Thanks Pat, DT and Jack. But what do you think about the South Beach diet? Its mostly more protein-lean meats and seafood and lots of veges and somewhat lesser fruit,nuts, whole grain breads and pasta. Along with exercise of course.Just curious if its something to follow for the rest of my life. And, is it safe?

j fl again you are just blaming others for your own failures, with your oh you must be on "steroids" ( iam not, those, just like what you espouse, are also fraud)and your "personalty sucks" comments. Then you bring up the south beach diet, again more waste of time. J Fl, get off your butt and run, and stop eating, it WILL get you what you want, and stop blaming others for your own short comings. Thats all there is to it. You want a better body, then go get it, and do the work that is required, and stop blaming others for the fact that up until now you seem to have fallen short. DO it today, you are not getting any younger or any more fit telling me that you think my personaly sucks. Sorry that you are so sensitive, but that does not change the facts about what you need to do to get what you want. You are the only person who can do the work J FL no one else can do it for you, and doing the work is the only way you get results. Anything else, any other comments, any other product, that says differently is not true, and is a waste of time. Sorry if that means I have a sucky personalty, but it is the truth, either deal with it, or quit and save your money for your coming doctor bills.

I am a 51 year old woman, who has been a hardcore cyclist and for about 10 years (2 hrs per day/5 days per week). I also workout with weights three times a week.  The exercise always kept weight off, and I never worried about what I ate.  Recently, I had some minor surgery that required me to NOT exercise for approximately one month.  I thought I would go nuts and was afraid that I would gain lots of weight; so, I changed my diet and ate ONLY the good-for-you fruits/veggies, lean meats, and whole grains.  In that one month's time I actually lost 10 pounds. Probably some of the weight loss was muscle, but my point is: staying fit takes discipline.  If you don't have the discipline to exercise, I doubt you will have the discipline to eat right.

Everyone needs to get over the fact that they had a great body when they were 20.  Metabolism slows as we age (sorry).  It is more difficult for women to lose weight than men (true).  Ok...  Now stop all the name calling and be realistic.  The reason everyone is commenting on and reading this article is a desire to get into better shape.  True being in better shape will not transform you into a better person but it will make you feel better about yourself. The fitness industry indusrty plays on the insecurities and the general lazyness of people. I hate to say it, but you all know what you need to do to reach your goals, it's really about the commitment. You know how you feel after a hard workout as opposed to when just going through the motions.  Doing a little is better than nothing but you will probably not get results that are your ideal.  If you want extreme results then extreme action is necessary to achieve them.  Good luck everyone!!!  

Losing weight is about putting less in the "pie-hole".

WEight loss is tough for men and women.  What all have said has truth, other than "not wasting your time" if it what you choose to do doesn't meet such a stringent standard.  Peoples efforts should be supported, not chastized or criticised.  It sounds like J FL is lloking for some support and advice, and what is offerred is insults from some and discouragement from others.

People loose weight at differrent rates, for many reasons.  Women, for example, ahve to contend with hormones, slower, different functioning metabolisms, and a host of other things, such as the stress of working and doing the majority of housework and child care.  It is a fact that these issues contribute to the making of excuses, yes, but they are the reality I deal with every day as a single, 37 year old mother.  You do have to make a committment to a healthy lifestyle full of healthy choices, from food to exercise, to the way you deal with the daily stress we all face (which increases fat stores as well...and makes it difficult even to think about exercise).

It really isn't fair to be so negative, and in fact, self righteous, with others who are looking for assistance.  Obviously, if folks are here reading this article and what folks have to say, they have taken the first step towards changing their thinking about this topic.

You always get more bees with honey, and kidness goes a huge way towards uplifting a fellow human.

Just some FOOD for the soul and heart, try to encourage not disuade, many get points are made in a negative way in this conversation, when so much more could be accomplished if the message wasn't so nasty.

