Do I just give up? Am I just destined to be fat

[Sianholby]

Just coming in here as I’m just feeling down at the moment. I’m perimenopausal, just started HRT and hate the way I look.
I swim and go on our home cross trainer twice a week. I work full time and have three kids. We eat relatively healthily and I’m trying to cut down my carbs.

i just look like a whale, my belly sticks out further than my breasts. I can just can’t shift this weight.
iVe attached a photo of me currently, I want to lose the belly and the fat below my breasts that sticks out. Any tips as exercising three times a week around work and children and walking almost everywhere just isn’t doing it

I'm the same OP. I've had a bit of weight loss/shape change with intermittent fasting (36h fast at a time) which can seem extreme, but it's the only think that's made any difference for me (& I've tried everything!)

read Why we eat too much by Dr Andrew Jenkinson

You need to eat smaller portions of your meals, less bread and avoid any unhealthy snacks.

Honestly most people outside Instagram look like you. You definitely don’t look like a whale. You’re a busy mum of 3. Please have some self-compassion and respect for yourself. And buy nicer knickers 🤣

I have your body shape too op. Low carb makes a massive difference for me

I find walking helped a lot for me, a good walk (not a stroll) for an hour as many times a week as possible. Cut out sugar.

Agree - cut out sugar, inc hidden sugars in white rice, white bread, white pasta etc. high blood sugar can cause belly fat. Have you had a blood test to see about blood sugar?

I'm mid point healthy BMI, but I look just like you if I stand there letting my muscles slack and my spine curve. Stand up straight with your shoulders back and tighten your core. Do this ALL the time. It makes a world of difference once it becomes a habit.

That could be a picture of me! I'm currently doing slimfast and it's working for me. I'm just doing it Mon-Fri and for 4 weeks to give me a kick start. It's so easy, but pricey and is not a long term solution....but I just needed a push in the right direction.

Yes I had blood tests for sugar, it just won’t shift. Tried cutting carbs, I don’t drink that much alcohol or snack. I exercise three times a week around my work and kids. And I still look like that - just hate looking at myself in the mirror these days since I’ve hit peri

The fast 800 is supposed to be amazing I'm going to do it ☺️

I was about to mention your posture but @5128gap beat me to it!

Op I think your main "issue" (not really a huge issue in the grand scheme of things) is the way you hold your pelvis and abs. Try holding your back and abs straight and you'll look much more comfortable (and slimmer).

There are lots of exercises you can do at home with no equipment - for example, holding the dish position while lying down. Also strengthen the glutes with glute bridges. Just 5 min a day, you'll see huge improvements in weeks.

Edit: when I say exercise I don't mean calorie burning type exercise. I think you need to build core strength.

OP what’s your BMI it’s hard to tell from the photos?. I’d concentrate more on nutrition than exercise at this stage.
What happened when you cut carbs as I did this last July and lost a stone in a month and then lost another one and three quarter stone over the next three months?. My stomach felt flatter after one week, I know it’s only fluid at the beginning but it was a boost when my waistband felt more comfortable.

I feel the same op. Since I hit 40 I just can't seem to shift any weight for long, I'll lose a pound, then put on a pound and so on. I'm a single Mum to 3 children and work full time in a sedentary office role so do very little exercise and don't have much time for it. I've bought a treadmill to try to run/walk in the evenings when the kids are in bed as that's the only opportunity I have and I am going to eat low carb. I did keto a few years back and really enjoyed the way of eating but didn't find it sustainable in the long run so I'm planning to cut down my carbs but not to the same extreme.

My BMI is 30 which makes me obese - which in turn makes me despair. I’m a size 12-14 in clothes but I just hate how I look and tend to live in baggy jumpers and leggings these days

So nice to see an honest relatable photo for once. This could be my pic OP!
I'm out and about a lot all over the place so see a lot of people. Honestly, you are smaller than most I see. But good luck in whatever you decide to do, I need to get on the wagon for health reasons.

OP do you have any idea how many calories you are eating each day? Could you try shaving 10% off?

I dream about getting back to a size 12 to 14.

Intermittent fasting and floss and brush your teeth no later than 7pm. This stops me eating at night as I can’t be arsed doing it again if I eat.

I’ve been using My FitnessPal and trying not to go over 1500

Thank you. I thought it was time to take a picture and share it. I just hate how I look compared to other people. I always feel so big next to other ladies in my office for example and I hate having my photo taken or seeing myself in images

How tall are you? 1500-1600 is a maintenance intake for most women.

160cm so 5ft2/3. I feel like a weeble

Don't give up on being and feeling healthy. At some point you'll find the formula that works for you.

I've been putting on weight for 20+ years, occasionally losing a few pounds, but putting it straight back on within a month of starting to try.

Over the past 8 months I've lost 3 1/2 stone. I'm still overweight but my habits are so much better that I'm gradually losing without so much effort.

For me, the Weston A Price dietary principles have been transformative to my health. Many friends have found intermittent fasting very helpful. Running and weights seem to be very effective in my group of friends and acquaintances. Many of them are women a similar age to you (and me). Many have felt healthier reducing UPFs.

Best of luck. It might take a while to find what works. But something will, and will not only transform your waistline, but also how you feel. Honestly though, I think you look better than you think you do.

At that height you will not lose weight on 1500 calories a day.

You'll need to drop to 1300 I should think.

Lots of non-processed food etc.

thank you. That’s what the app said when I put my stats in anyway. We tend to eat healthily as a family - fish, vegetable, skinless chicken etc with the occasional treat (Maccys) if our - and I’m talking once every couple of months not weeks. It’s just depressing that I go on the cross trainee twice a week and swim at the weekend and nothing happens