Any other women over 40 here?

[Mom]

I have such difficulty trying to lose fat. Perimenopause and hormones that wing around all over have made losing fat extremely difficult and frustrating.
I think I now have the hormone thing under control, but I'm battling the 10 lbs that went on in a 2-week period when my doc put me on birth control pills to try and manage some symptoms. (didn't work, BTW)

Any ideas? I'd like to see my abs at least once before I die!

 

[Sassy]

Yes... I am turning 41 (I mean 21) next week.

I've noticed it's hard to lose weight too. I've been stay pretty clean with my diet since spring, but haven't lost anything. Everlast says I've gotten leaner and added more muscle. I'm probably being critical and hard on myself.

I don't have crazy hormonal changes, because I had an hysterectomy 7 years ago. I just have no hormones... like menopause. It's great... night sweats, hot flashes, dryness, yeast infections... yes, all that fun stuff. I took a HRT, EstraTest, for a couple of years. Then I switch to just plain Test last year. I've been running it ever since with no problems. Except for CBS... chronic bitchiness syndrome. I've pretty much always had a case of that.

I've decided no more bulking cycles. It's just too hard to lose the fat now that I'm older. I'm staying on a pretty clean diet year round and hopefully I'll lose this extra weight. I'm like you... I'd like to see my abs too.

 

[ParadiseCup]

i won't say her age, but IslandGirl fits this category

http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27451

 

[Mom]

okay, IslandGirl looks great but...

what did it take for her to get that lean?
The year I turned 45 I wanted to look my best ever. My birthday is in August, so I started dieting and changed my training routine with a late summer show in mind. As Dad can attest, I KILLED myself and did get some result, but could not get the fat to move from my lower abs and the tops of my hips. The last 6 weeks I did twice a day workouts, cardio( which I hate) and lived on protein and salad. The scale never budged, couldn't break 150 to save my life.
I finally gave up on the idea of competing and went back to being a happy powerlifter.
I would like to drop some fat again, and am looking for any ideas!

 

[LightWeight]

My .02 cents

what did it take for her to get that lean?
The year I turned 45 I wanted to look my best ever. My birthday is in August, so I started dieting and changed my training routine with a late summer show in mind. As Dad can attest, I KILLED myself and did get some result, but could not get the fat to move from my lower abs and the tops of my hips. The last 6 weeks I did twice a day workouts, cardio( which I hate) and lived on protein and salad. The scale never budged, couldn't break 150 to save my life.
I finally gave up on the idea of competing and went back to being a happy powerlifter.
I would like to drop some fat again, and am looking for any ideas!

Hey Mom! Similar story for me. Cardio in the morning plus 2hour weights with Oldfella...nothing....No movement at the station AT ALL!!!!! I was obsessed with losing weight and the more the scales didn't budge the more frustrated I became, until one day I decided hay I'm not having fun anymore. I've now relaxed my way of thinking and the weights is slowly starting to melt off! Don't give up!!! All the Best.

 

[ScorpioGirl]

I'll be 37 this year

AND.......I just started competing this year too. If you want it - you can do it!!!! :che:ky-sm

~Scorp

 

[IslandGirl]

Over 40, Mom of 3 here!

Like Scorp mentioned, if you want it, you can do it. You really have to want it bad enough to be dedication in reaching your goal.

For the last 11 weeks, my diet has been spot on. No cheat meals at all. I've been doing double cardio days for as long as I can remember. lol!

You can do it.

 

[ParadiseCup]

what did it take for her to get that lean?

as IG said, her diet is spot on and she has been doing cardio i think from 16 weeks out when she started to "clean" up her diet. the highest that her cardio has been is 10 sessions per week (5x am at 45 min each & 5x pm at 30 min each). she does the stepmill with hr at approx 135 bpm with 30-60 second bursts up to 165 every 5 minutes. we do check the scale but use the mirror to see the changes occur. if weight is not moving but she's getting leaner, we're good.

 

[sassy69]

I turned 42 in July.

