To wonder whether I'll ever be slim

[milkmilkeverywhere]

So, basically it seems like once you're over 40 and have kids, there's no way of being thin unless you are:

1. Genetically extremely lucky or
2. Go one some kind of extreme diet/exercise regime.

I'm not fat but I'm not thin either. I don't want to do a fasting diet, a no carb diet, or any other kind of weird eating situation. I do want to enjoy my food but I don't actually eat loads. I don't have a lot of time to exercise (or motivation if I'm honest) but I try to stay active, I walk, Pilates.

Most people I know my age who are thin are eating virtually nothing. Am I missing some kind of trick or is it really that simple?

I’ve been slender my whole life and now I’m mid 40s with two kids, I am not slim anymore!

I think you do need change your regimen to row against the tide of spread. I’ve decided to do it and although I’m still not slim yet I feel like I’ve got a handle on it and honestly I’m quite energised I’ve made the decision.

I can’t for the life of me force restrictions on myself for dieting in itself … but I seem to choose better once I’m active (ie if I’m working out I know I’ll have a ferocious headache if I haven’t eaten properly beforehand, same for after a big cardio workout) so that drives my eating choices.

I think if you’re pretty sedentary you’re always swimming against the tide with it really…

Don't worry about it. Try not to get to the state that's unhealthy but other than that accept we all come in different shapes and sizes.

There have been a lot of interesting programs about diet on showing the changes since WW2 when we had a much healthier diet (but boring).

I wouldn't say I'm on an extreme diet or exercise regime. I skip breakfast and split approx 1400 calories between lunch and dinner. That's midweek. Weekends I eat what I want and drink wine. This allows me to eat all the various foods I enjoy - cooking is one of my hobbies.

For exercise I get about 8000 steps of proper walking - not pottering and three times a week I do strength training YouTube videos. I'm 42 and a size 8.

IF is your answer.

Why do you want to be thin? (I’m taking thin to mean on the lower end of the healthy weight bracket)

I'm 44 and doing okay but run and have a very active job.

I don't diet but have always eaten quite healthy options the majority of the time -with wine and crisps most evenings-

So you want to be thin but you don't want to diet or do exercise, I think there's your answer

😬

More activity is a big part of it. People always say that weight loss is 80% diet and I’m sure this is true; but even upping your exercise very marginally so that you’re burning an additional 150 calories a day / 1,000 a week makes a big difference over the months and years. You don’t have to be doing an extreme exercise regime for that - a 5km run, or a spin class, or an hour lifting weights, three times a week would do it.

Turn your life round!

• Do the extreme exercise routine for 6-12 months
• Eat sensibly (whatever that looks like to you for me, cutting out highly processed foods helps.

Once you are fit, change jobs from sedentary to more active!

Or just accept who you are.