My mum always warned me I'd get to 'that age' and get fat

[foreverwashing]

I've not changed my diet or lifestyle. I generally hit 10000 steps every day but I've suddenly became really doughy and my clothes feel so uncomfortable.

Is it just age? Is it inevitable? I'm not sporty but I want back to the old me :(

I can’t eat lots of foods I used to enjoy. I honestly think that a lot of women find they have to reassess their diet when they hit the peri menopause.

How old are U, OP?

I stopped eating one day.. and didn't lose weight. Phew. I think I did it right.
I do eat again, honest. But if I don't get a lot of exercise, it's pretty small amounts.

I'm mid-thirties. I'd hoped the (peri) menopause would be a while off tbh.

I got to that age and put on weight, then I got cancer, dropped five stone and would rather be back where I was.

Be careful what you wish for. Said in the nicest possible way.

I'm 35. In my 20s I used to eat far more crap and drink loads of alcohol and weighed 9st.

Now I cycle 16 miles a day, eat healthy and drink less and weigh 10st.

Sorry, I thought when you said ‘that age’...

I was naturally slim until Cancer and now I'm fat. As a PP observed be careful what you wish for - I'm a bit lot older than mid thirties though!

I still haven't had any peri, but I stopped being able to eat a lot age 38 (13 yrs ago).

Perimenopause can be about 10 years long, and the range of normal is around 45-52 (I think). So hitting it in your mid-thirties is not wildly improbable. My mum went through it at circa 45 and my aunt at 40, so I'm pretty sure I'm in it now at 37. Which is fun

I’be never been fat but I do eat less as I’ve got older.

35 and 7 months for me

Your Mum sounds like a bundle of fun!

Are there things you can change - or is it more a matter of accepting the fact you're not the same size/shape that you used to be.

I actually think it's easier in some ways when you get older and have more free time to do the stuff you want to do (rather than hovering over children). So now I go to dance classes and am in a walking group. I lost whatever taste I had for booze and chocolate bars.

I always find diet threads profoundly depressing - and most people on them sound rather depressed!

I think I might try to do more exercise first and then see about diet; I generally eat well and life genuinely would be shit without pasta.

I swear my metabolism is in reverse! I just need to think about food and ping! on goes another pound. It's not fair. I'm 60, mind.

I'm 40 this year and really struggling with my weight.

I've always been naturally slim and able to eat what I want. Now I can't or I pile weight on and I'm much more doughy.

I've stopped eating bread for dinner and have a salad instead, then have less carbs, more protein for tea. I've dropped a few pounds but it's slow going.

I’m 35 and I just can’t seem to fix my weight. Definitely harder than previously.

I stayed slim until my mid 40s and then it all went to shite. Before that, if I felt I was getting a bit lardy, I'd just eat less for a couple of weeks and that would be that. It doesn't seem so simple anymore - and I hate it.

I've been thinking this lately!

I've been steadily about 8-ish stone for about 15 years, but in the last few months or so something's changed and I weigh 8.10 out of nowhere.

I don't want to buy new clothes, it has to stop 😭

It doesn't seem so simple anymore and I hate it.

I feel so uncomfortable within myself, I get you :(

Yep same here (I’m 38). Unfortunately for the time being I prefer chocolate over being slim.

Same here. I'm the same age as you OP and not losing a single pound despite exercise and cutting out treats and alcohol.

I used to just glance in the direction of a treadmill and I'd slim right down. No longer the case

The weight came on when I hit 40 even though my diet and physical activity levels hadnt changed. I gained 1kg every year until I was 49 when I decided to exercise aerobically for 1 hour a day. My weight stabilised and also I Stopped snacking between meals and as a result lost 5kg

In hopes of cheering people up, I've lost a stone over the past 2 months by keeping my calories per day to less than 1300 - on minimal exercise too as I've got a knee injury. I tend to avoid bread/cake/biscuits etc as well though (and am vegan so fewer treats out there in general)! So all is not lost - it might just be more difficult now.

I do seem to have plateaued at just over 11 stone though may have to investigate keto diet...

OP it is normal for your metabolism to slow down with age.

What you can do about it :

Weight training - increasing your muscle mass will keep your metabolism high, and help you look toned
Work out your TDEE - plenty of free calculators online. This will give you a good idea of how many calories you expend; to lose weight your food intake should be lower than your TDEE (a deficit of 300-500 cal/day is usually both effective and sustainable).
Food tracking - again plenty of free apps (Lifesum, MyFitnessPal, etc), track everything you eat and weigh/measure every portion accurately
No need to cut out any particular foods or food groups. Gluten free, dairy free, keto etc only serve to create a calorie deficit, there is no magic food that will make you lose weight, or indeed stop you from losing weight, it's all about calories in v calories out.

Good luck!

We don’t eat late anymore, that makes a difference I’m sure.

If on occasion we do, the next day we feel sluggish.