Older Ladies Weight Issues
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » EDS Lounge

free skin care · Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:08 pm

I am reaching out to the intelligent women here to see if there is a way to help my mom control her weight gain and shed some pounds safely. My mom is 72 and unhappy due to the weight she has put on over the years...quit smoking

YeaH....menopause and so forth. It kind of fits into the saying of "you start to gain a pound a year after 35"..so she is about 35 lbs over weight which fits into that equation pretty well. I want to be able to offer some helpful direction and support so she can feel her best. There are a million and one diets and books out there but I have no idea if something is better to read than another. I think its more about eating the right things throughout the day and adding some cardio ie walking and maybe a few key moves. She basically would be doing this from home as my father is not well and can't be left for too long. She's joined gyms before and didn't go...I think she tried Nutri System or something and didn't follow through...and told me the other day she might check into Weight Watchers...but I don't really know about that either. I am going to go see her in about a month and maybe I can help kick start some goods things with her while I'm there for about a week...NEEDLESS to say Kick start my own path to healthier lifestyle. I look at my calculations...I'm 45 and yes I am 10 pounds heavier than I was at 35...so..I think I need to get started here.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:45 am

She should at least start with stretching to get those muscles moving so she doesn't do any harm. Walking would definately be the way to go. Light weight dumbells would be a huge help as well and it helps prevent/retard bone loss. Any type of movement keeps her mental facilities healthy as well.
If she has any medical concerns she might double check with her doctor to be on the safe side. Good luck.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:21 am

I'm 51 and lighter than I was at 35. I lost 40 pounds 5 years ago on a modified low carb diet (I eat lots of flax, nut flours, and non starchy fruits). I tried a lot before this worked and the weight has stayed off.

For an older person the feedback of a group (like weight watchers) would be good. They have a Low Carb version that a friend of mine tried.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:31 am

My mom is 83 years young and has mental capabilities is great.... She eats lots of vegies, less meat, more fruits in her diet.
The only vitamins she takes everyday is Vitamins for her bones. She does not smoke would help too....

kittyd wrote:

I am reaching out to the intelligent women here to see if there is a way to help my mom control her weight gain and shed some pounds safely. My mom is 72 and unhappy due to the weight she has put on over the years...quit smoking

YeaH....menopause and so forth. It kind of fits into the saying of "you start to gain a pound a year after 35"..so she is about 35 lbs over weight which fits into that equation pretty well. I want to be able to offer some helpful direction and support so she can feel her best. There are a million and one diets and books out there but I have no idea if something is better to read than another. I think its more about eating the right things throughout the day and adding some cardio ie walking and maybe a few key moves. She basically would be doing this from home as my father is not well and can't be left for too long. She's joined gyms before and didn't go...I think she tried Nutri System or something and didn't follow through...and told me the other day she might check into Weight Watchers...but I don't really know about that either. I am going to go see her in about a month and maybe I can help kick start some goods things with her while I'm there for about a week...NEEDLESS to say Kick start my own path to healthier lifestyle. I look at my calculations...I'm 45 and yes I am 10 pounds heavier than I was at 35...so..I think I need to get started here.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:37 am

My mom is 79 years old 5' tall.

Two years ago her weight reached 148 lb and she decided to lose some weight. The only thing she did differently was stopped eating dinner unless there's a family reunion. She only eats 1 to 2 portions of fruit at night. She lost 12 lb in 9 months which is really good for somebody her age.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:26 pm

Thank you I appreciate the input. She is relatively healthy and mental capacity is good..I like the modified low carb thing..she loves cookies and I think she doesn't eat the right things during the day and ends up hungry at night and then just eats whatever after dinner. I know that happens to me too..doesn't that have something to do with the carbs? Eating maybe the wrong types..you end up feeling hungrier or craving something sweet...thought I read that somewhere.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:49 pm

I think it is so great you are helping your Mom in this way. I have been told to join a Yoga class,and better eating habits. I hope you both can have some fun and make some good changes.
Linda

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:41 pm

kitty, in my experience, and from what I have read, being to strict with fats only keeps the appetite working overtime. In my opinion, the greatest poison is sugar (a greater poison than Splenda), and then refined carbs. I actually slather butter onto my bread in restaurants to keep myself from eating to much of it (bread, that is).

