To ask which diet has worked best after 40

[WorriedMum192]

I have a considerable amount of weight to lose (4 stone) and my body fat percentage is alarmingly high. Last year I got diagnosed as pre-diabetic and I've tried all sorts to lose weight (paleo/fast diet/MFP) and trained for and run a half-marathon, but the scales have refused to budge and I weigh exactly the same as last year, with the same high fat percentage.

I'm not lacking motivation as I really want to avoid full-blown diabetes, I've tried so hard but it seems so much harder than in my 20s and 30s. I lost about 1.5 stone with Weight Watchers for my wedding 10 tears ago but I no longer agree with that scheme as they seem quite tolerant of processed food which now thanks to paleo I can't stand.

I can only think that having two kids and turning 40 has changed my metabolism for the worse. So, I'd like to ask, for those of you over 40 which diet or way of eating has proven most successful for you to lose weight and lose fat?

Many thanks!

The other thing with low carb and prediabetes is that all complex carbs are broken down into simple sugars during digestion. So while a (for eg) paleo diet with brown rice and oats might be okay for some, it will be contributing towards your insulin resistance.

I do Slimmers World and have lost 2 and a half stones in a year it is slow but steady and very easy to follow.
Dh has been doing 5:2 for 5 weeks and has lost a stone but he had much more to lose. He really struggles on the fasting days.

Calorie counting AND macros with MFP.

You can't just eat low-calorie, low-nutrient stuff. You need to keep your carbs, fat and protein in balance too. Protein and fat to keep you, fat to keep your mood up, carbs for energy and to fuel workouts/activity.

Eat less than you burn by approx 500 cals.

Job done. It will also allow you, if you're unaware already, to identify what it is about your current diet that is keeping you overweight. Large portions? Alcohol? If you're genuinely unaware of what needs to change, seeing how many calories are in an item, perhaps with very little benefit to your macros (ie: a high-sugar item with little fat and no protein, you can see how little benefit it brings) can help you make better choices down the line.

Dukan diet plus bodyweight training - so I didn't lose muscle mass

I lost 12kg in 18 - 24 months BTW

Eat far less - reduce your portion size. Most women in their 40s need to increasingly eat far less, sadly.

I have been slim all my adult life, but as I have got older I have needed less and less food to maintain that figure. I am late 40s & generally eat teeny amounts. Your body does get used to it, although it can be a bore. But nothing tastes as good as slim feels.

Easy loss VGB - fantastic but not a diet, a change in how you view food. No counting calories, low fat or depriving yourself of anything, just learning to recognise how your body feels and responding to it.

I'm 48 did mfp c25k and pt twice a week for 3 months lost nada nada nada ! I was so miserable had thyroid checked everything so I did lighter life but my god it has been slow going 10 lbs in 4 weeks ! I did it 4 years ago and kept it off no problem for 3 years then before Xmas I gained 10 lbs hence me doing mfp. I now know I have to exercise more than I want to and eat less than I want to but yep nothing tastes as good as slim feals .

Oh, on easy loss I lost a stone in about 6 weeks. Stopped weighing myself as realised that it's about how I feel not what the scales say but very happy with loss with minimal effort and definitely no pain or trauma. It's an app by the way, hypnosis.

I'm 46 and in the past year or so have lost weight and been able to more or less maintain it with the 5-2. It's not for everyone but it does work. I don't stick to it religiously all the time but use it as a guide or pick it up again when I feel I'm slipping.

5:2 works for me. I'm mid 40s & have had to give up running and cycling due to chronic pain issues (physio has advised). So my previous tactic of eat what I want and then exercise stopped working!

I've lost 10kg since November on 5:2. Also swim and do pilates but don't think they do much for weight loss.

Slimming world worked for me too. I shifted 4.5 stone, I am 37 my mum is over 60 and has done pretty much the same.

As a pp said I adapt it to cater for my favourite dishes, as far as I can tell it doesn't have the same emphasis on processed food as weight watchers has.

Good luck!

im doing slimming world - lost 2.5 stone since january.

I eat mullerlights, but everything else I cook from scratch (jar sauces have too much sugar).

Theres a SW food diary thread here

I think the emphasis is on eating healthy, lots of veg, and making sensible choices - you can have the chocolate or the wine, or both - but you have a limited number of choice "syns" and you cant go over a certain number on any one day, and theres a limit in the week.

I tried WW before, but my lifestyle is not compatible with weighing every morsel.

With 5:2 you also get all the other health benefits that reduced calorie diets lack so it's more inspiring to keep going. Although I only had a stone to lose I am mainly doing it for the other benefits.

Nothing tastes as good as HEALTHY feels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing tastes as good as HEALTHY feels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is certainly true. Being slim & healthy heading into your 50s is the kindest you can be to yourself.

If you've been diagnosed as pre-diabetic then some form of low carb high fat (Bootcamp or Atkins, both are free) is probably best. If you search around you'll see loads of stories online of people putting insulin resistance/pre diabetes/type 2 diabetes into remission with this woe.

I'm 43, tried everything but LCHF is the only thing that is shifting my weight. With hindsight I think I had some sort of IR/PD going on. Standard low fat diets just didn't work, I'd have to eat a tiny amount of food to have any impact on my weight. I was permanently hungry and it just wasn't satisfying or sustainable.

Three balanced meals a day, one with dessert, two snacks (fruit and nuts). Water to drink.

Drink loads of tea between meals.

Aim to walk 10,000 steps per day (in reality, manage this 3x per week).

Nothing tastes as good as HEALTHY feels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but malteezer fridge cake will give it a good run for it's money.

My tip, exercise. Keep pushing yourself, even if you have bad days food wise keep your body toned. Lift weights, heavy ones.

I am losing the fat fight!! I have to take steroids periodically and can't exercise (I have Lupus which wipes me out. I can't even have a shower unless I lay down for 20 minutes to recover)
I have tried most diets over the years but my recent gain is the worse by far. I am counting calories but still not losing weight.
I have over 4 stone at least.
Any ideas?

Everyone I know over 40 who lost weight did Dukan...

I have type 2 diabetes. I lost over 2 stones with Slimming World two years ago, started swimming three times a week and maintained the diet, which is just eating sensibly really and I feel great. My sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol are all normal now. But I wish I'd done it before I got the condition so make the effort now or you will certainly regret it.

Sharon, I'm on steroids too, have been for almost, two years and am also having very high dose pulse therapy with steroids for three days every month for a rare autoimmune illness.
I know how hungry they make you feel and how difficult it is not to give in. I can however vouch for low carb, high fat; it really works and helps curb the cravings (I was a real sugar/carb addict before) I've only put on a couple of pounds, after losing two stones due to my illness, since starting the steroids. My bloods have been fine too and I have not had the usual side effects associated with them.

I'm 54, have been doing 5:2 for a couple of years now. I also started doing shred and similar regularly. This combination works well for me, I'm in better shape and very healthy on it.