don’t ever have to sign up again. Videos of the exercises will be posted daily, and you can join them live or when it is convenient for you. There is also a mindset coach, two chefs that go live two times a week, extra-credit exercises, and the founder of the program goes live each night at 8 PM ET.
It can be a little overwhelming when you first join, but it doesn’t take long to catch on.
The reason that I joined this program was because of the exercise coaches that post videos. Most of the time, I do the modified moves, but any movement at all is my goal. If I lived near my son, he would be able to help me with my exercises, but since that isn’t the case, this group is the next best thing.
You GURLS have been asking for my secret, so I am sharing what I am doing, and this is it.
Here is what the program offers:
What do I get with the program?
Weekly Workout PlansWeekly Meal PlansCircuit WorkoutsGym WorkoutsGlute WorkoutsZumbaKickboxingHIIT WorkoutsYogaSpin ClassesLive workouts can be done at home andMental Fitness24/7 access to the programLive cooking classes weeklyAnd more all communicated through our private Facebook group.How much?All the workout clothing I’m wearing was from last year, so it is no longer available. Here are some items you might like, and I’m working on an upcoming post about activewear for those who are like me and want to include exercise in the coming year.
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Verse of the day
Psalms 47:1
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
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How do you feel about the program now-
December 28, 2022?? A year since this particular blog was written. The reason I’m asking is because in a year a LOT can change. Big hugs from me!
Dena, I still love the program! It works!!! Plus, I like that I only had to pay once and can do it any time I want.
I’m going to give it a try! You inspire me both with your classic fashion and your successful weight loss! Pray for me!
I am not on Facebook.. is this plan provided anywhere else?
Jan, unfortunately, the plan is only on Facebook. That is where the meal plans and the exercise videos are posted.
Hi! Thank you fir the information in your weight loss! So thorough!
I have a question… can you see other peoples names in the private FB group? Or is it entirely private.. so nobody knows who else has joined?
Thank you for your posts and blogs! I appreciate them!
You are an inspiration to women everywhere. I am saying hello from Brisbane, Australia 🇦🇺 I love receiving your emails and love the fact that you are a modern Christian lady. God bless you and thank you for being you 😊
Could you give an example of what you eat for dinner on this plan?
Thanks Tania, for being a positive Christian role model! You are so refreshing and look fabulous!!
Are you doing the workouts?
No, I did the first round, but I’ve not been doing them lately.
You are positively glowing Miss Tania!! 💕
Hi, Tania! I sent you a friend request from my husbands Facebook account so that you can add me to your private group. I’m plugging along, but would love to hear how others are doing.
Did you see it?
Thank you! I’m sending you a friend request.
Hi! I’m new to your blog and enjoying it! I just turned 54 and appreciate following women in my stage of life. This post was just what I was looking for! I signed up for the program under my husbands Facebook account. I dont have one. Would I still be able to join your private group or would that be frowned upon since it’s in a man’s name?
I don’t see a meal plan? Did you get one?
Regina, don’t worry that you signed up under your husband’s name. You need to send me a friend request from your husband, and I’ll add you to the group. The foods and exercise plans are posted in the FB group that you join after you sign up. They are located under the GUIDES section. That also gives you the starter pack, etc., so be sure to check that out.
Hi Tania, I’ve been following you for a while. Just curious, you and your sister joined the weight loss group as a couple?
No, she joined and I joined also. We both added our spouses to the group, but neither one of them ever bother to look at the group. Lol!
I ordered the funnel neck top and the long sleeved top as well as some leggings. Nordstrom now loves me! LOL
I’m also looking at the FB program. If I’m understanding it correctly, you spend $320 and then it’s free for life?
If you win the $10,000 for bringing in the most new members, will you share? 😉
Lol! Yes, you are correct about the 320.00 once, and then free for life. I don’t think that there is a $10,000 bonus for bringing in new members. Lol! That would be the only chance I have at winning their contests. Hahaha!
Crap! I just read that there IS a new bonus for bringing in the most new members. They’ve never done that before. I definitely need to try to win that. Lol!
