To ask if its feasible to stay slim-ish after 50?

[janelikesjam]

I know this is another boring diet question in disguise.

But I am wondering about this. I think I am very limited in what I eat, but short of eating a few crackers and a bowl of soup every day, I cannot see how I can keep to a size 14, so naturally creep up to a 16-18. Do I just need to come to terms with this? p.s. I cannot exercise much because of a health condition. I just eat things like protein and salad and the odd treat e.g. toast at the weekend but it doesn't seem to make any difference!

Has anyone else managed this long-term? What do you eat? Anything you fancy? Severely restricted? Low carb?

Also I would add, I don't want to be "fashionably thin", its not in my genes anyway, but just a kind of average slim size 14 ... if only because I don't want to go out and buy a whole load of new clothes.

Answers on a postcard?

[GoSakuramachi]

For people who are slim already it is perfectly possible. But if you are 16-18 now you aren't going to get any smaller after 50.

[lambinapram]

This middle aged lady has a very useful low carb blog:
lowcarbdiets.about.com/b/2012/07/29/musings-about-obesity-part-one.htm

I find the only way i can keep my weight down is low carb.

[Pagwatch]

I am 51
Over the last three years I had crept from around 9st 8ibs to 10st 8 and I knew I was just going to keep getting heavier
Last november I finally had enough not least because i had had major problem with my back for years and i was getting rapidly less mobile. I started to eat more but better - low carb but lots more veg and eating at regular intervals.
I also got a personal trainer and started working out, doing interval training mostly, twice a week.
I am now around 9st 5lbs having lost slowly but steadily and having toned up all of my body.
I am particularly happy that I have a waist again and much much slimmer legs.

It isn't impossible but IMO just dieting will just fuck you up. you need a better diet and exercise.
It is harder post 50 without doubt.

[CaliforniaLeaving]

I'm 50 now and am losing weight. Exercise and not eating rubbish seems to be the way for me. I small (4' 11") and finally slim again. I'm not eating any differently really, just watching portion size and deleted pop, I haven't drank alcohol in many years and eat out fast food maybe a couple times a month. I don't feel deprived diet wise and love exercise anyway.

[Salmotrutta]

It is harder, definitely.

I'm early 50s and have always been slim (also tall which means I can get away with more) but since menopause there is no denying my waist is a bit thicker and my hips a bit wider.
Not terribly noticeable but I know it is so.
I have actually gone up two sizes but on the face of it I look similar to what I did a few years ago .

... mind you, the unlooked for benefit has been an increase in boob size! . I was always small busted before!

[Sleepwhenidie]

The main reason why you need less calories the older you get is that muscle tissue deteriorates, particularly post menopause when hormonal changes take effect. Muscles are the furnace of your body, so the less you have, the less calories get burned. And its an ongoing process, so won't get any easier or reach a balance, without you doing something to retain or build muscle. You need to do some kind of resistance training, it doesn't have to be hugely energetic - when you say you have health problems that restrict exercise, what are they?

[catsrus]

yes harder, certainly - I'm nearer 60 than 50 and post menopause have found it very hard to keep my weight down and I crept up to a good size 16 . I then watched the recent Horizon programme "Eat, Fast and Live longer" (no longer on iplayer but it is on YouTube) and started including fast days in my week. I've lost 12lb in 8 weeks - still going out for meals, eating what I like on non fast days, drinking and still losing weight. I can get back into my size 14 jeans . If you can't exercise then it might be worth having a look at the MN thread on it - well, thread 5 as we've filled up 4 previous ones already!! The new one is here

[babesdontlie]

I'm 53 and have a thyroid condition.

Up to being 40 ish I was a size 8-10 and 8st. Now I'm a size 12 and 10st (I'm 5' 3")

At the doctors the other week he asked me to get on the scales and on seeing my weight said 'theres no problem with that'.

At my age now, I think its easier to put weight on and harder to lose it.

[mrsminerva]

No answers but the first to wail and shake fist at God and say 'Unfair'!!

[janelikesjam]

lol, Mrs Minerva!

Does that mean though, only one mince pie for me on xmas day ?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

A lot of it comes down to genetics!! 75% of your body shape is genetic, 25% is changeable!

I think yes, if it is in your genes to be slim then you will be fine once you turn 50. If genetically you are designed to be on the bigger side then it would be possible but harder work....depends on how determined you are to stay slim.