Jay Ny Ny- You are not only ignorant, but mean-spirited and self-righteous. You are sadly misinformed on a number of your opinions, and in passing that misinformation on, you do no justice to struggling women everywhere.You are very arrogant to think what works for you will work for every body type. It is truly not that simple. As for my experience, in 6 years I have lost over 60 pounds, obtained a Black Belt in two different arts, and now am in a postion to have to actually eat more to KEEP weight on. No, there are no quick fixes. But never tell someone that they are doing absolutely no good by exercizing only 30 minutes a day. We all have to start somewhere.  I am 44 years old, female. I now run 3-4 mile daily, attend Martial Arts training on average 5-6 times a week,lift weights 3 times per week, perform 100 pushups and situps every day without fail. I started on the road to changing my life by walking-you guessed it- 30 mintues a day. Have a Twinkie and lighten up, dude.

I am over 50 and was always told that if you did cardio 20 min.three times a week or more you would lose some wieght. Is there anyone out there that is knowledgeable on this subject.

South Beach diet???! This diet, that diet, etc.!!! Send the money to your favorite charity . . . then eat less, a balanced diet ideally, and work out more. Find your level of "less food (balanced) and more exercise!" Eat what you want (balanced) but NOT MUCH! You need to get over the fads, the quick, the fools foley, etc. Eat less, work more, send your money to me for the advice I have given you or send it to your favorite charity; make a declaration of this publicly, and quit paying the charlatans!

Jay, you start out by insulting people with your initial comment and then get mad when I responded back in a negative way. I hate to burst your bubble Jay, but everyones body and metabolism is different so just screaming the same mantra doesn't make it true and certainly won't make others listen and follow you. I never blamed anyone for anything, only that it seems to be more difficult for over 40 women to lose weight and keep in shape as we get older. I'm having a conversation and asking real questions about nutrition and ways to get into better shape. I very well understand the basics about eating less and healthier and exercising more. That is a no brainer to me. This subject is not simplistic as you make it considering all the areas involved-genetics, hormones, medical issues etc.. People come in all shapes and sizes and personalities. A more diplomatic approach to the subject might better help those who struggle with weight issues, as I have done counseling with extremely overweight persons and those with eating disorders.

Thanks to everyone.I got a clear message today. I WILL be slimmer and healthier for my 50th. Just needed some encouragement!

K.P- Everything except eating helps you lose weight (it is just a matter of how much weight and how fast).  The reality is that weight lose can be achieved by diet alone.  However exercise can greatly speed up, and sustain the prosecess and also add to the overall quality of your health.  20 minutes of cardio three times a week will burn calories and help your heart and overall fitness (much more than doing nothing).  However that being said, you are probably not burning much more than 600-800 calories per week with that routine. So with 3500 calories in a pound your exercise burns about 8 pounds per year.  Therefore, the cardio might be enough to stay healthy but not enough to lose substantial weight by itself.  Hope that helps?    

Holy Moly.  After reading all this weight and exercise intensity and insults and obsessing and advice, not to mention the holier than thou lectures, I gotta go have a beer and some chips....

fair enough black belt, but you went out and did stuff and started at the level you could handle and increased the load and now you have worked yourself into pretty goodshape, but you did not get there by being lazy or taking some south beach mix, or making excuses, you did it by working, and that is my point. One has to do the work. The other point is that all you need is a pair of shoes and a set of weights, you don't need a goofy expensive class, or anything else. That is also a fact, it is not ignorance, as you claim, it will work for anyone who sticks with it, also a fact, and I am not here to do justice for struggling women, I leave that to the courts, this has nothing to do with justice. A whole bunch of people in this country want to be told that there is some short cut, and that its not your fault that you are not in shape, and that there is some other way to get in shape. There is not, and if telling people the truth about that makes me nasty, or whatever else, then so be it, but I am a lot nicer to face than what an over weight person will face when they get diabeties and are looking at having their leg amputated, or lying in a hospital bed wondering if they will live and see their kid grow up from the heart attack or stroke they are having as a result of the high blood pressure they have as a result of being overweight. We simply can not sugar coat this (pun intended), we don't do it for smoking, we don't do it for drunk driving, and we don't do it for drug abuse, this is a public health issue and it needs to be treated as such. Smoking crack may make you feel good, but its terrible for your health, carrying 70 extra pounds and eating lots of bad food and not working out may make you feel good too, but its also terrible for your health.  If someone wants to change then they need to be told the truth about what is necessary, and that basic message is cardio, 45 minutes min. 5-6 times a weeks with weights 2-3 times a week. Is there differnt kinds of ways to get cardio? Yes. Is there different ways to build muscle, yes. However that does not change the underlying equation that one still needs to do a certain amount to get results.  