Hi Tania, thank you for your information about your weight lose journey. I just turned 60, now semi-retired and I live in Melbourne, Australia, I always follow you and enjoy seeing your fashion and life activities. Do you think the weight/fitness Facebook group could be suitable for me. I do some fitnesses classes during the school terms here?
Tracey, I would always check with my doctor first, and they tell you to do that when you join. It is a fairly easy program, it is just restrictive on foods, and you do the exercises at the level of fitness you have.
Thank you for sharing your weight loss journey. So many of us have negative self image due to weight gain. Losing weight feels amazing, keeping it off is the hard part for me. I love your honesty and direct answers! Thank you for inspiring me to get back to being active and working on my weight loss journey.
Tania, thank you so much for being so transparent and sharing your weight loss and most of all, your struggles w self esteem and realizing that you are beautiful and worthy! Reading it made my cry because Ive struggled w those issues all my life. I love these outfits and you are truly beautiful everyday -.inside & out!
Wow! You are an inspiration! You look great!
Tania. – the link to the Facebook group does not seem to be working. Could you please respond to my comment here with the link? Thanks! And you look great.
Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/E2Mfitness
Hi
I thought you had lost some weight. Good job! I’m not on Facebook so this plan won’t work for me. I do intermittent fasting as well. Following a 1250 cal diet in my fitness pal. Hopefully I will be successful. Limited exercise due to an injury.
Wow! Good for you! Healthy living is a journey that we all need to be on.
Do not be afraid of a face/neck lift. I had one a few years ago and it made a huge difference. Go for it!
Wonderful! Tania, you are doing so well, you go, gurl !!!
Tania, like so many others have said, thank you for this post! You look fantastic, BTW! This year I lost 24 pounds. It took awhile but I was determined to stick with it. Exercise is #1 for me, but a low carb diet is taking a close 2nd. If I need a sweet treat dark chocolate (72% or higher) calms the craving and surprisingly doesn’t put weight on when consumed in moderation. Congratulations to you, and my goodness, thank you for preaching it! We all needed your reminders today!
Congratulations! Weight loss is hard, but you seem to have it figured out.
You look great and I appreciate how open you are!!!! Thanks for going to bat for us over 50 gurls and helping us to feel worthwhile and valued!!!
Your weight loss really shows. You look great and hope you feel great too!
You don’t look overweight at all!!! You look to be the perfect weight!
Tania, help! I am still not getting the posts. I re-signed up and that didn’t work. I will try it again, but if you have any another tips, I’d appreciate it! Also, you always looked gorgeous before, and you still do, 20 pounds up or down. I imagine you do feel better, though. Our health should always be a priority, but it so often isn’t.
Oh no. Be sure to search for the emails. tania@50isnotold.com is the email address it should come from.
This was a great post! I’m fairly new to you and your blog, and I just love it! You seem like a real person…very fashionable but also approachable. What a relief. Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the good work!!!!!!
Yes, yes, and yes! Lol! Welcome, Kristin, I hope you are enjoying the blog!
Tania you look great, and thank you for posting this, is just what I needed to see today! I tried intermittent fasting and low carb a couple of weeks ago, I was too strict in the beginning, you encouraged me to try again. I’ve told you in the past I’ve followed you from almost the beginning, we’re the same height, was the same weight, age and anniversaries! But I’ve gained steadily with menopause and hysterectomy, I eat healthy and my daughter is a dietitian, so I’ve had help but I also love my carbs! Thank you for the encouragement! 🥰
Terrific post! I love your fashion ideas (and I just ordered the sneakers), but most of all, I appreciate your wonderful attitude and wise advice. Thanks for being a bright spot in my day.
Congratulations on your health journey and the weight loss. You look terrific and I appreciate the information on how you did it. It’s sooo hard to lose the pounds after 50! Best Wishes! Leigh
Hi Tania! I have been viewing your posts for quite some time. I am 58 yrs old and having been challenged with weight most of my life…this piece really resonated with me. so appreciate you sharing your journey and plan to commit to a healthy lifestyle. Thank you & bright blessings! – Maria
Tania,you look fabulous. I really wish I could get motivated. My nephew sent me a pipicture of us from this summer and I was disappointed in myself in how heavy I looked.