It does become harder but it really just means you need to tweak your approach - you mention diet of protein & salad - what about good carbs & good fats? Cardio? What type of cardio? HIIT or steady state? Cardio on the treadmill flat angle or stepmill? Use of pilates or any other conditioning exercises? A lot of it is just ongoing conditioning. I did my first competition (natural) at age 35 - I calipered at 8.6% bf 4 weeks out from my show and I still managed to have squishy ass & thighs. I've been working on it ever since and its still a challenge. I haven't been 1000% consistent w/ that focus since my first show (2000) but it is by far the one that is still my biggest challenge and I need to give it more focus as I go forward in the future. My problem is that I dont' really like cardio and I've had a myriad of joint problems the last year so it becomes harder for me to do a lot of cardio & stuff like walking lunges & what not. So then I can fall back on diet - and then once I get there, hold it so my body will be conditioned to stay that way.

As far as competition goes - just to state the generally obvious -- at a certain level most everyone is usign some sort of chemical enhancement and things like anti-estrogens become a godsend...

Another thought that isn't necesarily driven by cycling for competition but rather legitimately getting a script for some test cream (androgel or whatever) from your doc to deal w/ drop in sex drive etc associated w/ perimenopause, etc.

 

[Mom]

Hey Sassy,
I've been using a test cream for a few years now, and that keeps the drive at a level that keeps Dad happy!

Cardio bites, and I always have a good excuse to not do it.
We've started changing our training around and incorporating some Westside stuff, including the idea of general physical preparedness training. The GPP will become our aerobics.

I do include good carbs, oatmeal, veggies, whole grain stuff, and good fats (flax and fish oil).

It's just really frustrating that the things that used to work don't anymore. Just this summer I tried the diet cycle Dad used for competition. 30 days of busting my ass with high reps, aerobics, cycled with heavy duty training -with NO difference on the scale or tape.

I'm out of ideas.

 

[Sassy]

The problem for me is that I'm not use to having to really diet. I've always had a high metabolism, so I cut the junk out and start losing weight. Now it takes longer to see results, so I get frustrated. I'm just not very patient.

I'm starting my diet over this is my 6th day. No more excuses. I'm sticking with until the weights is off. Well... see how this goes. Hopefully in 12 weeks I'll be a new me.

Mom, I know someone else from another board. He was getting me info on test. His wife uses the cream too and it keeps him happy.

 

[Laura Hanson]

I'll be 44 in December. I too had a hysterectamy (16 years ago). I fought the scales for so very long. At 42 I decided I needed to do something. I set out to do my first contest (figure) and mind you it was only 9 weeks out from the show. I hit the gym every day without fail, cycled my carbs and almost died when I saw that under my belly thickness lied abs. I placed 5th in the Open of a National Qualifier and shot for my next contest. Unfortunately I didn't place well (8th) and was told by the judges that my genetic and structure would be better suited for bbing. I was like huh? 43 and a bber? Well...now I am working on my first appearance onstage as a fbber in March.

It's amazing when you set your mind to something, work hard, and see it all come together.

You can do it Mom!!!!

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

(hope you don't mind me dropping in) But you gals are very inspiring. I will make sure to show this thread to the Mrs tonight when she gets in. She is a over 40 gal. Keep up the great work and keep on inspiring the rest of the over 40 females!

 

[Sassy]

Welcome to PM, Laura!

Nice job! You do have some amazing genetics. Keep up the good work.

 

[Laura Hanson]

Welcome to PM, Laura!

Nice job! You do have some amazing genetics. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Sassy!

 

[lynx]

Good job Laura, you look great!

 

[countrychic]

Awesome!! Good for you very inspiring !!

 

[Amazon Doll]

Hi there!

I think once you add in BC pills, managing the side effects like weight gain is hard.

 

[Steak Helmet]

WOW 40+ is the new 25 for you ladies

YEs I am single

 

[Sassy]

I can't speak for the rest of the PM ladies... I might be over 40, but that doesn't mean my life is over. That's why exercise has become such an important part of my life. It makes me feel better and look better. I've said it so many times. I look around at the teenagers these days that are overweight and out of shape. I am in better shape than the major of them.

For so long I had so much heart break, I feel like I'm just getting started good. Now that I've met Everlast, we're rebuilding our lives together and have so many good things ahead of us. Being 40 isn't a bad thing at all.