Wtf? Weight gain - I seem to be putting on 1-2lbs per month

[MrsHood]

I’ve put on about a stone since Jan. My diet hasn’t changed. Am early 40s, 5ft 6in and as per my scales this morning - now pushing 12st was 11st at Xmas.

My Diet is what I’d consider “average family cuisine” - think weetabix, toast, porridge or yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, dinner ranges from spag bol to salads, home made curry/chili con carne to roast veg, snacks are mainly fruit with the odd packet of crisps or choc bar. So whilst it’s not super healthy, its not at its super awful either. I don’t drink much (never at home, only socially so about once per month on average).

My sleep is a bit all over the place and i have a desk-based job so am quite sedentary and don’t find it easy to make time for exercise.

Is this just the curse of the famous middle-age spread? Is it 2 years of working from home, sitting down a lot with an “average diet” now just catching up on me?

It’s just going to keep on heading in this direction isn’t it, unless I make some fairly drastic changes…. Which is, ugh, what I find overwhelming and then beat myself up.

Send help and donuts

Yep, you have to watch your total sugar intake. I thought my diet was healthy but I'm obese and even with a lot of help, getting nowhere.

Did the Zoe Nutrition testing and also seen the Glucose Goddess (tho struggled with the name) stuff and it's fascinating. Rice is out, as is most other carbs. Refuse to go very low carb as I reckon that it knackered my thyroid but feeling a lot better and it's stopped the creeping upwardness.

Ah, that's something get assessed, your thyroid, mine packed in and you need several readings over time to get treatment so can take ages.

And yes, think how much effort going to work was and how much walking, compared to now. Think about your NEAT. Non-exercise thermogenesis. Must be another word there...

God, I’m in the same boat! 2 stones on in the last year. And I did start HRT, but by then I already gained 1 1/2 stones anyway, so it’s not that.
HRT bloats me something horrible.
I’m veggie, but I make myself eat some fish about once a month if I’m honest.
I need to totally rethink my relationship with food, don’t I?
I’m a proper foodie, I love it!

Thanks @BIWI
I don’t eat much pasta but do eat good portion sizes of brown rice. I’ll try and reduce it .

Hrt helped me lose weight as my sleep was so bad I was eating loads of crap to get through a day. I guess it’s individual

Rice etc - imagine a handful of cooked rice - that’s about right. If still hungry eat more protein

Try and get a bot more exercise. Cut right down on bread. Its a curse for weight gain IMHO.

I think it can only get worst. Honestly. I’m now nearing 50 and another half stone has appeared with nothing changing bar HRT.

my advice is to start fasting and exercising.

I'd say you need to be honest with yourself about what you eat. Maybe having a food journal for a month? You said you had baguette and twix for lunch. God forbid I am here to point the finger, but just to give you an example (with good faith) what might have caused weight gain- foods that don't keep us full and provide no nutritional value, but are rich in calories. I prepare mine and husband's lunch in the evening. It doesn't take more than 10 minutes- some bagged leaves, olives, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, some salad sauce, proteins and voila. I actually like the idea of having chicken ready for 2-3 days, saves a lot of time. I bake chickpeas with olive oil and spices that lasts me 2 days. If I don't have anything ready, I just add half mozzarella or third of feta cheese (each). If you add some exercise, you'll gain muscle and your metabolism will speed up too. Move with Nicole is my fav pilates channel, if you'd like to start something enjoyable. All the best xx

I am 45 and have always been able to eat and drink what I wanted and never put on weight until now! The last 6 months I have definitely gained weight and have now got quite a big belly which is getting me down. My clothes still fit but I am suddenly feeling fat and I know this is probably just the start of more substantial weight gain. I dare not weight myself but just wanted to say I feel your pain and am probably in the same position. I exercise and have a fairly healthy diet apart from a few drinks at the weekend. Is it the dreaded menopause?

This may be a stupid question but…have you checked you’re not pregnant?!

Mirena at the end of its life…no periods anyway so you wouldn’t know from that…weight gain…just a thought!