Yet experts agree it's important to focus on achieving your healthy weight no matter the number of candles on your birthday cake this year. "Excess fat is something we shouldn't ignore no matter how old we are," says Robert Huizenga, MD, the physician featured on The Biggest Loser. And while it can be tempting to throw in the towel, thinking you're fighting an uphill battle at 60-something, compared with your 20- and 30-something counterparts, he has some interesting news: "There has actually been no difference in the amount or rate of weight loss in individuals of either sex who are over 60 years old versus those who are younger on the 17 seasons of the Biggest Loser show," says Huizenga. So, while it might feel a little tougher (damn you, sore back), it is possible.
Of course, if you don't have a consistent weight training regimen, you'll want to start slowly and lift light weights; this will give your body time to adapt without placing too much strain on your muscles or joints and help you avoid injury, says Huizenga. However, don't get too comfortable with an easy resistance-training program. It is important to aim to gradually increase the amount of weight you lift. "It's critical that significant resistance exercise be incorporated into any fat loss plan over age 60." Once you can do 10 to 12 reps with, say, a 5-pound dumbbell and feel like you could keep going, it's time to upgrade to an 8-pound weight, and so forth. "You know you're lifting the right amount of weight if you can just barely make it to the end of your repetitions before needing to rest," he says.
