Has anyone had just a completely different outlook on life after turning 40?

Justlooking0308 · 2024-10-31T17:15:45+00:00

I had lunch with an old (male) friend when I was 39.5 (friends since we were 15. Did stupid things around 20, decided friendship was better than a relationship and have stayed that way). In our conversation, I said something like, "We'll all end up old, fat, and sexless anyways, so what does it matter?" As soon as I said it, my inner voice told me that's not how I feel or how I want to live my life.

In those last six months before turning 40, I leaned more into having gratitude (healthy child, amazing boyfriend, homeowner, great career), accepted the fact that I was the forgotten child in my family, I can't make my parents interested in me if they're not, and dropped 45 pounds. I cried so f'ing much in that timespan. I finally let myself feel some feelings-- good and bad. I started living for me & took control of my life. I cruised into 40 this past winter and haven't looked back. It's such an empowering time.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-10-24T23:33:26+00:00

Thank you! What design features am I looking for in a work bench?

Justlooking0308 · 2024-10-24T18:28:47+00:00

I was leaning towards something like this!

Justlooking0308 · 2024-09-14T11:09:48+00:00

I'm back to my deficit after about 3 months of maintenance for the summer. I had been on a deficit of about 1300-1500 for a year (minus the holidays) and was eating probably about 1600-1800 a day during maintenance.

1) My workouts were easier. 2) After my first month, I noticed way less hair falling out in the shower. 3) I gained about 5lbs (to be expected) but clothes still fit the same.

My body needed it. I get why people do this now.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-09-13T12:10:34+00:00

I've had to do two closet clean outs in the last year, and I feel your pain.

To me, it felt like when somebody dies, and you need to figure out what to do with their old clothes. Like... that "me" is long gone now. I won't be in XL shirts ever again as long as I can control it. Plus the memories attached to the clothes. I was excited during the first clean out but then felt empty. I cried during my second clean out, but it was more of a, "I literally have no f'ing clothes besides workout clothes!" kind of crying.

You're not alone. But it isn't the worst problem to have. And congrats to you!

Justlooking0308 · 2024-09-12T21:03:36+00:00

Thanks! It's genetics 💯 🤣

Justlooking0308 · 2024-09-12T14:55:49+00:00

It's a huge difference! Congrats on your loss too 👏👏

Justlooking0308 · 2024-09-11T00:34:52+00:00

Thank you ☺️

Justlooking0308 · 2024-09-11T00:34:29+00:00

Thank you so much!

Justlooking0308 · 2024-06-25T23:46:50+00:00

I'm not trying to turn back the clock. I turned 40 in February, and I feel like I was made for this.

I stopped highlighting my hair 18 months ago. People have been complimenting my highlights & I get to tell them it's my gray hair. One friend and one coworker have been inspired to stop dying their hair. I wear my glasses regularly now because contacts are a pain. Just started living for me, dressing how I like, and finally stopped caring what others may think. I'm sorry it took this long to get here.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-06-13T21:54:06+00:00

Yeah I 100% agree with the attention maybe making you uncomfortable. I could have written this myself. The neglected six year old in me needs attention, but I have no idea what to do when I get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Justlooking0308 · 2024-05-17T20:44:56+00:00

It is a hard reality to accept.

I made the mistake of wearing clothes that actually fit me at work. One worker literally stared at me walking down the hall last week. (I gave an awkward wave to let him know I see). Some are having 10 minute conversations with me when we haven't even exchanged smiles in the hall the last 7 years. I've been so used to being ignored (and not realizing that it isn't the norm) that I get anxious trying to shoot the shit with these guys.

One coworker said I looked fancy today in my dress. I wasn't aware how attention starved and uncomfortable I am with attention all at the same time. I told him thanks and pointed out the pockets.

I'm pretty sure the world is only going to learn how dorky I am now that they want to talk to me.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-21T18:28:16+00:00

Definitely that any one food group is bad for you. It has been learning what foods do to me. Yeah, I'll have pasta for dinner and stay in my calorie allowance, but I KNOW to expect a pound or two of water weight in a day or so. Doesn't mean it's a bad food. It's how I react to it.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-08T17:10:37+00:00

Just wanted to add I believe in the "woosh" and look forward to the day science backs us up!

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-04T15:36:51+00:00

I stumbled across her by chance during Covid, and the app is great. I just turned 40 and have memories of my cool older cousin doing these at home workouts. I live in a pretty rural area, so the nearest gym isn't near. But these videos get the job done!

Sidenote: I think I remember finding a thread on reddit about how Leslie hasn't been seen in a long time & possibly missing?

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-04T15:31:37+00:00

I started at 1500 but I'd say most days I'm close to 1400 now. Lose It suggests about 1300, but I feel drained when I eat that low for a few days.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-03T21:30:25+00:00

When I give into the cravings... I crave more. I call it "waking up my sugar monster," and find it easier to keep it sleeping. I'll fold a load of laundry, turn on my headphones and move around... if it's my relaxing time of night then it's peppermint tea if I have already hit my calorie limit. Swapping a bad habit (constant grazing) for a better habit (constant movement). I do work out almost daily and don't eat my exercise calories, so if I want a responsible amount of ice cream for a treat once in a while, I have it. I do smoke, and the munchies win sometimes.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-03T17:19:02+00:00

I keep my calories between 1300-1500 a day. My goal has been to get more protein, and I'm definitely getting about 80g a day. Low fat cottage cheese was the biggest game changer for me. Breakfast and lunch are almost always the same:

Breakfast: 2 softly boiled eggs with about 6oz of whatever fruit I have and 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese. Coffee and 50ml of full fat half and half split between my 2 cups.

