Success is different for everyone, especially at 65
 

As I've read the success stories on this site, I see lots of people who have gone from size 16 to 6 or from an 18 to a 4. And, it seems that most of them made these changes in their 30s or 40s. That's not my story and yet, I believe that I have been very successful in using low carb, specifically the Atkins Diet. I've gone from a size 20 or 22 to a 12 or 14, and I'm thrilled. So is my family, particularly my husband since I now weigh only about six pounds more on the day we said our "I dos" more than 40 years ago.

That's right, I'll be 65 in May, and I have serious back problems so all except very mild exercises are prohibited. (I do have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon this week to ask if there are some a bit more strenuous that I can try without causing myself serious problems.) I've spinal fusion once on three vertebrae and already know that I will need a second surgery sometime in the future when the pain gets too awful for me to handle it with mild prescription pain killers.

I've been on diets ever since I was a teenager, but until about 15 years ago, I was able to stay in the size 12-14 range, although yo-yo dieting was a part of my life. It was also a part of my mother's life for all of her 80 years. It was when she was dying that I gave up the dieting. She died from Parkinson's disease, which can and often does affect the mind, and yet, when she could hardly talk, couldn't walk, read or write or even use utensils to feed herself, she knew she was thinner than she had been in years and she struggled to tell me that "I told you I'd be a size 12 before I died." That did it for me. I left her apartment saying that I would never diet again. No one should think about how exciting it is to be thin when they have lost all their other faculties.

But, in recent years, I've realized what a problem my weight was for me. I started having problems with my knees, sitting on an airplane was difficult, especially when we went to Europe, and I was always tired. I was known for my energy, so apparently that wasn't affected too badly. I've always had twice the energy my husband has, but now I have three times the energy.

I started Atkins with a goal of losing 20 lbs. so I could fit into some clothes that didn't fit any more in mid-January 2004. Two weeks later, I was told that my job as a public relations manager in a major Fortune 500 company was being eliminated. (That's a story of age discrimination, but not important here.) What is important is that in spite of my life-long habit of eating more when I was depressed or upset, I didn't do that this time. I stuck with Atkins, and I kept losing. Once the 20 lbs. were gone, I decided that I'd keep going, because it wasn't really painful, sometimes boring, but I was never hungry. Within six months, I'd lost 65 lbs. Since then my weight has varied a little, but never more than a few pounds over that weight, and I stick to low carb most of the time. Recently I lost the last five lbs. to reach my new goal weight, and I'm continuing to lose, so that when we go on a two-week vacation (a cruise on the Queen Mary II and a week in London and Edinburgh before we fly back), I can splurge a bit and still fit in my clothes.

Meanwhile, my old working wardrobe has been donated to an agency that dresses poor women who are looking for jobs ... and size 20s and 22s were what they needed. I've bought a new wardrobe, more than half of it at Consignment shops ... a good tip for anyone who is looking for clothing in a new size. Most of them only accept clothing in excellent condition and they price it at 30-50 percent of retail. (I have some branded clothing that I would never have purchased new because it would have been beyond my budget.)

My husband keeps telling me how great I look; friends rave about my new figure; and on occasion when I meet someone I haven't seen in a long time, they hardly recognize me. I've lost 12 inches in my waist; 10 in my bust; 11 in my hips and 7 on each thigh.

I'm retired now and enjoying my 16-month old granddaughter. I doubt I'd have the energy to get down and up from the floor where she likes to play without this weight loss and I know that alone was worth the struggle.

While I was on low carb, my husband didn't stick to it like I did, but stuck to most of it, so he took off 25 lbs. too. His all came off the middle and he looks great at age 70.

So, I'm not a size 6. I don't need to be one. For me a size 12-14 is great and it's particularly nice since I'm much older than most of the people who write on this forum. I know there are other people out there dieting who think that once they get older, it's impossible. I'm living proof that it isn't.

I have pictures of after, and probably even before, but unfortunately, do not have a scanner. If I get one, I'll be sure to post them.

