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Yes. In one word, the answer is a resounding YES!
But…not without some changes in your lifestyle and some effort. If you aren't willing to do those things, just head back to the fridge and enjoy yourself! Eat massive quantities of chocolate for me!
If you are, it's not complicated. Eat less than you consume. Move your body. You know, the stuff you've been hearing your entire life.
After 77 long weeks, I have lost 50.4 pounds. I'd like to lose about another two, just to give a little buffer on the 50. No big deal, since I finally submit to the fact that this is going to be a lifelong thing.
In the new year, I added a more healthy meal prep system to the mix, too. This healthy meal cookbook is called Cook Once, Eat All Week: 26 Weeks of Gluten-Free Affordable Meal Prep to Preserve Your Time & Sanity. It does include nutrition information, so you can pop it right into My Fitness Pal every night.
In a nutshell, each week you prep a few foods and then make them into three very different meals. (Two bonus meals are included if you want more than three.) So far, I quite like the system. My only modification is that I want to completely prepare and portion the meals—in my glass containers—all at once, so dinner on busy nights can be grab and go.
If you try it out, let me know what you think!
If you want to see the 25-pound weight loss blog and video from a year ago, you can check those out, too.
Just remember, if you're in midlife and struggling to lose weight, hang in there! It might take longer, but it will happen!
Dear Allison,
Thanks for your posts on weight loss after menopause! You share your secret but I’m not clear on one thing—When using the suggested app to track 1200 calories a day did you “consume” less than 1200 calories a day or “net” less than 1200 calories a day? You mention daily workouts where you burned 300+ calories so trying to understand if you “consumed” up to 1200 calories minus -300 burned = 900 “net” OR did you “consume” up to 1500 calories minus -300 burned= 1200 “net”? More simply put, did you ever exceed 1200 calories if you worked out more?
Many thanks
Dez, thanks for the question!
I have been using My Fitness Pal to track my calories. Generally, I do add the cardio calories burned into my daily caloric intake. So, on the days I work out (usually, six days per week), I increase my intake by that amount. If I don’t do a formal workout, no “bonus” calories are added.
I don’t try to add in (or even calculate) calories from weight training, because it’s too complicated to figure out.
Some people say you shouldn’t do that—and weight loss would be quicker that way, I suppose—but it was a motivator to me to be able to have a little more wiggle room for eating. (And I do love to eat!)
I’d love to hear about your progress down the road. Mine was slow, but it happened. 🙂
Hi Alison,
I am deeply impressed by your achievement. I am 53 with 3 kids aged 13, 9 and 7 and I just start fresh again…. after many unsuccessful diets… this time I will do exercises, weights and massages in addition to healthy eating and lotsen of Lemon juice and cinnemon …. with minus 3 pounds since 5 days….
Oh, I get you, Karin! (And than you for the kind words.) It’s been a struggle and it took a long time. I feel so much better now. For me, it had nothing to do with bikini season (I’ve never worn a bikini anyway!). It was about not having to think about my weight anymore. It was about doing things and being healthy and having my body be a tool to do the things I want.
I wish you much encouragement! It is worth it!