To wonder how you keep your size 6/8/10 figure after 30?

[snarted]

I feel like to do this I would have to really restrict myself food wise and keep to a strict gym regime. Any tips?

HairyHands you look a lovely size.

I've always been tiny and feel envious of people who can alter their weight.

It’s hard work
I am a natural tall 12 (11 on a great day) and I have realised that I can never stop

I have to eat healthily and exercise and manage portions every single day. My body wants to be fatter I suspect . Fortunately I like exercise and healthy food but even with Stirling efforts the weight loss Is gradual

So for every natural slim person there are the people that work on it every single day , or stay disciplined all the time

I used to be an effortless size 6-8 which I kept up with exercise. when younger I ate a lot of crap but walked miles.

Then after dc 2, I went back to a very stressful job and ever since I drink too much (a glass most nights) and exercise less (keep getting injured). I managed to slim back by taking up kettlebells but have had to pause. I’m creeping past a size 10, which is the heaviest I’ve been.

I know if I cut out booze and eat less I’ll slim down but I need comfort without exercise. I’m 36.

I'm 34 and a size 10-12.

Tbh I have absolutely no idea how I do it. I hate the gym with a passion so don't do that. I tend to walk to the shop and the school run.

I definetly watch what I eat but if I want the second piece of cake. I'm having the second piece of cake no arguments.
I tend to have a lot of salad or veg with my meals though so ide say that works for me.

I'm 6ft, size 10-12, I think I'm lucky as I have a long lean body shape, but I do keep an eye on the scales, I like to remain with a certain weight range (10.4-10.8), so outside of that I reign in the eating. I've lost weight recently (10.2), just by not eating/snacking for the sake of it, and letting myself feel hungry at times and waiting for mealtimes (a first for me!)

I weigh pretty much the same in my 50s as I did in my 20s and I absolutely love my food.But I try to make healthy choices that keep me full like porridge or eggs for breakfast,brown rice with homemade chilli or curry,lots of homemade soups in winter etc.But I won't deny myself the odd treat such as a bit of chocolate or slice of cake.
The key for me is I have a very active lifestyle with a big garden to maintain and dogs to walk. But the biggest difference I've noticed is the amount of alchohol some of my friends consume, then they strugale with their weight.I have never been that fussed about alcoholic drinks tbh.One nice glass of red or a cold beer in summer is all I can handle or I fall asleep or feel rubbish so that helps ,and I would rather have tasty food over booze any day.

My mum is nearly 70 and still a size 6/8, very active lifestyle, exercises regularly at classes as well as walking and gardening. She eats very healthily and looks after herself. Drinks alcohol but generally avoids sugar otherwise.

I don’t know anyone who is ‘naturally’ thin over 30. I thought they were, but knowing them now they all work super hard to stay like that. All well over 40 now and they are careful everyday.
Example. Good friend same height as me, 5’8”. Size 8-10 Id say, really slim. Going on holidays soon and has cut all carbs and sugar to avoid ‘bloat’. She will eat and drink on holiday, no better woman, but the day she gets home she will hit the gym and get rid of everything she put on ASAP.

I cut all sodas and sugary drinks after 30 and it made a massive difference. I also don’t eat gluten anymore (intolerance- so that naturally cut a lot of baked goods out) and walk everywhere. It definitely is a “changes to lifestyle” matter rather than a yo-yo diet situation I think.

I don't eat more than 1300 a day during the week.
I run 3 miles 3 times a week
I do yoga on non running days.
On the weekend all bets are off.
I'm a size 8. Up to my mid twenties I ate crap, did sod all exercise and was a size 6.

FWIW, the first time I moved out of house and was on a tight budget, I was in London for 3 months and shopped at Iceland a lot because it was cheap and nearby. I was 22 or so? I put on weight then. Processed food - especially the cheaper end - IMO has a lot to do with being overweight. I now cook from scratch most of the time, but don't actively avoid any foodgroup and use full-fat versions of dairy etc.

I honestly don't put any 'work' in. For the past couple of years I haven't even done much exercise because I'm studying on top of work and I don't have the time/energy. I'm still exactly the same weight.

I think you only have to work if you like to eat big portions, like your carbs, puddings, cakes, junk, alcohol etc

I think the answer is a combination of most things on this thread.

Genetics determines body shape but how much timber you carry on that shape is down to input/output.

Hormones affect appetite. I put on weight on the pill. It fell off in two weeks with zero effort when I stopped taking it.

Relationship with food. If you've been bought up to clear your plate regardless of how full you feel, and food has been used as a reward for good behaviour you might have a less healthy relationship with food as an adult.

I'm 42 and a size 10. I've been a similar size most of my adult life. I've always kept an eye on my weight and adjusted food intake if I put on a couple of pounds (and never let it get to a couple of stone). I always exercised until I had a tricky pregnancy at 38. Post baby, a full time job and commute, plus the numerous bugs caught from a toddler, has meant I've struggled to get back into it. I've noticed a big change in body shape since I stopped exercising, even though my weight hasn't changed (after I lost the baby weight). I have also noticed that it's much, much harder to lose weight through diet post-40. I didn't notice any particular change at 30.

I'm 49 and post menopausal by 2 years. I'm 5ft 3 and weigh 7 stone 6. Pretty much the same as when I was 15. I put on a huge amount of weight in pregnancy though, but it did fall off again afterwards.

I eat quite a lot - I do like fish, salads, and fruit, but I also like cheese and bread etc - not a big fan of sweet stuff though.

I'm quite active - my job has me walking for much of the day, I walk the dog about 4 miles a day, and I have a horse which needs sorting and riding etc and I'm a single parent so have got kind of used to not stopping - I'm always moving!

There have been periods in my life when I have not been as active, and then I have noticed that I tend not to eat quite as much. It's not a conscious thing though. I just feel less hungry.

I eat well, am active and go to gym classes 3 times a week.
Never restricted my diet I just don't eat too much sugar and eat homemade food.

I think genetic luck here.

I do walk everywhere and eat a mostly-vegetarian fairly healthy diet, and am currently breastfeeding a big hungry 10 month old. None of that’s much help, is it?

I’ve been unhealthily overweight and very unfit. I’m now a healthy weight and reasonably fit.

They key to maintaining a healthy weight for me has been to find some exercise that I actually enjoy doing. In my case, this means cycling and tennis or badminton. The breakthrough moment came when I realised that the more exercise I did, the more I could get away with eating & drinking .

During the week, I’m pretty careful about my diet. I eat loads, but I try to maximise lean protein and veg / salad / fruit while minimising carbs after breakfast. And no alcohol.

At the weekend, I eat and drink whatever I want.