I've never wanted to look like Heidi Klum.

I see your point, Jay. And well made at that!

I have to weigh in again (pun intended). Jay is absolutely right that to lose a pound you need a deficit of 3500 calories. He is absolutely wrong about having to exercise in 45 minute or longer bursts to burn fat. He gets his information from the fact that when we exercise we burn glycogen which is sort of like gasoline that our bodies store in muscles for quick use. Depending on fitness levels, intensity of work outs and how regularly you work out, for the first 20-60 minutes of a cardio wotk out you are burning glycogen not fat. But that is only part of the story. Once that glycogen has been depleted your body will seek to replace it--even if you are sitting at your desk or taking a nap.  Further your body needs to repair the little muscle tears you experienced during your cardio and of course you have to keep your heart, lungs brain etc going 24/7. If you eat exactly the amount of calories otherwise needed to maintain your body weight, that 20 minute run which Jay calls worthless will still result in an extra 200-300 calories being burned that day. If the amount you eat was just enough to sustain your body weight, you will lose about 1/2 pound a week or 25 pounds a year doing 20 minutes of cardio 6 times a week. The whole metabolism thing is that we tend to need less calories just to maintain our weights as we get older--probably due to less activity when we are not exercising as well as some hormone changes because we devote less energy to being ready to reproduce at the drop of a hat- and men's metabolism  may drop slower both because of more muscle mass and more mass in general. For those of us who simply do not have the time to exercise more, the only way to maintain weight is to eat less as we age and if we want to lose that 10 or 15 pounds which crept on we have to eat still less. This comes as a shock to people who have been fitness fanatics, because at an earlier point in their lives they may have had trouble keeping their weight up and at a minimum felt if they were running 70 miles a week they could eat whatever and whenever they liked. Those bad habits are hard to break, but the successful people do it by making new, better, habits--Never snack, never drink anything except water or another zero calorie drink--black coffee-only drink alcohol on certain days ,in certain quantities etc,  always watch portion size even at "special events", cut out carbs that are not particularly good for you--eat an apple and skip the pasta-and quit eating carbs just to make you feel "full", do not use food to "reward" yourself or to boost your spirits, everytime you are about to eat or drink something, think about whether you really want it or would you like to be 1/2 pound lighter next week. Losing weight does take discipline, but a lot of those really "disciplined" folks like Jay cheat by making both regular exercise and low calorie diets into habits. Bad habits are hard to break, but so are good ones.

Maybe I'm chiming in a bit late, but it seems relevant. I am an over-40 woman whose been obese practically since birth. Yes, there was a lot more sitting than moving and a lot of food to make me feel better when I was younger.



Ten years ago, I started martial arts which instantly added 12 hours a week of workouts to my previously inactive lifestyle, and promptly reduced my calorie intake as well. It was hard to eat while working out and afterwards, I wasn't hungry. Total net weight-loss? 10 pounds over 6 months but I felt much better and looked much better. The numbers on the scale just hadn't changed much.

Nowadays, I ride horses to keep fit. With a lot of work, I've lost 40 pounds in the last year, and have another 30 to go to put me into the "overweight" category rather than obese. The only diet I've followed is to eat three bites less than I want of anything and to cut out about half the sodium from my diet. I won't say I am fit, but I am much more fit than I used to be and that's really the goal of the whole process. I'm not willing to work harder to meet someone else's idea of what I should look like. I'm changing because I want to be more fit, not because of the numbers on the scale. Personally, I think that is the most important "lesson" I wish everyone could learn. If you feel fit and don't find your size or your fitness level is impeding your ability or desire to do what you want, ignore the numbers on the scale. I don't want to have my 20-something brains so why should I want to have my 20-something body?

