I just cannot seem to lose weight

[BG2015]

I've just turned 50 and am on HRT after a hysterectomy in 2017. I know the score - eat less/ move more.

I'm tall 5' 9" so can carry a bit of weight to a degree. We eat healthily as a family and cook everything from scratch. I do try and exercise a couple of times a week but it doesn't always happen I admit.

Ive lost half a stone since February and now weigh 12 stone. I would love to lost another half a stone but it just won't budge. I seem to be losing and gaining the same 1lb week after week.

We don't have full fat milk, I don't buy loads of biscuits and crap and I have 2/3 Bacardi and diet cokes over the weekend.

I've also tried to reduce my portions sizes too. I honestly think that I'd have to eat hardly anything to lose weight. I've easily lost it beforehand.

I hate being middle aged.

Feel your pain! I am 51 and no HRT for me, going cold-turkey. I find it much easier to put on weight and much harder to lose it. I exercise 2-3 times a week and do a 1-2 hour dog walk most days. I eat healthily most of the time but enjoy alcohol and treats in moderation. I am 9st 5 at the moment which for me is getting heavy. The biggest thing I have noticed is that I used to be able to indulge over Xmas or a holiday and then by going back to normal the few pounds I had gained would drop off. Not any more! I eat so much less than 20 years ago!!

You have a healthy BMI. If you’re able to maintain it then acceptance might be the way. No one else will notice 7lbs at your height but they will notice you making yourself miserable.

In order to lose 2lbs a week these days - post 50 - I have to do the 30 day shred every day and keep my calories to 800 per day with hardly any fat and only 20g of carbs per day. Your bacardi breezers are stopping you losing weight sadly.

Try the low carb thread.

It is actually much harder to lose weight than people say. You need to be strict and drop the bacardi. 1/3 to a half of your plate should be veg (or fruit at breakfast).

I'm 34 had a hysterectomy and double oophorectomy at 26.

I've struggled with my weight since up until February this year. For me I don't think it was the HRT after all. was mood and my mental health the way I saw and felt about myself.

I've lost 25 pounds since 9th February. I am calorie counting and need a deficit of 1000 calories a day to lose on average 2lbs a week.

Have you tried cutting your carbs at all? I'm around the same age and it's worked for me.
I was running 5k three times a week and eating around 1800 cals a day and my midrif ballooned. Dr recommend cutting to 50 or under carbs & 1500 cals a day lchf diet, It seems to be working and I haven't been running for three weeks.

Carbs and eating late (after 8pm). Try to walk as much as you can every day! Use something like MyFitnessPal to track cals (nutrient intake) and activity - it helps to see what you are doing and motivates you to stick to the Plan.

It’s tough!

I’m in my fifties and Want to stay slim and the only way is to reduce your calorific intake, less each year. I eat whatever I want but only small portions. You get used to it.

Two things that work for me are cutting out all refined sugar and alcohol and being strict all the time (which is no fun). Or doing intermittent fasting. Either 5:2 or fast 800. It depends on your metabolism though. I can deal with hunger quite easily and if I’m busy I forget to eat anyway.

I do MyFitnessPal pal and don't eat many carbs to be honest.

It's just so boring watching every tiny thing you eat.

Perhaps you are meant to be the weight you are?

Strict low carb for a fortnight then watch carbs routinely. Took me from 9st 8 to 8st 13 and I have now settled around 9st 1 which is fine for my post menopausal 5ft 1 body.

It's hormonal - you need to regulate your hormones by cutting carbs to below 20g a day (this limits your insulin production which is also a hormone) and you won't have to even count calories if you do this

Think steak and veg
Pork belly in a creamy sauce with your greens
Chicken legs with the skin on with mushroom sauce and greens
Eggs eggs eggs, even in mayonnaise

Going through exactly the same. On top of all the other Menopause symptons it's another thing nature does just to wind us up. I Always cook healthy meals from scratch. Exercise daily by walking my dogs, regularly muck out and poo pick the field. Play tennis and swim. My body shape has just changed.The only thing that seems to work is cutting out alcohol altogether (I don't really drink a great deal as my husband works overseas and I am by myself for weeks) I was starting to get really fed up as I hate feeling floppy and hate my clothes being tight so out of desperation I tried ACV first thing in the morning. I have been using it for 3 weeks Its fowl, and you can have a toilet situation if you are not careful!! It seems to be working as my tight Jean's are now so much looser again. Hang on in there, the Menopause is a pain in the butt, but we are women and we will get through it, sadly many women pass at such an early age so I guess we need to celebrate getting to this age.

Right I'm going to try the low carb thing and see if that works. Is there something/someone who can guide me or is watching my carb intake on MyFitnessPal enough.

I know exactly how you feel. I'm 48 had hysterectomy 6months ago and and am on HRT patches. I walk 40mins per day with my dog, watch what I eat, but am now 12st7lbs! I nearly fell off the scales last week! I've been feeling really bloated with abdominal pain and last week was diagnosed with impacted colon and put on Movicol. I took it at weekend and was sure that after the clear out would have lost weight but no......exactly same weight today. I'm so disheartened and don't know what to do. At this stage I just eat 2 meals day, rarely drink and am quite active but am 1 stone heavier than last year!

I came on to say low carb too but you need to combine it with high fat too, check out the diet doctor website, it will tell you everything you need to know

Exercise is great for lots of reasons but really not necessary for weight loss