Weight, Bodyfat & Aging; How Good is Good Enough
Wednesday June 15, 2011
Don't forget my Go Caddy OR Golfing Caddy Giveaway. You can enter through end of day Thursday.
I posted at the end of May about how both my hormones & my training changes due to my feet issues have resulted in a little bit of weight gain & bodyfat increase on this 53 year old bod.
I wanted to talk a bit more about that because I think the important point behind weight & how we look and all that is: WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME & WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ME MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.
I am 5'1' and what I want to look like or what I weigh or some combo of the both may be way different from another 5'1" person. I may feel more comfortable in my body at 115 and another may feel better at 110 and another at 120. This can be due to body type or how willing you are to eat super clean or exercise a certain way. There are so many variables. I always tell people that I look this way because I am willing to do what it takes to be this way. A person can still look great without doing what I do & obviously maybe a slightly higher bodyfat percentage.
Last year I went to Colorado for a high school friend reunion. HERE and HERE are just two of the many posts I did on that trip. When I came back, I was about 3-5 pounds depending on when I weigh myself since I am one that goes up & down!
Anyway, I really did feel better at the lighter weight & changed up my eats to keep me close to that weight but not quite as light as when I got home. I have been doing fine - although working VERY HARD to stay at this weight & look.
When the feet probs started & my workouts went downhill, it coincided with a new set of women hormone issues. Those that are my age understand this - how we see things happening on our face that are age/hormone related & then the bod issues come with it. Honestly, the bod does just not work the same & I am not going to go into TMI info today but it just does not!
Anyway, as I mentioned in my Hoka post, I was trying to switch things up again & play with food & calories to keep my weight & bodyfat where it has been for at least a year. Well, so far the weight is a couple pounds off depending on the day & such but the bodyfat is staying a bit higher. In fact, with this hormone change, the up & down is is happening much more & all week long - but especially the bodyfat number.
Now don't get me wrong, I think I look decent BUT it is not quite what I want for myself. What I am debating right now is IF it is worth it to get my bodyfat down to where it was a year ago. I know with the age hormones, I am going to have to eat even cleaner & I eat pretty clean right now. Honestly, not sure I will do it yet. I see the bodyfat changes in my abs (my 4 pack in my pic)/lower tummy the most so every day people would not notice what I see since I don't wear workout clothes that show that area.
I guess what I am saying is we all have to decide what we are willing to do to look like what we have as our goal. We can still look good or even great yet not quite meet what our minds says it wants for us.
Remember, it is about what you want & how you want to look & NOT that other person in the gym or your best friend. You can actually weigh the same as another person and look better than them or maybe not as good or just different from them. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT! Keep that in mind as you put the mental pressure on yourself! Heck, maybe you need Holly's book!
I will let you know what I decide to do. I have not made any decisions yet & just hanging at where I am now knowing I look decent, knowing I could be leaner IF I wanted to go even cleaner with my eats but also knowing it may not be worth it to me since I can be happy right here if I let me mind tell me so!
Thoughts on your own mental struggle with what you look like now vs. what it would take to get even fitter? Are you happy where you are even if it is not quite as lean as you originally thought you wanted to be?
Anyone else at my age struggling with the working out hard, eating clean & is it really worth it to do even more to keep that look or are you willing to get just a couple pounds heavier but still look good with a slightly higher bodyfat number....
Don't forget my Go Caddy OR Golfing Caddy Giveaway. You can enter through end of day Thursday.
I posted at the end of May about how both my hormones & my training changes due to my feet issues have resulted in a little bit of weight gain & bodyfat increase on this 53 year old bod.
I wanted to talk a bit more about that because I think the important point behind weight & how we look and all that is: WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME & WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ME MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.
I am 5'1' and what I want to look like or what I weigh or some combo of the both may be way different from another 5'1" person. I may feel more comfortable in my body at 115 and another may feel better at 110 and another at 120. This can be due to body type or how willing you are to eat super clean or exercise a certain way. There are so many variables. I always tell people that I look this way because I am willing to do what it takes to be this way. A person can still look great without doing what I do & obviously maybe a slightly higher bodyfat percentage.
Last year I went to Colorado for a high school friend reunion. HERE and HERE are just two of the many posts I did on that trip. When I came back, I was about 3-5 pounds depending on when I weigh myself since I am one that goes up & down!
Anyway, I really did feel better at the lighter weight & changed up my eats to keep me close to that weight but not quite as light as when I got home. I have been doing fine - although working VERY HARD to stay at this weight & look.
When the feet probs started & my workouts went downhill, it coincided with a new set of women hormone issues. Those that are my age understand this - how we see things happening on our face that are age/hormone related & then the bod issues come with it. Honestly, the bod does just not work the same & I am not going to go into TMI info today but it just does not!
Anyway, as I mentioned in my Hoka post, I was trying to switch things up again & play with food & calories to keep my weight & bodyfat where it has been for at least a year. Well, so far the weight is a couple pounds off depending on the day & such but the bodyfat is staying a bit higher. In fact, with this hormone change, the up & down is is happening much more & all week long - but especially the bodyfat number.
Now don't get me wrong, I think I look decent BUT it is not quite what I want for myself. What I am debating right now is IF it is worth it to get my bodyfat down to where it was a year ago. I know with the age hormones, I am going to have to eat even cleaner & I eat pretty clean right now. Honestly, not sure I will do it yet. I see the bodyfat changes in my abs (my 4 pack in my pic)/lower tummy the most so every day people would not notice what I see since I don't wear workout clothes that show that area.