On a side note, in our horse barn we have 20+ horses that all get ridden and exercised about the same. Some of those horses can maintain their weight on less than half what the normal horse eats while others need about 25% more to maintain their weight. We call those horses that need very few calories "easy keepers" and those that need extra rations "fidgety". After watching them, nobody can tell me that metabolism doesn't affect weight gain or loss.

I've realized that I'm an "easy keeper" so I have to pay a lot more attention to what I eat. While others may be able to eat that 35 calorie oreo once a week without a problem, I can't allow myself those small indulgences if I am serious about losing weight. Then again, since I don't care about the number on the scale all that much, one indulgence every other week or so doesn't bother me :-)

Bottom line, try to ask yourself this question: Is my weight or fitness level keeping me from doing things I want to do? If so, work to fix it. If not, maintain what you are doing.

To Amy S of New York, whem a lady does what you do, with no results, and was better at an early age doing nothing for it, she has to realise that her hormones at 47 are NOT at the levels they were at at 26. You can ask to see if any doctors in your area belong to the american association of Antiaging medicine, of the which I am a member, but I do not live in the US.
You can recieve a safe and effective hormone replacment treatment, by using a blood test to see your free hormone levels, wrt estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA.
Treatment based on exams, with exams every three months, makes it safe, it has no side effects, and you can recieve no harm. If you wish, you may write to me at mfrejac@aol.com
Just had to comment on seeing your note. If you do the hormone treatment, go back to the gym and you will not believe what you can achieve, by correcting your hormone deficits.
It is simple. You at 47, plus a correct and safe hormonal therapy, well balanced and proven, can be more like you were at 26. You won´t be that well off, but you will get better results than you have as yet.

To answer a previously unanswered question... the South Beach Diet is program on which you can lose weight.  I lost 20 pounds on it in three months time.  I'm a 55 year old woman who tried it last year.  The advantage of the program is that instills food discipline and portion awareness.  The disadvantage is that, like all "diet plans", unless you have developed your own internal food controls it is difficult to maintain.  

Good luck to all of you and remember to be happy with what you have.  If you aren't, do something about it.  To lose weight, you must eat well, limit the snacks and alcohol, and exercise.  It is simple science.  Cardio is the best, and quickest, but musculoskelatal (weights) can't be ignored and should be used in combination with cardio.  If you really want to lose the weight, you can.  It is very mental and takes a lot of dedication.  It's not easy, but you can do it!!

Hey Folks- I forgot one very important thing that I believe is a key factor in my personal weight loss. I abstain completely from alcohol of any kind. Beer, wine, liquor. None in four years. No hangovers, either!

jay ny ny,

I'm trying to recall the story of a lady who went to a book signing by some exercise guru.  She told him she had 3 kids, worked full-time where could she find the time to workout.  Instead of the guy being compassionate he said to her, "you are not ready to lose weight yet."  That shocked and motivated her to get up early and do something.  

What I've read over the years is that to really lose weight you have to workout 6~7 times a week for about an hour. And once you get to your goal weight then only then you can cut down your weekly sessions.  Most people get discourage as they think they would have to work out an hour a day every day forever.  

If your weight were to creep back up, you could just up the workouts again until you have it under control.  As you get older you are less active, so you have less muscle.  The decrease in muscle is usually the cause for weight gain.  That's what people call slower metabolism.  

Don't get mad at jay ny ny get even, by finding the time to workout.  And stop getting teens gastric bypass surgery. That's just ________!! Do what I do with my teens.  Keep them active.  Put them on the track team, swim team, study karate, rollerskate.   Parents set the example for your kids and be active also.  We all have the same 168.  24 hours * seven days a week.  How you use yours is up to you. Fire your yard man and mow your own yard.  Wash your own car.  All the activities count.  You don't have to run or jog, but just stay active.  Find something you like.  Don't do what others do, do what you like to do!!

Before anyone comments about how my obesity is killing me, my doctor says I am healthy. My blood pressure, pulse, cholest and glucose levels are all on the low side of normal. That's not to say that things won't change, but they've done nothing but get lower as I've exercised. Since I didn't get hypertension while I was pregnant, it's much less likely I'll get diabetes but I am careful to keep tabs on it.