I watched a documentary a few months ago when a large family were tested for the "fat gene" - they were all big and said it was down to genes.......it actually wasn't and as it turned out they were just greedy fuckers

Yes it is possible. Sometimes, people get to a certain age, curl up their toes and decide that they can't do it....they can though, they just dont want to enough.

[Treblesallround]

I'm 51 and 2 dress sizes smaller than I've been for years, and much more toned. I don't diet, I don't go to the gym and haven't tried to lose weight, but since I've had my horse I am really active, outside a lot, ride every day which is great for abs, and my upper arms are toned, and I'm very, very happy! Might be worth trying a couple of lessons?

Don't try to keep your weight too low though, it's ageing, your face needs a bit of fat to fill out your skin if you see what I mean

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Don't try to keep your weight too low though, it's ageing, your face needs a bit of fat to fill out your skin if you see what I mean

So true!!!! That's my problem.....the first place weight comes off is my face and it is horrid........makes you look so much older!

[janelikesjam]

I can't do anything but mild physical exercise Trebles, just a disability I have, not even callenetics-y type things, let alone horse-riding! But sounds like it works well for you.

[Treblesallround]

That's a shame jane, mind you I'm the sort who thinks that horses are the answer to most problems, so don't take a lot of notice of me!

[CaliforniaLeaving]

What about some swimming Jane? That is supposed to be great and easy on disabilities joints etc.

[Fluffy1234]

I am 43 and have gone from 13 and a half stone to 9 stone and there is absolutely no way I'm getting big again...ever!

[SoleSource]

Fillers and botox are our friends :)

Yes ot is feasible. Make sure you are getting all of your nutrients.

[nokidshere]

Me and two of my sisters have all been losing weight recently - The oldest has lost 7 stone! She is 53. I have lost 3.5stone. I am 51. And the third has lost 5.5 stone and she is 50.

We have all lost weight using WW points and it works really well regardless of whether you exercise or not. Obviously it goes faster if you are able to exercise as well.

So yes you can lose weight after 50 :) - good luck!

[BlueSkySinking]

Agree with sleepwhendie

what excersise can you do? Swimming?

[80sMum]

I gained a stone and a half and went up 3 dress sizes (well my bottom half did, my top half stayed as flat chested as always!) in the year after menopause. That was 4 years ago. This year I have lost about 8 pounds and do feel better for it. Basically I just started eating a bit less at every meal and the weight is slowly coming back down, at a rate of about one pound every 6 weeks or so.
So, for me at least, it is possible - but massively more difficult than it was pre-menopause.

[fatlazymummy]

I am 52, I lost 60 pounds over the last 18 months. It certainly is possible.
However, I did [and do] a lot of exercise, so I'm not sure if I would have been so successful without it.
If I was unable to exercise I would probably be looking at a low carb diet.
Good luck OP.

[OhDearSpareHeadTwo]

My Mum is 68. She is a similar weight to what she was at 25, if not a little lighter. She is a size 8/10, 5'8. She has a figure most women would kill for and has never been bigger than a size 12. She eats a decent amount so it's just her natural size.

[janelikesjam]

Can't do anything, except a bit of tame walking on a good day. But onwards and upwards as they say.

I think I am at that age where I have to make a choice to allow myself to get plumpy and rotund (which suits some women but I don't think it suits me) or have have to be careful i.e. a bit low carb, to stay a healthy size 14. Will try the latter and see how it works out over the next year and I think I agree about the gradual thing, 80smum, diets do not work for me in the same way anymore, it has to be a much more sustained approach.

[streakybacon]

I'm 51 and have CFS, so like you jane can't do much exercise to burn calories. I've always been a slim 8-10 but have put on a lot of weight since ds was born (14 years ago!) and was at my heaviest when I got back from holiday in July at 10 st 2 lb. I know it's not huge but I was uncomfortable and bloated and not happy because none of my clothes fit and I looked horrible.

Because exercise is a problem I've focused on reducing intake but have stuck to proper meal times, no snacks and certainly no crap (biscuits, cake, crisps, chocolate etc). Smaller portions helped and although I admit to feeling hungry for the first couple of weeks, after that my stomach had shrunk enough to expect less food and now it doesn't bother me. I've lost a stone since mid-July, which works out at about a pound a week.

I didn't abandon exercise altogether though. I've used the Wii Fit every day to check my weight and do VERY mild exercise, mostly balance games and the easy step exercise. It's helped build up my strength enough to start swimming this week.

So yes, you can be slim after 50 but it takes determination and willpower and a large dose of reality. You can't kid yourself any more - your body is different to how it was at 25 and doesn't function the same. If you can accept that you can do it.