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?

I think genetics do play a part but that doesn’t mean that if - like me- you have thyroid problems and are prone to putting on weight that you should just accept it’s down to genes and just be overweight. I work really hard to stay healthy and a normal weight. I don’t believe being slightly larger than normal is unhealthy- I think it’s doable to be slim or fat and be unhealthy and the reverse is also true to a point - no one is healthy if they are obese. Just the added pressure on your joints and organs can’t be good for you.

But I do that even when genes are working for or against us we should all still be making healthy choices food wise as much as possible and having a healthy amount of exercise. If someone is prone to putting on weight this is even more important.

Agree Fairylea

I eat healthier than most people (low carb, fish, no junk, minimal dairy, etc) and I'm still a bit overweight. If I let go I'd be obese again. So there's genetics, but there's also choosing to fight it.

I could pretty much eat what I wanted until having ds2 when I was 32. He was a ten pounder, stretched my stomach to fuck, and everything was a mess after that.

I cut way back on snacking (but haven't been able to stop completely - i'm genuinely hungry between meals), having a salad for lunch, eat dinner as normal but no snacking afterwards.

I also now do a high impact cardio class once a week and run four times a week where I previously did no exercise whatsoever.

For me it's finding the balance between being healthier (which is partly shown via my weight loss) and not consciously starving myself or becoming hung up on exercising too much. Life is too short to be permanently hungry or feeling guilty because you don't feel like running that day.

Interesting that a lot of people put their weight down to good genetics, but when overweight people say this kind of thing, they're just lazy and making up excuses

Humans are are programmed to retain weight in middle to later years, that's an evolutionary reality. As was ever the case, there are a small number of people on either end of the spectrum who will find it unusually easy or difficult to lose/maintain weight.

I have an underactive thyroid and am on meds, I'm mid-50s. I have to really restrict my food and work out hard 5 days a week most weeks. I 'let myself go' by ditching the strict food control over the last few years, but have just lost the 2 stone I'd gained in that time, so back to size 8 now. I never have any problem with the exercise, so it does go to show it's the food that has the effect on the weight.

Most depressing thread I've ever read. I'd rather be fat and happy, and have a bit of pizza and cake once a week, thanks

And that's fine! Just don't berate those of us who would rather be slim. It doesn't make it "depressing" it just means we all have different views about certain things.

A bit pizza and cake once a week won't make you fat.

I'm a size 10 at the moment, last year I was dealing with a few stressful events, including the illness and death of 2 people very close to me. I went down to 6 1/2 stone purely from not eating, felt awful and looked awful.

So I wanted to get back up and maintain my usual healthy weight. The most important thing for me was starting with a healthy brekkie, so 2 eggs and toast or porridge - I know, not the most tantalising food in the world- but honestly I never felt hungry till mid afternoon, then it was just soup (lidil do the most fantastic soups) or a veggie wrap. Dinner I always had around 6, usually a garlic and chilli/spice chicken type meal with extra rice. And unless I was going out later that would be my total food for the day.

Embarrassed to say I've never been a huge fan of exercise but if I'm doing house work, I will put on a podcast/audiobook or music and get my 20 mins a day workout. Also avoided those horrible sugar free drinks and made my own with sparking water, lemon mint and a tiny bit of real sugar to

sweeten.
HTH

I'm 42 and a size 8-10. I eat what I want, but I make fairly healthy choices, and if I have a weekend of eating and drinking booze, I crave healthy food in the week. I do yoga and reformer Pilates 5 times a week and I walk 10-12k steps a day just doing the school run and walking to work.

I suspect that you lay the foundations in your twenties for how easy it will be to maintain a healthy weight and your strength when you are older. I was crap at sport at school, but started going to the gym once I moved to london age 22 and I've exercised regularly since then, though only yoga and reformer Pilates for the last 8 years or so.

To those who say exercise doesn't make you lose weight, it's diet, I am sure that is true, but exercise will give you more muscle tone and better self esteem and mental health, and that will in turn probably impact on food choices. That's my theory anyway. I am far more concerned with feeling fit and strong that being slim.

Eat less
Move more

the amount of calories your body needs drops by about 10% per decade
so you need to consume less
and up the exercise to keep your bones healthy

I'm a size 8-10 and I'm 38. I eat what I like at the weekends but during the week I stick to about 1200 calories, I don't eat breakfast and I try to stick to nutritious choices. I also don't drink my calories unless it's alcohol.

I'd rather be fat and happy - nobody here is forcing other people to diet. I'm simply not happy when fat.

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

You've answered your own question. HTH. 😏

A bit of natural luck, not too big an appetite, generally balanced meals and a toddler that keeps me constantly moving.
I don't really love exercise and this has been a bit of a struggle after having a long course of steroids which completely put my appetite out of whack. Rather than do actual exercise I've just upped how much I move in a day which helps.

I dunno, I just don't eat that much compared to other people.

I generally eat healthily, but I don't deny myself. My focus is health and what foods suit me rather than weight. I don't have a sweet tooth, dont eat red meat, don't eat much wheat or dairy, don't drink alcohol. I don't like shit food – burgers, crisps, chocolate etc.

My diet is mainly vegetables, fruit, whole grains, white meat and fish, nuts and seeds. I throw in cake or ice cream if I ever wanted it. It's hard to get fat on that diet unless you're eating huge quantities.

I'm in the gym 6 days a week plus walking 3 miles on the school run every day, cycling 12 miles to work and back every day and dog walking. I eat mostly what I want but have never had fizzy drinks. I only drink water and have a mostly sugar free diet. I'm size 10 mid thirties.

Less alcohol
Better diet, lower calorie meals and smaller portions
Eating lentil based salads instead of sandwiches for lunch
Eating more protein and less carbs
Doing more exercise, even if it’s just walking, at least 10k steps a day

I’ve maintained a size 10, I probably won’t ever get back to an 8 but I was a 14 by my early 30s when I’d always been naturally skinny before.

There’s no magic pill. Eat less, move more. You’ll actually find if you do more exercise you can eat a lot more calories.

I was 30 in September and am a size 8, I have a really good appetite and tend to average about 2500/2600 a day. I do some weights, but no cardio as I am active in my day to day life. I always think that no driving helps me, because I walk everywhere. My dad's family is very petite and I think genetics play a part too.

Alcohol is indeed ruinous, not the least for the way it makes you crave toast the next morning. I am useless with a hangover, it's McDonalds all day long.

Eat what you fancy but exercise

I'd caution against it. You really can't out train a shit diet

Also 100g of almost anything is plenty

Am early 40s, size 8-10. I am small though, so BMI of about 22.5.

I exercise at least twice a week, up to four times in a good week (running, swimming, weights). More for mental health/long term health reasons than weight. Hour's dog walk every day too.

I don't give what I eat a great deal of thought - love fruit and veg, also love biscuits. I enjoy cooking and don't eat a lot of convenience food. But basically, I think I'm lucky.