I've also managed to raise two kids who are active and normal-weight so clearly I haven't pushed my weight problem onto my offspring.

For all those women out there, please have your thyroid levels checked. When you are in your twenties, your thyroid level provides a baseline for later in life. About 1/3 of women who are 40+ have diminished thyroid levels which have a variety of side effects. Since your thyroid levels affect virtually all the other hormone levels in your body, when your thyroid is out of whack, so too are the other hormones. The most notable side-effects are hair loss or breakage, depression, and frequent "senior moments", but the first side-effects include weight gain, feeling colder, lack of energy, or dry skin. Many of the women I've talked to attribute these milder symptoms to growing older, but often it turns out to be a low thyroid level.  Most of the time, women don't report any problems to their doctor unless they are experiencing the major symptoms but sometimes a small decrease in your thyroid level makes a big difference in how you feel! It's an easy fix and an easy test. If you don't have a baseline thyroid level from your 20s, you might have to negotiate with your doctor about thyroid replacement therapy if your levels aren't too far out of "normal".

Jay, you sound like an arrogant, know it all (maybe it's a NY thing?).  That said, others, please take Jay's message (not his harsh words) to heart.  The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.  If you are doing the same workout routine and not getting results, it's time to change something.  And, I hate to say it, Jay is right.  If you want to loose weight you need to put in the hours (not minutes) of excersize.  I'm a 40 year old male.  I definitely think men and women respond differently to excersize  and age also plays a role.  I have always been active (hockey and soccer thru college, life long runner) and my weight remained at 160-165 lbs for 20+ years.  Then 40 approached and suddenly I was at 185.  I kicked up the workout but not much happened.  Then I trained for a half marathon (my third so nothing new) which really bumped up my workouts from 35-45 min 4-5 days a week to 45-90+ min 7 days a week.  I actually ate MORE and went back to 165 in about a month.  I'm not suggesting a formula.  Just that, as Jay points out, there is a point (workout time) at which you really start shedding pounds.  It's time to be really honest and objective with yourselves.  Are you really doing enough excersize?  When you are at the gym are you working out or socializing?  Be objective, step back for a moment and look at yourselves and those around you.  It's hard to admit but we are all lazy and looking for a "quick fix", magic pill, get rich quick.....  They don't exist so let's quit yelling a Jay, blaming the fitness industry, and kidding ourselves about "how much we workout".  And don't give me "I don't have time" excuses.  Your health should be a high priority.  I've only written this one response and it's already wasted way too much of my time.  I think I'll go out for a 60 min run.  Anyone gonna join me?

I'm a 35 yr. old woman with a child and have first-hand experience with the metabolic changes women go through as a result of childbirth, hormones and aging. Even though I haven't hit 40 yet, I've struggled with my weight and metabolism since the age of 13 and after having a child, watched my metabolism slow to a near-grinding halt. Women's bodies are different from men's, but Jay in NY is still correct that a pound is a pound and a calorie is a calorie. If you want to lose weight but the scale isn't budging, then you need to exercise more and eat less.    

The only point that I disagree with him on is the same one Terry points out - which is that you don't need to exercise for a minimum of 45 minutes 6 days a week to burn fat. It doesn't matter whether you're burning glycogen or fat in a given work out, it's how many calories total you're burning over time (or how many fewer calories you're taking via eating less). If you're doing a 30-min run 5 days a week, that's approximately 300 calories x 5, so 1500 calories. That will burn a pound of fat in about 2 1/2 weeks. If you want to speed up weight loss, then eat less and/or exercise more. It's not a waste of time to do cardio workouts that are less than 45 minutes long - a longer workout will simply get results faster.

I lost 45 pounds many years ago by doing 30 minutes of exercise nearly every day and eating much, much less than I had been. I've been thin ever since. These days I run, lift weights, and eat according to my metabolism in order to maintain my weight. It does change as I get older, and I've noticed a significant slowing of my metabolism since having a baby (hormones maybe?), but what that means is very simple - I eat less and exercise more.

