Get fit with us!

Are you over 50? Want to lose weight, but think you can’t? Maybe you’ve tried to lose weight all your life, or maybe you’re just starting to attack those post-menopausal pounds. Maybe you want to get fit, or you just want some weight loss and fitness tips.

Think it can’t be done? Think again!

Karen has been there. She’s lost nearly 45 pounds this year, and in these posts, she shares some of the insights, tips, and resources that have helped her get fit over 50.

We’ll update this new feature every week, so stay tuned…and check our list of resources from other blogs, at the bottom of this page.

1—Identifying the problem (November 24, 2012)
Facing the new reality: just how overweight are you? And what can you actually do about it? In this post, we look at the basics of weight loss, and help you map out your plan for success.

2—Weighing your options (December 1, 2012)
You could do this alone, or you could enlist the help of a team. But how much do most doctors really know about weight loss, anyway? We show you how to choose your team wisely. And avoid potato diets.

3—Hunger always wins (December 8, 2012)
The first rule of weight control: hunger trumps everything. In this post, we show you how to keep hunger from getting in the way of your new life.

4—People gotta move (December 15, 2012)
Yes, food choices are critically important to weight control. But the other part of the equation is exercise. We show you how to keep it manageable—because most of us don’t have time to spend two hours a day at the gym, right?

5—Help me make it through the holidays (December 22, 2012)
The holidays mean rich foods, and plenty of ‘em. Does this mean you must either deprive yourself or give up on weight loss? Neither! A sustainable lifelong food program leaves room for “special occasion” eating.

6—It’s all in our heads…or is it? (December 29, 2012)
Pop-psych and self-help gurus tell us our inability to lose weight comes from deep inner conflicts. But is the real problem something a bit more obvious?

7—Are we there yet? (January 5, 2013)
How do we know what we should weigh? A look at the uses and drawbacks of the Body Mass Index, and another way of defining our health goals.

8—Beware the grocery store (January 12, 2013)
Grocery shopping is full of landmines for health-conscious shoppers. And it’s made worse by misleading labels and ads. We look at some ways to navigate this “enemy territory.”

9—Thermogenic, metabolic snake oil (January 19, 2013)
Tempting as it may be to believe in a “miracle cure” for your extra pounds, no one has come up with one yet. Not even the redoubtable Dr. Oz…no matter what he claims to the contrary.

10—The surgical option? (January 26, 2013)
For people with a lot of weight to lose, weight loss surgery can seem like a last-ditch solution to an overwhelming problem. We look at some of the reasons to choose the surgical option…and some reasons to be cautious.

11—Take your vitamins! (February 2, 2013)
Vitamins and minerals are often overlooked by people who just want to lose a few (or many!) pounds. We give you the lowdown on which ones to look out for, and possibly to supplement.

12—Staying on track (February 9, 2013)
If you can’t keep track of your daily food intake, your weight loss journey will sputter to a halt. We talk about weighing and measuring and tracking food—why you should, when you shouldn’t, and what it can do for you.

13—Group or solo? (February 16, 2013)
Do you prefer to exercise alone, or in a group? We look at some of the expected and unexpected benefits of group fitness. For instance, did you know exercising with others can boost your endorphins?

14—Keeping it off (February 23, 2013) We all know that getting there is only half the job: maintaining weight loss is the real, ongoing challenge. We take a look at one big factor that ensures failure…and how to overcome it.

15—You gotta have heart! (March 2, 2013)
What’s the biggest killer of post-menopausal women. If you guessed “cancer,” guess again. It’s heart disease—and the good news is that you can help lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.

16—Junk food in sheep’s clothing: Sweet treats disguised as healthy snacks (March 9, 2013)
Just because a food claims to be “all natural!” or “fat free!” doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

17—Get back on that horse! (March 23, 2013)
Life happens. People stray from their healthy eating habits. Here’s what to do next…

18—What’s wrong with “Wheat Belly”? (March 30, 2013)
Weight loss gurus have been touting pseudo-science and inflated claims for years. Here’s another example.

19—Spring is coming! No, really. (April 6, 2013)
The snow might be melting, and my walking shoes are calling out to me.

20—How to get to your best weight (April 13, 2013)
Forget about BMI, forget about height and weight charts. You already know how to get to your best weight. Here’s why.

21—Four essential exercises (April 20, 2013)
Want to rev up your fitness regime, but don’t know where to start? Here are four basic yet fundamental exercises that you can do every day, to strengthen your whole body.

22—Slowly does it…buy why? (April 27, 2013)
Everyone says slow is better when it comes to weight loss, but do you know why? We talk about bones, muscles, and how to keep them healthy.

23—It takes a community (May 4, 2013)
Everyone does better with support, and online support is there for the taking. Here’s just a sampling.

24—Fat oppression is alive and well (May 11, 2013)
The CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch doesn’t want fat or otherwise “uncool” people shopping in his stores. This is no surprise to most of us “fat chicks.”

25—Stick to the plan to stay on target (May 18, 2013)
Planning your meals—even if it’s only 5 minutes in advance—can help you keep your weight loss program on track.

Don’t miss these tips from our friends!
They all have great info to share:

• Alexandra and Kymberly are twins who run a fantastic site for baby boomer fitness: Fun and Fit.
• Beth at Boomer Highway has started a series of Weekly Health Tips
• Amanda at TheFurFiles, a long-time fitness instructor, offers her share of wisdom in her great new Fitness Series.
• Marie, the Itty Bitty Boomer, talks about her experience with weight loss surgery in her 50s here, at Weight Loss Surgery Isn’t for Sissys.
• Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, at Weighty Matters, has lots to say about weight loss, the food industry, and other fun stuff. You should read him. Seriously.
• Little Big Wolf talks about the role of Big Food (aka the junk food industry) in ensuring we eat a lot of stuff that’s terrible for us: Bliss Point, Mouth Feel, and Junk Food Damage
• Kay Lynn is on her own midlife journey of weight loss and wellness. Join her at The Weight Chronicles.