Hi Tania,
For some reason I have stopped getting your daily emails. I have signed up again but wanted to let you know in case others are having the same issue.
Just plain common sense but I think we need other people to keep us motivated. It’s a good plan. I keep a window between 10 and 4 every day. I do have hot tea at 6. It’s the sweet temptations that get me every time. If they come in the door, I’m in trouble. Thanks for sharing, Tania.
This type of neck is good to hide my neck where turtlenecks emphasize. So cute!
You look amazing. Your hard work has paid off. I love
intermittent fasting and follow it everyday. Love the outfits too.
Thanks for sharing.
Tania, congratulations on taking control of this battle so many of us gurls face! You are a true inspiration! There are many ways to lose weight, the trick is to make it a lifestyle change and daily habit, that is where the majority of us fail. I just had lunch with a dear friend who is 77 and she dropped 60lbs this year with WW. Whole Foods, less processed, portion control, water and exercise, we all know what to do, it’s just doing it and making it a lifestyle is the challenge!
You look amazing and have encouraged me to get back on track! Thank you for sharing with us your journey and keep us posted please on new tips!
I also ordered the tie dye blue Zella, it says runs small in the reviews, so I ordered a size up. A little birthday gift to myself, I am turning 50 plus 9 tomorrow! 😊
This was one of my favorite post, exactly what I struggle with turning 57 tomorrow. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I’m joining the FB group as a birthday gift to me.
Thank you so much for this inspiring post Tania. You hit some points here that hit very close to home for me. I am 68 years old and I have also been on every diet on the face of the earth. I have lost the same 20 lbs. about 50 times in the past. You are so right about putting yourself last. I also love wearing makeup, but my friends and neighbors don’t so sometimes I feel like they are looking at me thinking “why does she wear makeup everyday”. Because it’s my choice. I had asked in a post where you were wearing a white satin shirt if you had lost weight. Thank you so much for sharing the way you did it. I love your blog and always though how great you look, but that day there was a different glow from you. Congratulations and thank you.
Let me preface to say my daughter has always been fit. My daughter went to college ran all the time and reduced her caloric intake. She lost so much weight and everyone who knew her complimented her, she hated it. She hated anyone even noticing because it made her feel worse. She wasn’t ashamed of her size before she was trying to get those collarbones to be more defined, you know, like the models. It didn’t work, her body is made up of thicker more dense skin. Sure she lost weight but it made her feel ashamed of the body she had before the running and people didn’t realize they weren’t helping. Later, she joined a group for loving your body and not body shaming, she is still active in it. I absolutely abhor how much focus we put on women’s looks and weight. Have a great week and thanks for the topic:)
THANK YOU!!! I too have been on the struggle bus with my weight my entire life-and now that I’ve gotten to a more healthy place it’s very challenging to keep it there. Thank you for your honesty and sharing what is working for you. And thank you for always being a woman who builds other women up each and every day!!!
Thanks for sharing your weight loss plan. You look great and you have inspired me. My husband and I both could shed some pounds and eating right is the key. I am going to check this out! t
Thanks so much for sharing your weight loss journey! It is really working for you. I so enjoy your blog! Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas!
Tania I was able to open the weightloss fb link on this post thanks again
I don’t see the link to join the first FB page.
Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/E2Mfitness/
Tania you look fantastic. I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and am not convinced my poor diet had something to do with triggering it. I am totally switching things up to feel better and be healthier. Weight loss will be an added bonus 😃
You look so good and i know it’s a commitment.
I’m about the same size as you before your weight loss. If I lost 20 lbs I would take 2 sizes less in.clothing.
Have you found that as when you state sizes, they’re about the same as before?
Marlene, I mentioned that to Joe too, and he told me that my clothing was just now fitting correctly. Lol! I think he must have thought that I was wearing my clothes too tight. Haha. I have started to order mediums in sweaters instead of a large, and jeans are between an 8-10 and a 29-30. I hate being in between sizes.