I have to agree with Jay ny ny, everything he has stated is the god awful truth. Iam a 49 year old man that has been there done that and unless your ready to feel the burn your not going to do any good. Iam a body builder and it takes everything I have to obtain what I have. Get off your butts and sweat for crying out loud and stop your blubbering(no pun intended). Nothing worth having is easily obtained.

Lot's of J's around.  One of the best things to do is wear a pedometer and write the number of steps you take each day on a monthly calendar.  You'd be surprised at how little most of us move.  Then that little $4.00 gadget will assist you in moving more.  And you can start tracking your improvements right away.  Start adding a few steps every day until you are walking for about 1/2 hour a day.  

I'd like foods to add a new item on the list of ingredients.  How far you have to walk or run to burn off a bag of potato chips.  Let's see, one small bag = 3 miles of walking.  I think I'll pass.  

Obesity won't kill you, but diabetes will.  That's the new thing now.  Insulin resistance.  That's one reason to try to take off the weight.  Weight has nothing really to do with having normal blood values.  In fact you can have very good cholesterol levels and be overweight and inactive.  Other tests are needed to see if you are at risk.  I know I have bad cholesterol genes.  

p.s. your body doesn't know the difference between a twinkie calorie and a calorie from an apple.  If you have too many of either you will put on the pounds...

I haven't heard from any 60 year old women.  I just turned 60 2 wks ago, and am kind of freaked out about it.  I don't feel 60, act 60 or look 60.  I work out 3 times a week, and have a tread mill at home that I use on off days.  I thought 30 minutes was good for cardio - I may have to sstep it up.   Sorry ladies, you think it's hard now.  My family has a lot of osteoporosis problems, and I have already been diagnosed with it, so I try to keep my body active.  I gained 20 lbs in the last 8 years, and have been trying deperately to lose it to no avail.  I also keep shrinking, so it is really depressing to go to the doctor.  I actually look better than most 60 year olds, but at times I would still like to look good in that bikini again.  The real truth is that everyone has their own priorities and capacity for discipline.  I believe in leading a healthy and well-balanced life - I eat healthy, but I don't like to deprive myself.  I enjoy working out, but I need time for myself and my family and friends, so I let myself skip some sessions for a good reason.  I know I will never quit exercising and being the healthiest I can be.  I just probably won't ever wear a bikini again.  Good luck everyone.  Still sexy at 60, PA

I'm chiming in here.  I'm 44 and very over weight.  Last July I started eating right, watching portions and working out.  I do cardio at least 4 times a week in the gym.  I work hard!  I go at a 10-15% incline for 20 min on the treadmill and then do another 30 min on the eliptical machine.  I lift moderate weights 3 times a week and I try to be very active on the weekends.  

Personally I've had GREAT success!  I'm down 125#'s in 9 months and I'm still losing at least 10#'s a month.  

It's really been sorta easy and fun!  I look so different, I feel great and I won a contest worth $1000 at work.  I've learned how to cook and eat healthy.  I love life right now!

There are about 3400 to 3500 to a pound of fat but remember a gallon of water weighes about 7 pounds.

People that come in the office Monday morning saying they've "lost weight" over the week-end are probably dehydrated and will seem to put weight back on pretty qwik.

Don't give up on the cardio...it's "way" good for you, so get out there and walk and enjoy a sunrise or sunset..(gawd; the things you can see in the night sky)try out some weights (don't hurt yourself) muscle does burn more fat...just a little weight training...remmeber your in this for yourself not anyone else's.  you don't have to prove anything to anybody, but yeah, a little weight training if you can safely.  If you hurt yourself watch the weight load on before your eyes.

Watch what ya eat.  If your eating just because "it's time" or "somthing to do", do the spinich and tuna wrap thing. Remember eating and enjoying it is part of the being human experience, so what the hell have a nice rib-eye Saturday afternoon for dinner. Enjoy it guilt free because you don't do chips and soda's the rest of the week.

Genetics does play a role in this...On what end (intake or calorie burn) I don't know, but it does play a role. some people may think their luckier than others but fittness is a personal thing you choose.  I'm male 180 lbs 5'11", got six pack ab's at 49, down from 210 Lbs. at age 42 but genetics and the actuaries say I'll be dead by 55. I could care less about looking like a movie star and care alot about staying alive to see my grand children grow.

