In my 70's I have lost over 200lbs and kept it off with only diet and exercise and help from my doctor for 7 years

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warrior lady

New Member
I am age 76. I know that God led me to the right doctor who found the real issues of what caused so much weight gain. My weight was over 300 lbs. She found that I had type 2 diabetes, an under active thyroid, and I was completely depleted of vitamin D. She got me on the right medication and diet, and the weight just melted off. I now weigh 110 pounds and have been able to keep it off. I started this journey to feel healthier, and in doing so, found out that I still had to overcome the low self-esteem issues. the right doctors who helped find the real issues of what caused so much weight gain and the right choices to lose the weight. The food craving was a symptom of something much deeper inside. I pray that my weight loss story will help anyone who is struggling with a poor self-image. You need to know that you are beautiful (or handsome if you are a guy) for who you are. Please don’t let anyone else’s opinion of you dictate how you should look. For seniors out there, you can still do this, and feel younger and healthier. I have kept it off for 7 years.
 

That's fantastic. I'd like to lose about 10 lbs and have a problem. At 88 I lead a rather sedentary life, and due to cardiomyopathy, my exercise regimen is anemic at best.

Welcome to the Forum.
 
You're now 110 pounds! Fantastic, you must be able to wear all the cutest clothes.

That's what I weighed until I was 45, quit smoking 40 cigarettes a day and substituted about 40 cookies.
You are very inspiring to me, particularly the "kept it off for 7 years" part.
 
warrior lady said:
I am age 76. I know that God led me to the right doctor who found the real issues of what caused so much weight gain. My weight was over 300 lbs. She found that I had type 2 diabetes, an under active thyroid, and I was completely depleted of vitamin D. She got me on the right medication and diet, and the weight just melted off. I now weigh 110 pounds and have been able to keep it off. I started this journey to feel healthier, and in doing so, found out that I still had to overcome the low self-esteem issues. the right doctors who helped find the real issues of what caused so much weight gain and the right choices to lose the weight. The food craving was a symptom of something much deeper inside. I pray that my weight loss story will help anyone who is struggling with a poor self-image. You need to know that you are beautiful (or handsome if you are a guy) for who you are. Please don’t let anyone else’s opinion of you dictate how you should look. For seniors out there, you can still do this, and feel younger and healthier. I have kept it off for 7 years.
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you are such an inspiration! Love your story and am so glad to hear you are keeping it off, managing your thyroid, etc. You go girl!
 
@warrior lady Quite an accomplishment! Can you tell me what meds and supplements (if any) the dr prescribed for you? I have diabetes too but am not on a med for it at this point. I really need to lose a lot but find it so hard. I want to snack so much but noticed if it's not in the apt. then I just can't eat it.
 
Ruthanne said:
@warrior lady Quite an accomplishment! Can you tell me what meds and supplements (if any) the dr prescribed for you? I have diabetes too but am not on a med for it at this point. I really need to lose a lot but find it so hard. I want to snack so much but noticed if it's not in the apt. then I just can't eat it.
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I imagine the main therapy would have been thyroxin. An underactive thyroid would be the main reason for the weight gain.
 
Wow!! I am 67, almost 68, and have lost close to 200 lbs also, I reached my goal about a year ago and have really been struggling with maintenance. Like you I lost it just dieting, no surgery, no drugs, but some exercising.

What is your secret to having kept it off so long? I don't feel like I can do that. The positive reinforcement of seeing my weight come down is now gone and staying on track is harder for me now than when I was dieting...

And welcome to the forum!
 
Welcome to the forum.

I am so impressed that you lost so much weight. I have struggled with weight since I was a child. At 19, I weighted 125 pounds probably should have weighed 110 as I am short. Did you have skin reduction surgery at all? As my weight goes down, I find my skin is very loose.

I recently have gone from obese to overweight. 😂. I walk to help control my blood sugars and my A1C is now 7.1. YAY. I have not dieted but simply eaten less of what I like and cut back on the carbs and candy to get the A1C down. And I try to avoid eating between breakfast and lunch, but have an afternoon snack.

In order not to regain any weight, this time, as soon as the scale shows an increase of 1 pound I do not ignore it, but eat even less until that pound plus one is gone. I want to lose a few more pounds.
 
Hey Aneeda, congrats on the weight loss!
Aneeda72 said:
In order not to regain any weight, this time, as soon as the scale shows an increase of 1 pound I do not ignore it, but eat even less until that pound plus one is gone. I want to lose a few more pounds.
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I tried that, and am now kind of stable. However at first I think I lost too much weight and was underweight. It is back up a little and I am feeling better. My doctor tells me I am fine at current weight. I do still weigh everyday, and if I see an upward trend I act on it. However I have learned that my day to day weight can vary by as much as 5 lbs one way or the other, just due to water retention, not fat gain. Coming to better understand that has helped. But I still struggle.
Aneeda72 said:
skin reduction surgery at all? As my weight goes down, I find my skin is very loose.
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I also have a lot of loose skin, losing 200 lbs will do that... Thought about the surgery, but decided against it for now. Seems too radical, living with loose skin is better than living with fat.
 
Alligatorob said:
Hey Aneeda, congrats on the weight loss!

I tried that, and am now kind of stable. However at first I think I lost too much weight and was underweight. It is back up a little and I am feeling better. My doctor tells me I am fine at current weight. I do still weigh everyday, and if I see an upward trend I act on it. However I have learned that my day to day weight can vary by as much as 5 lbs one way or the other, just due to water retention, not fat gain. Coming to better understand that has helped. But I still struggle.

I also have a lot of loose skin, losing 200 lbs will do that... Thought about the surgery, but decided against it for now. Seems too radical, living with loose skin is better than living with fat.
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Grats to you on the weight loss as well. I agree on the water weight thing, but I can tell when it’s water cause I swell. I have chicken wing arms 😞 which I hate.
 

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