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Original poster

Anybody else hit their mid 40s & suddenly balloon up in weight?

59 replies

lirror · 11/12/2018 18:53

In the last two years I've put on 2.5 stone, I've been a size 8/10 all my life & now I'm a 14/16. I absolutely hate it. All my life I've been a skinny mini who could eat anything. It seems like I'm going to have to shift to eating lettuce only at this rate. I have a classic round 'apple' belly that now sticks out further than my boobs and people give up their seats for me on tubes & buses because they assume I'm pregnant. I've even got rolls of back fat Envy I know I'm definitely in the perimeno because I sometimes have hot flushes. I'm feeling really down about it, it's really restricting my ability to do things & it's causing back ache too. Has anyone else had this & managed to turn it around? I want my old figure back. I look dreadful. Sad

OP posts:
LittleMy77 · 12/12/2018 01:46

Me. I'm 42 next month and in the last 8 months have banged on 10lbs, on top of the additional 10 I couldn't lose after pregnancy Shock

Its a combination of originally being on ADs for PND, and not giving a flying fcuk as a result about the weight gain, a dodgy leg meaning my usual exercise has been out of the window, insane sugar addiction crappy metabolism and a hugely stressful year with family stuff

Nothing fits properly and I'm definitely struggling with the extra weight and its impact on my joints, but I just can't seem to find the motivation to shift it.

However, the final push might be the fact I have noticeable back fat now, so much so that my bra straps rubbed on my back and broke the skin, the shame! Blush Have noticed a definite correlation with drinking milk and yogurt, and normal (mainly white) bread and insane bloating issues

I'm paying for WW monthly but doing nothing with it - I feel that a complete lifestyle readjustment might be more realistic at this point. Its just bloody depressing when I monitor my calorie burn on a fitbit daily and realize how slow my metabolism actually is, versus what I eat (or would like to eat!)

CoolForKatz · 12/12/2018 01:51

Me too Sad

ScabbyBabby · 12/12/2018 02:09

Go Paleo. I’m 37 and it’s the best thing I’ve done diet wise. Don’t see it as a ‘diet’ but as a lifestyle choice. Think of it as putting as many good nutrients in your body as possible rather than deprivation of treat food (although processed food is mostly not allowed).

Mamaryllis · 12/12/2018 02:24

Yup. Middle aged spread is a thing. Grin
It just seems so fucking earnest and miserly to take on orthorexia as a new hobby, but a bit more activity might help me feel better.
I’m 47. I used to run marathons. Now I’m a size 16/18 at 5’2”. I look like a beach ball.

Rafflesway · 12/12/2018 02:37

On God yes!

Always was size 10 but was always very careful with diet and exercised reasonably. Weight started to creep on from around 45 and at the same time of me being peri.

Ended up being size 16 and nothing would shift it.😥 I was horrendously miserable!

Had to see GP for meno issues and she decided to do thorough checks on my thyroid. Turned out I had a pretty underactive thyroid. GP prescribed thyroxin along with hrt which proved a lifesaver for me. (Bit dramatic I know but I really was deeply depressed with how I looked and felt.)

6 months later and I had lost 3 stone! 😊. I am now a comfortable size 12 although I am still very careful with diet and exercise regularly. It has made such a huge difference to my well being even though I will be taking both the thyroxin and probably the hrt for life.

Rafflesway · 12/12/2018 02:40

Oh God flaming autocorrect!

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox · 12/12/2018 03:08

Mine seemed to start to happen as soon as I hit 40, I think I was in denial for a couple of years. My stomach was also extending past my already huge boobs. I decided to do something about it this year and lost almost 2 stone in 6 months by low carbing and cutting down on alcohol consumption drastically. It has stayed off for the last 6 months even though I am eating more normally again.

Openup41 · 12/12/2018 07:17

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Notnowok · 12/12/2018 07:26

I started to put on weight too mid 40's so ate less as I felt really uncomfortable fatter.
Then had a mid 50's metabolic slow down and had to choose eating once a day and living on coffee ( it felt like that, though it probably wasn't) so I started running. Now I find it hard to stay around 8 stone as my metabolism is fast again.
( I'm 5'1" so 8 stone is not skinny )
Try taking up a sport you like?

gonzo77 · 12/12/2018 07:29

Please get your thyroid levels checked too. I am 41. Was diagnosed underactive this year and last year put on 2 stone. Not necessarily a bad thing for me because I was a sz 6 but now I'm having to run and calorie count to 1200 to remain the same weight.

chickydoo · 12/12/2018 07:44

Bucking the trend here. I am older than you lot 52. ( wrinkles and crap hair)
My DM put on weight in her 40's, I seem not to have. I have changed shape a bit though. Boobs smaller hips bigger (still have a waist)
I am just hoping that I stay as I am now

Chesneyhawkes1 · 12/12/2018 11:58

I never eat breakfast either. Just not hungry in the morning.