If your Mom can eat the right fats, it might help her to be able to limit her portions and her snacking.

It might be helpful for her to have a strict rule about not eating after a certain time in the evening, and to look into food combining, or at least drinking a good alkalizing water like Evian to avoid the acid feeling in the stomach that passes for genuine hunger.

free skin care · Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:01 pm

Ooh, had never heard of that. The right fats..ok. She doesn't use sugar..I think she uses Splenda or one of those others...but Splenda is better right. She uses it in her tea. I didn't know Evian was alkalizing. Thank you.

I may find an easy yoga tape and have her try that..I have some experience there so hopefully I can find a tape that is gentle. I never did hard core yoga it was very constructive class.

free skin care · Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:24 am

Gentle yoga is great as you get older helps the joints. I wouldn't also try to get too thin, protein and a little extra weight are good for surviving hospital trips that's why the insurance companies adjusted their weight charts UP for older people.

Eating in the beginning of the day is good also. Older people often have sleeping problems and that can be worse if you eat too late.
L

free skin care · Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:07 am

I think to focus on excercise first might be a good idea. Working out will be a great benefit and help her loose some weight without having to go on a strict diet. A treadmill is a good investment and something she can do at home while watching the news on TV (maybe 25 min morning and night). She won't have to leave the house and your father, and bad weather will not be a problem. Off course, walking outside with company is better, but not always doable. Laughing

My father is over 70 and lack of excercise turns out to be a much bigger problem than his diet. Now he is very unfit and deals badly with pain and illnesses etc, and a soon needed operation will give him a rough recovery due to his poor physical condition.

free skin care · Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:29 am

Weight Watchers is definitely the way to go. It teaches you how to eat and portion control and is very supportive. (Full disclosure: I'm a Lifetime member. Because it worked and still works.)

I joined when I was 45, to lose ten pounds. I already knew an awful lot about diets and nutrition -- I come from an obese family and am the only one who isn't -- but I learned even more there. Great cookbooks, great tools, online support for those not into meetings (me) and it turns your mind from processed carbs and white stuff to complex carbs and fiber. And counsels on exercie, etc, too.

I fall off the wagon regularly, but at least I know exactly what I'm doing wrong, and it is a relatively small adjustment to get back on.

Check it out. They have been around forever, for a reason. They are not trendy or a money-making flash in the pan. The plan works and has good info for everyone's eatig habits.

Infomercial now off the air. :->

free skin care · Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:33 pm

Thank you ladies so very much for all of your suggestions..there's something to use from all of it and take the advise and use it on myself as well. My mom has her plate full..my father has Alzheimers..dementia..it's not too bad yet...but.it's hard to watch the progression. My mom's gaining weight and he's losing it. I understand what you mean about being too thin..I could see this happening to my father too. Maybe I can get him out to walk too...except he is definetly in the category of sleep issues...don't think he sleeps well at night...and sleeps until about noon. Well we have our work cut out for us..but try not too hard...easy does it. THANKS

Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:05 am

Hi kittyd,

I can't help you much on the diet as I need to lose lots of weight after piling it on after suffering from M.E and losing my dad.

I just wanted to give my support to you all. My mum has Alzheimers so I know how hard it is.If you need anyone to talk to then please feel free to pm me.

free skin care · Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:20 am

kittyd wrote:

Ooh, had never heard of that. The right fats..ok. She doesn't use sugar..I think she uses Splenda or one of those others...but Splenda is better right. She uses it in her tea. I didn't know Evian was alkalizing. Thank you.

I may find an easy yoga tape and have her try that..I have some experience there so hopefully I can find a tape that is gentle. I never did hard core yoga it was very constructive class.

Kitty, I can't authoritatively say that Evian is alkalizing, but I do know that Evian (my own favorite) and at least some other waters can calm the feeling in my own stomach that might otherwise pass for genuine hunger, and that this is true for many other people. I believe that Evian is on the alkaline side when you drink it. I didn't mean to imply it acts within the body as an alkalizer the way some other substances are purported to do.

Of course everyone here is right about physical activity being crucial. The yoga, or walking would be a good start. Yoga may also give your mom a brief refuge from her stress. And Weight Watchers is certainly worth looking into.