Your success story is a great motivator! Congratulations on reaching your goal! :cheer: Thanks for posting. You have made me look forward to today and all of my low carb days! Have a good day :wave:
Lisa

Congratulations on your success! What a nice thing to do with all the clothes you no longer need.

Clothes size is just a figmant of some designer's immagination. When I was in high school, taking karate three times a week and cutting grass, I weighed 135 pounds. I'm 5'5. This was before kids. I still wore a size 12, because my hips have always been larger than the rest of me. When I was 150 after doing Atkins, I was wearing a size 4 in some dresses. Now why is it a 12 at 135 and a 4 at 150???

The other day when I had my daughter at the doctor for her "obesity" checkup, the doctor asked me what I did diet wise to stay so slim, he said I look great and should get her to do what I do. Slim?????!!!!!???? I weigh 200 pounds!! But, I'm happy and I carry myself well, I am concous of good posture and walk softly.

So, all in all, it's more about how you feel, not what "size" someone else says you are. I agree with you!

Enjoy your vacation and grandbaby!
Laura

Wow - amazing progress!
 

Wow! That must have been an incredibly stressful time for you, and yet...you didn't let it interfere with your plans to lose weight. You put yourself first, and in spite of everything that was going on, you did it!!!! :yay:

I've always managed to gain weight when something awful happens. I'm amazed at your persistence and determination - thank you so much for sharing your story :)

PS - if you wanted to (not everyone wants to), you could go to a photo place, and have them scan in your pictures and give them to you on a cd, or e-mail them to you, that way, you could post a couple. I'm sure you look terrific!

Bravo JB, very good job of getting back your girlish figure and feeling so much better because of your low carbing success.

I hope to be able to write my own success story this year, so far there hasn't been much movemnt on the scale this year but with a 100+ drop in 10 months I guess I'll just have to show a little patience and continued determination to arrive at the same destination you have.

Cheers to you, enjoy your trips, your retirement and most especially, your grandchild. You are blessed.

You know, 65 pounds in six months is amazing at any age! I will turn 50 next month, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise. One does tend to wonder if age will be a factor in taking off weight; I appreciate your taking the time to post this to show that it isn't. Not everyone is losing weight to get a belly button ring (bless you if you are--it's just not everyone's main motivation;) there are also health and mobility issues involved here. Congratulations on your excellent achievement. Sounds like your ex-company's loss was your gain, and your granddaughter's as well. Enjoy.

Congratulations on both your weight-loss success and your wonderful attitude! Thanks for posting your story. I hope you get your pictures scanned in and up soon.

Congratulations on a job well done!

You have wonderfully! :cheer: :cheer: :Party: :Party: :clap: :clap:

Thanks for the motivation, thank your husband too! I worry sometimes that I am too old or that menopause will stop me from losing. Obviously not.

You are totally right. Everyone is different. I would love to be a size 12 again. Right now I'm an 18. Keep up the good work.

This is a GREAT story! IF I were an ad agency I would certainly LOOK you up because you'd be FREAT advertising for ANY nutritional product and your story is AWESOME! It encourages all of us aho THINK we are too OLD and I have this belief that no one really gets OLD, one get's unhealthy and a healthy 65 year old is younger than an unhealthy 35 year old. God bless you exceedingly! My grandmother is 94 and she looks 70.. she even goes to the parlor every month and she was married again at 70 years old and is always healthy. :wave:

Thanks for your inspirational story. I am 58 and a very slow loser so I was questioning whether I would ever be able to lose. You have given me hope.

52 here. Losing slowly, but feeling better, don't need to think about food all day anymore. Cool. Thanx for the post.

You are really MY HERO! I love that jounal because you showed us that every age can look better, feel better and reach a dream. I wish you all the happiness and health and LOTS of blessings from God. After working so hard at pursuing a dream, I know that you are blessed and may ALL good things come through in your life and faily. Be blessed always and each moment!