Being the right weight after 50 – or at any age for that matter – is a lot about loving yourself. You can’t love yourself fully if you’re depriving yourself of looking your best, waiting for that perfect figure. You can’t love yourself if you squeeze into too tight clothes or wear oversized tunics that hide you.

My client Kathy was working hard at changing her eating habits. She really wanted to lose weight and knew the choices she’d been making in the past were not the best.

So, together we were setting goals – a good breakfast every morning, either whole oats with fruit and nuts or an egg with veggies. She was feeling really good but wishing she could lose weight faster.

Faster Isn’t Better When it Comes to Losing Weight After 50!

We women are not the most patient when we want to make a change. We want change to happen quickly when it’s something we really want. But think about other things in life you may have wanted to change.

You may have changed careers or moved to a different location at some time in your life. Big changes like these take time, with much thought and many actions before we reach the end point.

Even when you learn a new sport, you are not so great at first, but with patience and perseverance, you get better. Think of the time and attention Tom Brady and Serena Williams give to their sports and self-care. It’s why Brady is playing football at 41, and why Williams gets to the finals at Wimbledon.

Best Weight Loss Formula

It’s really tempting to go for the latest weight loss craze. Hearing you can lose 20 pounds in a month is a seductive thought.

You may have bought into one program or another, only to be disappointed by the outcome. If these programs worked, you would not be looking for the next big diet because you wouldn’t need one!

With weight loss, what is most apt to stay off is the weight that is shed s-l-o-w-l-y. Weight gain happens over a period of months or even years, and losing excess weight should have a similar rhythm.

You can possibly lose one pound every week if you make steady improvement in your food choices, eating enough but not too much. That is the kind of weight loss that is most likely to stay off.

Focus on eating high quality food instead of looking at the scale. Build yourself up by looking at what you do successfully rather than criticizing yourself for not being perfect. No one is perfect.

What About Clothes?

I’ve met many women who buy clothes that will fit them when they lose weight. They say the clothes sit in their closet, tags still attached, waiting for the day they fit.

Kathy used to do that, but no more. As we continued to work together, she shifted her focus from waiting until she lost the weight to looking her best right in the moment.

She bought a wardrobe that complimented her right then, so she looked her best self. Then she went out and got a sassy new haircut.

When she came in to see me, she looked stunning – and not only because of her clothes. It was much more about her stride, her air of confidence and comfort with her new self. It made me so happy!

My advice? If you are looking to lose weight, treat yourself like the queen that you are. Ditch the oversized, loose fitting clothes and stretch pants or too tight shirts.

Buy a couple of pieces that are nicely made and actually fit and flatter you. Choose colors that make you feel confident, whether black or a rainbow color. Ask a sales person to help you if you are not sure of what to buy.

Add some jewelry. Celebrate yourself. And while you’re at it, do what Kathy does now – choose simple whole foods that actually nourish you. That’s what leads to weight loss and your readiness for those smaller sizes.

Eating well does not mean suffering. Read through my blog for recipes that are simple to make and will keep you from feeling hungry. Eating nourishing food and dressing well is the best way to say, “I love you” to yourself, to lose weight and to feel glorious in the way you look.

Are you trying to lose a little weight after 50? Are you being kind to yourself or finding frustration and anger taking over. Are you eating healthy foods to establish a healthy lifestyle and not to necessarily lose weight? What is your weight loss strategy and is it working? Please share in the comments below.