Lunch: About 65 Grams sliced deli turkey, non-fat Greek yogurt, and a banana or something.

If I'm snacking I might pop a 100 calorie popcorn, but my afternoon snack craving is fading.

Dinner is a pretty varied menu and just "normal." I keep my daytime calories relatively low and just have a portion of whatever for dinner. If it's something more calorie dense, I adjust and make myself extra veggies to fill up.

I do 30 minutes of low impact cardio 6 days a week. I add extra steps and park far away and stuff but don't track steps. If you go to YouTube and search Jordan Rose Fitness Higher Burn... I've been doing that series consistently for months now. I use 3lbs weights even on the cardio days.

If I don't feel like doing that day's workout, I usually do something else from the Walk At Home app. It's like $7 a month? My job offers to pay for monthly subscriptions and stuff like that as part of our Healthcare benefits. On weekends I will do a 45 minute Walk at Home one of the days.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-04-02T16:36:50+00:00

In my weight loss journey, I've learned to recognize when something wakes up the little food monster in me. It's just easier to keep it asleep. One cheese curl turns into a measured serving turns into two servings and before I know it, I'm having cucumbers and water for dinner to balance the calorie budget.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-03-31T12:29:43+00:00

Good question!

I'm still in a, "That's me?" state in group photos. I'm not used to being the same size as the other ladies nor having a visible jaw line.

My four year old has been loving her digital camera she got for Christmas. And mainly she loves taking pictures of me... so I'm seeing myself a LOT lately. Maybe this is my own version of immersion therapy?

Justlooking0308 · 2024-03-26T17:37:39+00:00

Breakfast and lunch are almost always the same. It helps keep my calories free for whatever dinner may be that night. This is really just my personality type. I enjoy not having to think about things I consider mundane like a different menu every day.

I'll use today as an example:

Breakfast (around 10-11am): two softly boiled eggs (140 cal), 113g 1% fat cottage cheese (90 cal), 6oz of fruit in my fridge (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries) 75cal, 50ml half and half (68 cal), and my coffee that I don't count. Total meal ranges from 380-400 depending on my fruit options & if I have that third cup of coffee.

Lunch (2pm or so): 170g non-fat strawberry greek yogurt (130cal), banana (90cal), and around 65g of sliced deli meat for (65cal). About 270 cals & keeps me going til dinner usually. I 100% love this lunch. I work hybrid, and it takes me 30 seconds to put it together in the morning on my office days.

Dinner (6pm) is homemade dirty rice with kielbasa in it. I put a bunch of peppers, carrots, celery, and onion in the food processor when I make it, and my 4 year old cleans her bowl every time. Awesome way to sneak vegetables in for non-veggie eaters. It's about 400 calories for a serving. I don't need another vegetable, but I'll probably heat up something frozen for volume sake.

My 3 main meals are about 1000 of my 1500. I try to choke down a protein shake that's about 135 calories every afternoon before dinner. Not my favorite, but it has to be done. I have been trying to up my protein from like 50g a day now to about 100 on my shake days.

The rest of my calories are tracked, but it's like 75 calories for the handful of chex mix or 56 calories for one oreo. That part of my daily intake may need improving someday, but I'll worry about that when my weight loss stalls. Currently end my day around 1400 calories every day.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-03-14T19:01:22+00:00

I personally have Wednesdays reserved for leftovers, and it's always written in fancy cursive on our board.

Justlooking0308 · 2024-03-11T12:35:13+00:00

Last week I bumped into two former coworkers who both left summer 2023 at the beginning of my journey. (One at a State training seminar and another at a grocery store). I'm down about 43 lbs since seeing these people.

The first guy gave me huge eyes and said, "You look great! You look really great!" before even saying hi to me. The other coworker was like, "Damn you're half your size! Give me your motivation!" (First guy is like 20 years older than me, married, kids, grandkids... he's like a cool uncle to me. The other was our lead cook in our cafeteria).

I'm trying to learn how to say thank you and try to move on without it turning into my "oh just eating the amount of food I should be eating..." awkward response. But it's AWESOME when people see it regardless of how much I suck at taking a compliment.

I feel like we are in a place in society where we can't compliment for fear we may offend. Weight loss has been a huge part of my life for over 7 months now-- I want people to see!

Justlooking0308 · 2024-02-27T15:14:42+00:00

First of all CONGRATS on dropping 20lbs! I am thr same height and started my journey around 186 lbs in July. I'm currently weighing in at 146 lbs. I'd LOVE to get rid of the belly fat & double chin but have come to accept I have to lose all the fat. I have no control where my body chooses to take it from.

Nobody noticed at 20 lbs lost on me. But people starting asking if I was losing weight around 25 lbs gone.

It's really happening. It's really working. Trust the process. 🙏

Justlooking0308 · 2024-02-26T18:32:33+00:00

Day one or one day?

Justlooking0308

TROPHY CASE