If I do. I end up eating more all day and it seems to make me hungrier.

I'm not the fittest I've ever been at 40 but I am the slimmest I've ever been.

I eat mainly meat, eggs and vegetables. Have a treat day once a week.

I exercise more in summer as hate being cold. But I do walk my dogs twice a day and try to do my kettle bells at least once a week.

My job is very sedentary. Literally sat on my arse, can't get up and move for most of my day.

citychick · 12/12/2018 12:19

Age 47 here.
I've recently upped my exercise massively.
Definitely menopausal weight gain.
I've been trim most of my life but nowadays if I don't move more and eat less the weight goes on.

I keep carbs low and get protein where I can. Alcohol no longer agrees with me. But I feel old and tired and hungry...

Exercise makes me feel so much better. Swimming and walking up steps every day. We have lots of steep steps close to our home so I do 30 mins every day.

Camille01 · 12/12/2018 12:21

Openup41 , what do your two meals consist of ?

RaininSummer · 12/12/2018 12:55

Yes to practically all of the bad stuff mentioned above. I have to really watch the carbs if I don't want to get bigger. I think I need to go to two meals a day but I feel really crappy if I don't have any breakfast and would no doubt end up eating a shedload of nuts and raisins etc out of the desk instead so no net gain.

To be honest I am not that bothered if I don't lose any though it would be good but I am terrified of gaining more blubber. No idea if thyroid is Ok but since doctor's appointments are as rare as hen's teeth not likely to find out. Must be at least peri meno at my age (56) but again guessing.

I will embrace being a a cuddly Nan rather than a spiky one I think. and at least a bit of fat protects bones when you fall and makes your face look younger.

ChinUpChestOut · 12/12/2018 12:57

56 here - was always an easy size 12, sometimes size 10 until I hit 46 and the menopause kicked in. My weight crept up until I was a comfortable size 16/18. Horrendous. Couldn't shift it except through extreme diets (Atkins, Dukan etc) and then the weight would come back within 12 months. I also suffer now from bloaty tummy after eating wheat, so have had to cut out bread, pasta, cakes, biscuits from my diet.

I've now (like so many of you) been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and am getting treatment for it, but after 12 weeks have only seen a steadying of my weight. I know that I'm going to have to up my cardio exercise, and work harder at eating less. As it is I don't drink during the week, and I've given up adding sugar to coffee.

The sad fact is that you need a lot less food than you think at this age. Unless you're working in the fields or scrubbing floors on a daily basis, you probably don't need much more than 1600 calories per day - and that's just to maintain your weight.

LostInLeics · 12/12/2018 13:07

My weight also started to creep up in my early 40s, but over the last 6 months I've started to be a lot more strict with myself about what I put in my mouth (basically cutting out all the "empty calories" and snacks) and really uppingt my exercise. I've lost 2 1/2 stone, and am now training for a marathon in the Spring, so running around 45 miles a week. My body shape has changed for the better and I've got loads more energy.

Its really important for women to do weight bearing exercise in middle age if you want to avoid osteoporosis and the risk of falls when you're older, so its worth taking your fitness seriously for those reasons as well as for the weight management and mental health benefits it also gives.

Openup41 · 12/12/2018 13:37

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Openup41 · 12/12/2018 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

UrsulaPandress · 12/12/2018 13:42

Lost 5.5 stone in my early 50s. Yeah. Go me. Got breast cancer, on tablets, piled it all back on. Boo.

Applepudding2018 · 12/12/2018 13:44

Ha i put weight on after having DS late 30's, struggled all through my 40's to discover that was nothing compared with 50's and the menopause!

Rafflesway · 12/12/2018 14:56

What is it with the underactive thyroid clashing with the menopause?

It seems so common nowadays that I'm thinking surely there is a connection!😱

Strangely enough, it was my Gp who suggested it as a possibility to me when I had just put it down to the menopause. I was really shocked - but very relieved - to discover it wasn't really that at all.

Perhaps more women need to be openly checked for this rather than just brushed off with " Only to be expected with the menopause. " 😡

Cherries101 · 12/12/2018 15:00

Count your calories properly for a few days, weighing your portions etc. You are probably eating a lot and may need to make smarter food choices.

MinorProphet · 12/12/2018 15:28

Me. Have started calorie counting on my fitness pal and shocked to discover how much I am eating tho. Have been run down and just prescribed anti biotics so may be able to exercise a bit more when better.

Malaco · 12/12/2018 15:33

Think i might try cutting down on carbs and upping exercise to see if it helps