Walking, weights (safely), diet...it's all good. find what you enjoy and (gawd I hate nike for this)... just do it.

I agree with everything that jay from NY said. I am actually a woman who onced weighed in at 310lbs. To drop the first 100lbs were the easiest I ever did by only walking an hour every evening and dividing one meal into 3 and drinking only water. I ate junk here and there but once the pounds shed it was easier to keep my mind in health and exercise rather than food for pleasure.I've hit at least 6 plateus in the course of my weight loss which i have solved by the intensity of my workout and actually taking my time doing reps from situps to benchpressing. To lose those extra pounds means I have to basically starve like actors do but only with the help of supplements. Ultimately, having a body like heidi klum comes two ways...by genes or by really, really working your ass off religiously. But to all those women I have to seriously say that stressing over the way you look is a waste of time and reading into articles like this that confuse everyone. I have to admit although i love exercising and what Ive done with my body, but I was happier when i was chubby and even though I look like the latina Angelina Jolie i manage to intimidate all the boys away :(    Be happy..period!

Who's Heidi Klum?

Who cares who Heidi Klum is?

Post Script:

we didn't put the unwanted weight on in a couple months...it's not going to come off in a couple months. It can take years to take off the extra weight but, the up side is, hopefully it will also add years of "healthy" to your life and with the mess health care is in this country the longer you stay healthy the more money you have in your pocket.

One of the biggest myths in the fitness industry is the notion the "Resting Muscle Burns alot more Calories than Fat". This is flat out factually WRONG.
Its especially annoying when I hear so called national "experts" making this claim ( Roizen and Oz in "You on a diet").

Resting fat tissue burn approximatly 2/KCALS/LB/24HR and muscle burns ~ 6/KCAL/LB/24HR.

So if you gain 10 pounds of muscle and lose 10 pounds of fat your resting metabolism changes about 40KCAL/Day or less than 1/2 a bannana.

If you want to loss some weight, grow a new kidney. It will burn about 300KCAL/pound
Randy F

Randy, if you gain 10 Lbs. of muscle and lose 10 Lbs. of fat, regardless of the burn rate, you still come out ahead.......muscle dosn't plug artories.

to the boys (I'd say men...  but....) your simplistic "answers" show the simplistic, uneducated nature of your minds.  Get educated.  BTW, I don't have a problem but know plenty who struggle.  If we weren't different, then you'd all be questioning your PREFERENCES...

Hey r phx az you know the johneb57 North Pole Alaska is right because so much death over nothing, such as lazziness, and muscle thats what every one wants, who wants fat, we need muscle, muscle dont kill you fat does...

Jay in NY - while harsh - is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. And I'm a 44 year old woman. Sorry ladies - but you're full of excuses, just like all the gals I hear at the gym whining how they can't do this and can't do that and can't lift because they don't want to develop huge bulky muscles. I'm no supermodel and am actually in the process of kickstarting my own long-time work-out routine, but I'm also not full of excuses. Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight and maintaining a solid physique is actually work. That means sometimes it's unpleasant and you gotta sweat and maybe pass on the alcohol and sweets. And news flash ladies, you can develop six-pack abs in your 40s. Mine came back when I got serious again after recovering from an injury that derailed by fitness last year.

Here here..another yay to Jay...you are absolutely right.  Less in...more out...Inother words stop eating so much.  I am 53 years and got serious about shedding 87 uncessary pounds about 8 months ago.  So far I have lost 46 lbs HOW?  you ask?  I quit eating everything that wasn't eating me first...good old fashioned nutrition based on the food pyramid.  As a result I am healthier..even reversing conditions that were killing me like diabetes and hypertension and increased bad cholesterol and decreased good cholesterol?  Ever heard of metabolic syndrome folks?  google it and get the shock of your life!! it starts with obesity which contributes to hypertension, lipedemia, and thromboplastic disorders which lead on to strokes, renal failure and cardiovascular events.  I have come to beleive that if the terrorists just sit back and wait...they won't have to bomb us away...Americans are truly eating theirselves to DEATH.
Quit eating so much and start working out...every...day.  When you plateau you have to work out more or harder..i.e.  instead of walking 2 miles..walk three OR..walk that 2 miles in less time.  That is what is working for me.  

