Do older women lose weight slower?

[Losing_It_In_Texas 0]

As an old(er) woman myself (47), I am wondering if I will face slower weight loss than say a woman in her 20's or 30's? I had a hysterectomy when I was 32 and that is when I started slowly gaining weight....approximately 7 pounds a year till I reached my all time high of 250 pounds. I weighed 233 at surgery and am now 222, so a total of 11 pounds since surgery on 10-22. I am pretty satisfied with the overall total and I feel great, but I'm just curious how others around my age have been losing. I would love to hear from some of you.

[KayleighsMommy 16]

I will be 47 in a couple weeks (Yikes!!!!!) and I am at 54 pounds in less than 4 months. Granted, I had a LOT more to lose than you, but I have been happy with my loss so far.

[Jachut 487]

Its hard to tell sometimes. I lost as well as i ever did, I was 38 when I got banded. So not older older, but not a spring chicken either.

Now I lose better because I'm WAY fitter than I was in my 20's. That's most of the equation really, if you stay fit and active and maintain your lean body mass, its half the battle. Older women probably lose slower because they're softer, less muscular and less active and therefore have much lower calorie needs than younger ones. All of that can be addressed.

My mum had a mild heart attack last year despite a healthy lifestyle, the genetic factors were quite strong in our family. She was fine, came through it well but took seriously the implications to her lifestyle. She was always "active" with golf and being social etc but she really got into power walking and Curves and dropped 12 kg on Weight Watchers in a matter of 3 months and has kept it off for a good 12 now. She looks incredible, she's firm, shapely and has lost that matronly belly and shelf like bust. She even came for a 4km slow jog with me a few weeks ago because we went for a walk together and she decided to try. She's 68!

[snowbird 2]

I don't think you can make any generalizations about the rate of weight loss and have them mean a thing to an individual.

[Desdemona 48]

I don't know if I lose more slowly than I did when I was younger because I never weighed as much in the past as I did when I got the band. I started with a bit higher of a BMI than you are and I'm older. I lost about 20lbs pre-op and 25lb pretty quickly after the surg. Then I hit a very long stall---followed by some pretty slow weight loss---however--there were also problems with fills and I couldn't do a lot of exercise because of health issues. Now--my fills are finally kicking in and I'm in a better place to exercise. I'm starting to lose fairly well right now. But--even when you consider all of that -- I"m VERY pleased. I have never had this level of success in weight loss and I'm pretty confident that I will reach my goal around mid-2009. Not bad!

[glorybee123 0]

I think older women do lose a little slower than younger women. I think we have had more years of yo yo dieting to screw up our metabolism. I'm also basing this on the fact that I have a friend in her early 40's banded one month before me that has lost at least 20 pounds more than I have. It may come off a little slower but at least it's coming off!

[Losing_It_In_Texas 0]

I agree with everything everyone said to some degree, even though the posts differed a bit. I applaud all of you for your weight loss and dedication to getting healthier and appreciate all of the input. After all, I'm in this for the long haul and I know it won't take the 15 years it took to put it on, to take it off. Thanks everyone!!!

[noosagirl 0]

The more muscle you have the faster your metabolism. As we get older we lose muscle. So maybe focus on increasing your strength and in turn your metabolism will speed up.

[flowers 0]

I would say that its clear your metabolism slows down after the big M. I didnt have a serious weight loss until then, now I do. You are less active probably than you were in your 20s and 30s. It takes a lot fewer calories to maintain your weight, and if you dont cut down from what you used to eat, your weight will balloon.

Im sure after I went thru the big M, which I did early by age 40, it got harder and harder not to gain faster and faster. Im 58, sounds like I am older than most here. I talked to someone who had a band and was age 67 before I got banded and I remember not being very impressed with her weight loss either. I know Im not eating junk food and walking pretty much every day at least 2 miles, more Im sure. I was up to about 4 miles when I walked twice a day but developed a heat rash. My skin isnt going back into place at all, Im sagging. Belly fat and the girls are rubbing aginst my chest causing the rash.

No doubt in my mind this was easier when I was younger. I see plastic surgery in my future and even then I wouldnt look how Id like from the cottage cheese. Im really upset with myself about putting the weight on. I used to have a figure that turned heads. Im really sick about how I looked last time I lost this weight and how bad I looked. Im sure that had to do with regaining it, thought I didnt look any better at a lower weight than I did with saggy boobs and skin at the lower weight.

[kimaly 57]

I'm almost 45 and so far my weight loss seems to be right on track(hope it stays that way) you seem to be doing great so far. keep up the good work. I'm assuming you meant 9/22? anyway that's not even a month, your still in the healing stage

[To be free 1]

I just turned 47 and I do believe I am loosing slower than some of my younger bandsters...... I am however happy that I am loosing and if it takes me longer then I am ok with that.....

I think what we eat and how we exercise will have more to do with how fast we loose. Keep in mind though that the supposed weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week....and you are blowing that away now, Great Job!

I plan on looking better at 50 than I did at 40 that is my goal......so I have 3 years left..