I guess what I am saying is we all have to decide what we are willing to do to look like what we have as our goal. We can still look good or even great yet not quite meet what our minds says it wants for us.
Remember, it is about what you want & how you want to look & NOT that other person in the gym or your best friend. You can actually weigh the same as another person and look better than them or maybe not as good or just different from them. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT! Keep that in mind as you put the mental pressure on yourself! Heck, maybe you need Holly's book!
I will let you know what I decide to do. I have not made any decisions yet & just hanging at where I am now knowing I look decent, knowing I could be leaner IF I wanted to go even cleaner with my eats but also knowing it may not be worth it to me since I can be happy right here if I let me mind tell me so!
Thoughts on your own mental struggle with what you look like now vs. what it would take to get even fitter? Are you happy where you are even if it is not quite as lean as you originally thought you wanted to be?
Anyone else at my age struggling with the working out hard, eating clean & is it really worth it to do even more to keep that look or are you willing to get just a couple pounds heavier but still look good with a slightly higher bodyfat number....
Posted by truth2beingfit at 6/14/2011 9:06 PM 
Categories: Motivation/Support, Fitness, Weight Loss, Awareness, Aging, Exercise, Workouts, Healthy Eating, Dieting, Challenges, Acceptance
Tags: acceptance aging awareness challenges change it up change dieting Exercise fitness healthy eating motivation Weight Loss weight loss maintenance workouts Hoka One One golf golfing giveaway BVT Products Go Caddy Golfing Caddy
Categories: Motivation/Support, Fitness, Weight Loss, Awareness, Aging, Exercise, Workouts, Healthy Eating, Dieting, Challenges, Acceptance
Tags: acceptance aging awareness challenges change it up change dieting Exercise fitness healthy eating motivation Weight Loss weight loss maintenance workouts Hoka One One golf golfing giveaway BVT Products Go Caddy Golfing Caddy
I GET THIS!!!
I frequently see women lifters who are far far more muscular than I and, well, they should be given their time in the gym and the way they lift.
I wish I had their muscles.
Apparently, right now, not enough to do what they do.
for me
right now
life is too short...
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Life is short Carla! I do get so frustrated with this age related stuff though. Work so hard & the fighting back gets meaner!
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Well you know what I am going through and that I feel the same way. We have to do what is best for us no one else. Yes, I may look good, but do I feel good or can I feel better? The answer is I can feel better, so I am doing something about it. You look great, but its what YOU want no one else.
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Sheri, I know you get this & I am glad you are doing what is right for you!!!!
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My hormones and I are NOT friends. At 53, not only is it more difficult to get results I want, It is much more difficult these days to control cravings and laziness.
I would like to fight harder but It seems to be more of a challenge than ever.
Guys have it way too easy, I think.
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Ewa, so good to hear from another one going thru this. I have never had more probs all over the bod . For me, the bodyfat is going up more than pounds which is frustrating cause it all gets squishy.
Thx for commenting!
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I'm a guy! I have it way too easy, NOT!!
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Dr. J - we women always think men have it easier!
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I think you need to be happy with your own body, but I think it is important not to obsess over it..life is too short.....AND, I do think men have it easier
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Sian - yes, women have all this pressure & I do think we obsess about it more - life is short for sure but my mind so still wants my bod to be young!
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Honestly, I am not sure when enough is enough. I think society puts so much pressure on people to be ultra thin that it is making people crazy inside, or that is how I feel. I am always fighting to be smaller, but over all I am just happy to be alive and healthy. Thanks for the post.
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Dana - yes, there is lots of pressure for sure & as much as they talk to get away from it - it seems even more so....
I don't want so much to be smaller but to fight these hormones that are fighting me on bodyfat - I think I could take the extra couple pounds if the bodyfat would not be going up more than the pounds. Right now, I am doing my best to keep control of it & just seeing what the hormones will do next! :-O
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Isn't aging grand? I've tried to adjust my diet and exercise over the years to keep up with the hormonal issues. When I went from 5-6 days a week down to 3 days of exercise all hell broke loose-and the body looks loose too! I can understand your desire to consider tweaking things. If you make changes immediately it's a lot easier than trying to catch up later.
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Karen - yes, hormones suck! I am trying to keep ahead of it but right now, this bodyfat thing is driving me crazy! I already do everything right or most everything without eating contest ready - will just have to see how it goes!
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What a great post. I'm 48, my hormones are a bit crazy, and I'm frustrated because weight doesn't drop like it did 10 years ago. However, will stay the course and eventually get where I want to be. Take care Jody!!
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Roz, you will do it! My biggest hormones issues hit in the 50+ range. I am not trying to lose but maintain & those friggin hormones fight me!
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I totally agree! And its funny because everybody can look different even at the same height and weight or body fat. Gotta do whats best for us!
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April, so true, People can be very similar on height & weight but look totally different!
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Love this! I can relate. And part of why I never talk about numbers on my blog is that I feel the same... it is so variable on each unique body. I am soooo close to my goal weight that I imagine some would say "what difference does a pound or 2 or 3 make?" I know you would understand. On someone my petite size, it makes a definite difference in how I feel in my skin and how my clothes fit. That said, my current goal number is definitely higher than what it was in past years. That whole aging thing.
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Karen, I know you can relate! Like you, 5 pounds higher is not negotiable for me on this short bod. This bodyfat thing going on right now is driving me nuts as it goes up much more in relation to the couple pounds. Craziness!
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