My motivation for exercising is weight loss and tightening up the mid-section.  At 46 - I recognize that motivation is key.  I time my workout to end precicely at the tail end of happy hour.  Enough time to get in a productive work out and also enough time to truly enjoy a great casual life.  Both take WORK - WORK - WORK.

I have read almost all the comments and have to say J in NY has hammered his point into my brain. I am a 26 year old who has 20 lbs to lose to be 'fit' but have noticed that 8 months ago it was 15 lbs. I have no excuse except that I have been lazy and not seen the easy equation to lose weight. I think I have been trying to make a huge complicated calculus problem from something that could be with simple addition/ subtraction. I might not be thrilled by the way he said it..but it simply wasn't said in a 'coddling' tone but was true. I am now determined to take the addition problem to the gym...

Most people get hung up on how many miles they walk/run/bike to burn off x amount of calories.  The point of cardio exercise is that it increases your metabolic rate after exercise. This is where you get the most bang for your buck. I'm a 49 year old competitive record holder powerlifter and former marathon runner.

Sue in PA...I just turned 60 and am struggling to take off 20 lbs.  I work long days..get up at 3:45 am and get to work by 6:00.  I don't get home til 5 and by then I'm exhausted.  I try to fit in 30 minutes of exercise, but it's really hard.  I know I eat more than I should (mostly portion size), but there is a limit to how much I am willing to give up.  I guess it's a trade off.  In any event, I am very youthful, love the outdoors, and will probably up my execise as the weather gets better around here.

For all of those considering diet changes, please be cautious to testimonials of what's worked for people.  For example, I don't think it's healthy for Terry to be condoning skipping meals and never ever enjoying a snack.  That type of thinking just harms the mind, body, and soul in the end.

I have read most of the comments here and just want to add one simple statement. For all that have posted about weight loss's and or conditioning goals that they have achieved - contratulations. For those that think that they can not do it - think otherwise , as long as you are striving for a realistic goal. Two and a half years ago I was at my highest weight ever 217 lbs, made a commitment at that point to do something about and have. I dropped to 175 lbs within about a year with  over a 10 % loss in body fat. I have maintained that weight since then and increased lean muscle mass with a combination of cardio,flexibilty (core muscle workout) and wieght training.I celebrated my 50th birthday last year by running my first 10 K. To tell you exactly how I did is not my point but to more so say to those that seek a way to do it, find something that works for you and stick with it. Oh and to those that have posted here that we can not look as good as we did when we were 20 , that is not true. And it (IS) possible by the way to accieve six pack abs at the age of 50 by the way if you work hard enough at it.
To all that seek better fitness and or have acchieved - keep up the good work

JC in AZ - "I've only written this one response and it's already wasted way too much of my time.  I think I'll go out for a 60 min run.  Anyone gonna join me?"

What a perfect way to end your comments.  As the complaints continue about not having enough time to work out all the while spending all of the time it takes to read through and respond to all of these comments!!  All it takes is to just stop all of the excuses and just do it!!

If you want to make any change, whether it be losing weight or getting 6-pack abs, you have to want to change. You have to want to sacrifice anything and everything. You have to be willing to work hard. And it will not be easy. Nothing is ever easy, though. Who said  life was going to be easy? No one. It's just WORTH it. I'm still a teenager, but I try to stay optimistic. Besides, take a step back and you'll realize that having a six-pack abs or looking like heidi klum is not important at all. People are dying all around the world every second for causes that could be prevented.

When children play, they do it because it is fun. As we get older we suppress the natural urge to play hard because we believe that it is childish. When we abandon all physically demanding play time for more adult activities we are giving up our natural abilities to stay in shape just by having fun. This is why so many people who never give up a strenuous sport also remain in excellent condition all of their lives. So hikers and bikers and tennis buffs and even those folks who like to play basketball with their friends almost always make the rest of us look like the couch potatoes we have let ourselves become. My advice; ignore most of the so called gurus and rediscover the child within yourself and go and play...hard.

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