My heart goes out to anyone here dealing with a loved one's Alzheimer's.

free skin care · Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:18 am

My mon is almost 83 and has many health problems (eating enough is a problem). She has vision problems and although does not have Alzheimers she does have severe memory problems. My dad still works full time and has been bringing her with him to work but that is getting too distracting.

We found a good senior center for people with memory problems that goes from 10AM-3PM. They have yoga classes, games and even take them bowling. Many of these places are not great so you have to visit but this place is nice and my mom likes it and it has made my dad much healthier. My mom is picked up by a worker from VNA and she takes her home and makes dinner.

Our neighbor also uses a different center for her dad with Alzheimers 3 days a week and it is working well for them also.

The primary care giver really needs a break. My mother was at first very reluctant to go but has met many nice women and now can't wait to go in the morning.

P.S. The center has several men and they get a lot of attention!

free skin care · Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:53 am

Avoiding heavy dinners suggestion is great. I do know that it works.

Do not eat dinners 3 hours before going to bed. You can eat some fruit though, juices, milk, but not full dinner. It is difficult in the first three days, but after three days its getting fine. Also the results are not apparent right away. The results start show in a couple of months. Good, consistent results. You can lose lots and lots of pounds this way. And it is so simple.

free skin care · Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:33 am

Sidda wrote:

Weight Watchers is definitely the way to go. It teaches you how to eat and portion control and is very supportive. (Full disclosure: I'm a Lifetime member. Because it worked and still works.)

I joined when I was 45, to lose ten pounds. I already knew an awful lot about diets and nutrition -- I come from an obese family and am the only one who isn't -- but I learned even more there. Great cookbooks, great tools, online support for those not into meetings (me) and it turns your mind from processed carbs and white stuff to complex carbs and fiber. And counsels on exercie, etc, too.

I fall off the wagon regularly, but at least I know exactly what I'm doing wrong, and it is a relatively small adjustment to get back on.

Check it out. They have been around forever, for a reason. They are not trendy or a money-making flash in the pan. The plan works and has good info for everyone's eatig habits.

Infomercial now off the air. :->

I agree with Weight Watchers. I joined in January and I've lost over 20 pounds. I am losing it slowly about a pound a week, but that's okay. Some things that have worked for me... measuring and weighing my food so I know what a portion is.

When I go out to eat, eating only half of my order. I switched from white granulated sugar to raw cane sugar or splenda, there are breads today that are low cal and high in fiber. And there are so many 100 calorie snacks today that I can have something sweet without going overboard. I eat 5 times a day now. My mid-morning and afternoon snacks are healthier choices - like an apple, grapes, 100 cal snack bar, etc. but those snackes keep me from overeating at lunch and dinner. Stop eating 2 hours before bedtime. If you like ice cream, Weight Watchers has some yummy treats that are low cal.

My hubby is losing weight too and he isn't trying... it just comes from cooking healthier for me at dinner time. We've added more fish, beans and greens, still have potatoes, eliminated bread, and cook a lot more with Olive Oil. Rarely fry and try to buy lean meats now.

Good luck!

free skin care · Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:34 pm

I'm so sorry about your Dad's illness, kitty. My father had Alzheimer's and it realy took a toll on my Mom. She got so worn out from trying to be watchful every minute, patient all the time, repeat everything she said, maintain his hygiene, make sure he remained clothed, and didn't wander off during trips to the grocery store or leave the house at night, naked or otherwise.

Exhaustion, grief over watching the progression of the disease and a feeling of hopelessness make it difficult to give thought to suitable food choices and exercise. I would certainly second the adult daycare suggested by Sharky. Respite care is also invaluable. Both of these alternatives provide time and opportunity for the caregiver to get out of the house, maybe go for a walk with friends, attend an exercise class or a movie, or hit the beauty salon. Your Mom needs a bit of relaxation and enough perspective to remember that she is important too, and the only way she can get that is if she knows your Dad is being well taken care of.

My best to you and your family, kitty; it's a hard road.

free skin care · Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:27 pm

Thanks ladies. I will have to help her look into some alternatives when I am down there to free up some time just for her. He is not that bad yet...but it is only a matter of time, unfortunately. I thank you so much for the input as we don't know much about this and will need to be proactive as to his care and hers. I have suggested the eating more during the day to make sure she feels fuller in the evening..I need to look into the healthy snacks for in between meals.

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.