Tania you look amazing thank you for sharing this information. I did not see the fb link though and Im interested!
Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/E2Mfitness/
Tania, I have followed you for a long time and you always look amazing. Congrats on working on yourself. It is such a hard thing for women to do. We always take care of everyone else. I know I don’t put myself first and I always feel that I am becoming invisible to everyone. Thanks again for all your inspiration.
Love your enthusiasm!
Can’t wait to join in on the weight loss journey!
I am 73 so losing weight is even harder. I lost 15 pounds recently. . , it took me about 6 months. I did it will exercise and portion control. I wanted something I can live with and this works. I too have been on every diet. Nothing really teaches you how to eat for the rest of your life. I also lift weights. I look and feel so much better.
Tania, you look great.
Congratulations, Tania!!! I encourage you to ask Joe to help you measure. I bet he would enjoy that🤣 Seeing those inches go down is encouraging too! I agree with you, how we handle aging is a personal decision.
I am not on Facebook and do not want to be, so can I still join the gp another way.
I don’t think so. They are only on FaceBook. I’m sorry.
Thanks for sharing your weight loss plan. I am struggling and really need the motivation to get started. Your success is an inspiration for me and I am sure many others. You look fabulous and it sounds like a plan that I might actually be able to follow! Thanks again for the motivation, advice and inspiration!
Tania you look Ah-MA-ZING and you’ve motivated me to start TODAY instead of waiting on the new year! How long would you say it took you to get down by 20 lbs?
I started this program 15 weeks ago.
Great info today as I am back in the gym 3 days/week after bilateral knee replacements. Eating better is also a goal!
So, how much weight have you lost? Did I miss that?
I weighed yesterday, and I’ve lost right at 20 lbs.
Tania, you are truly my inspiration! My style has changed and now I have motivation to get going on my weight! Thank you so much. Vickie
Thanks so much for sharing your journey! I think the thing I love most about you is that you’re honest and not fake…your optimistic personality is also a great trait. I’m so glad that I asked for the link today when mine didn’t work as we all need that reminder to make ourselves a priority! Also love your comfy outfit and you reminded me that I have a white pair of those same shoes by Adidas that I have forgotten about! Have a great day and thanks again!
You look amazing Tania and you have great taste for clothing. I am in process to loose weight because first for my health but also because I want to be able to wear the cloths I like and that would fit me well. This mid section of mine always keep me from loving my clothes so I began exercising and eating differently. It is a little battle and a matter of daily decision. Thank you Tania for these super post, veru encouraging and love your cloths choices. Not mentionning the Bible verses you share each time, what a blessing!!!
Hey Tania, where it says Facebook Group it’s not red or clickable in my email. I’m interested as well…you look amazing!
Strange…it shows on my end just like all of the other links. Here is the FB group link:
https://www.facebook.com/E2Mfitness/
The link is not listed
That is so weird, it shows red for me.
Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/E2Mfitness/
https://50isnotold.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-12-14-at-7.47.41-AM.png
Good morning Tania,
Thank you for this post!!!
Unfortunately the Facebook post is not coming up in red. Can you share it again?
Thank you ❤️
How weird. It is red just like all of my other links on my post. Here is the FB group link: https://www.facebook.com/E2Mfitness/
I love the color and style of the outfit you have on! I can relate to everything you said when you talked about excuses because I’ve used them all and my food is all over the place because I’ve joined so many groups that I feel like I’m doing things from so many different groups that my body is mixed up right now and doesn’t know what to do so it’s just holding where it’s at…until I read about another program to try :). You are lucky to have a partner to do this with you as I truly feel it has to help in having someone to do a new program with. Keep doing what is working for you!
You look great!! Good info. i am going to check it out. Thanks for sharing
You look amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Great post! Loved hearing about the program you’re following.
I don’t see a link for the Facebook group that you mentioned in your post. BTW—you look great! Looks like it’s working for you.
Shannon, where I say FACEBOOK GROUP and it shows up red, that is the link. Any time you see red wording, it is a link to something.