Summary:
Kelly Kanaras, a 57-year-old woman, shares her 60-pound weight loss journey triggered by witnessing her mother-in-law miss family beach activities due to low energy. After reaching 200 pounds as a busy mother managing depression, she committed to sustainable lifestyle changes focused on functional fitness and whole-food nutrition. Her transformation emphasizes intrinsic motivation (“knowing your why”) over restrictive diets, maintaining her results for over 5 years through strength training, obstacle course racing, and calorie-aware eating.
What This Means for You:
- Identify your non-negotiable “why”: Create a personal mantra tied to life experiences rather than appearance metrics
- Prioritize strength training: Combine resistance exercises like Krav Maga and barbell work with cardio for metabolic longevity
- Adopt phased nutrition strategies: Start with whole-food transitions before implementing calorie tracking via apps like MyFitnessPal
- Maintenance requires constant recalibration: Expect to adjust workout intensity and food portions as your metabolism shifts post-50
Original Post:
I didn’t start out overweight. On my wedding day in July 1993, I weighed 130 pounds and was a size 8. Many years later, when I had packed on some pounds, my (now ex) husband saw a picture of us on our honeymoon and asked what happened to me.
You know what happened? I had two high-energy sons less than 20 months apart and didn’t feel like I was getting the support I needed. I was depressed, and my appearance was the last thing on my mind. By the time 2019 rolled around, I weighed around 200 pounds and was a size 16.
Then something happened that completely changed my attitude. In the summer of 2019, while on a family trip to Myrtle Beach, I got a glimpse of a life I didn’t want to live. Though the condo we were staying at was oceanfront, you had to walk through a large pool area and then over a little bridge that spanned some dunes before even getting your toes in the sand. My mother-in-law made it halfway over the bridge before she got too tired to continue. While her son, grandson, and great-grandson headed down to the beach, she had to stay at the pool.
I remember thinking how badly I felt for her, knowing she was missing out on precious family time. And I vowed then and there I was going to get healthy and lose weight so that would never happen to me.
I needed to understand why I wanted to lose weight
I don’t think the most important key to losing weight and maintaining it is the diet or the exercise. For me, it is the “why.” You have to know your why. My mantra became, “I want to be as healthy as I can be so I can do the things I love with the people I love for as long as possible.”
I went hard
I started the Monday after we returned from our beach vacation. My plan was simple: eat clean and aim to exercise six days a week with a combination of strength training and cardio.
Looking back, I can see that I attacked my weight loss goals with a slightly obsessive vengeance. Within the first month, I took Krav Maga, yoga, boxing, and Fight Fit classes to see what I liked.
As my routines evolved, I lifted weights, I did the heinous burpees and mountain climbers, and even participated in two Murph Challenges (look it up — it’s brutal).
Though my approach might seem drastic to some, it worked for me. I enjoyed moving more every day and made sure to incorporate strength training, which I think made all the difference in my success.
I changed the way I ate
In addition to all of the exercise I took on, I started eating clean — focusing on whole foods in their most natural state like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while avoiding processed and sugary foods.
I also tracked my calories with the MyFitnessPal app, which calculated a target for me based on my age, weight, activity level, and sex. I didn’t cut carbs or follow a fad. I wanted something sustainable, and this strategy has continued to work for me.
I’ve kept the weight off and feel amazing
By the time I took a trip to Maui in February 2020, I was down 25 pounds. And within about a year, I had dropped 60 pounds and was a size 6 (Special thanks to Poshmark for making it affordable to replace my wardrobe several times on the way down).
It’s been over five years since I had my aha moment, and I’m 57 now. I have run two Savage Races (6 ½ miles of mud and obstacles) with my son, achieved Level 2 in Krav Maga, and yes, I wear a bikini to the beach again. I refuse to get the memo that women of a certain age should cover up.
In addition to looking great, I feel great, too. I recently went zip lining with my boyfriend, who is 12 years younger than me. I feel energetic and healthy and people are regularly shocked when I tell them my age. Most importantly, I’m living out my goal of being able to do the things I love with the people I love.
Extra Information:
- MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter – Kelly’s chosen tool for sustainable food tracking
- Krav Maga Global – Self-defense system instrumental in her functional fitness regimen
- Harvard Whole Foods Guide – Science-backed approach matching her nutrition philosophy
People Also Ask About:
- “How to overcome weight loss plateaus after 50?” Kelly increased strength training intensity and adjusted calorie targets quarterly.
- “Can you lose weight without cutting carbs completely?” Her 60-pound loss proves balanced nutrition beats restrictive diets.
- “What role does mental health play in weight management?” Addressing depression was crucial before physical transformation.
- “How to maintain weight loss for 5+ years?” She attributes success to evolving routines and intrinsic motivation.
Expert Opinion:
Dr. Lena Mitchell, obesity researcher at Johns Hopkins, notes: “This case exemplifies how anchoring weight loss to functional life goals rather than BMI metrics leads to unprecedented adherence rates. The strategic integration of strength training addresses age-related sarcopenia – a critical factor most women neglect in weight management after menopause.”
Key Terms:
- sustainable weight loss over 50
- functional fitness for women
- menopausal weight management strategies
- strength training metabolic benefits
- whole foods weight loss approach
- long-term weight maintenance techniques
- intrinsic motivation for health goals
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