To wonder how anyone stays slim?

[mrlistersgelfbride]

Its hard as you get older isn't it!
I'm very late 30s , size 10 to 12 but I've put on 2 stone in 2 years and feel like I'm just going to get fatter 🫣
Less than 3 years ago I was BMI of 19! (Not saying there's anything wrong with this but I was too thin and got a bit obsessive).
...but gradually got other priorities.
I used to do long distance running but I simply don't have the time anymore.

I'm surrounded by people who can either eat everything and don't gain a pound (not many of these!) or are overweight and happy/resigned with it.
I don't look or feel good with extra weight on.

I still exercise quite a lot, I run every day and have a job where I'm always on my feet but there's so temptation everywhere, I have a sweet tooth and I overeat.
A new dessert shop has just opened at the bottom of the road FFS 😂
Tomorrow will be a 'fat day' as I can't resist an Easter egg and I'm going for breakfast with DD and her friend and mum.
But I feel I have to fast til then as I'll be eating too much tomorrow but I'm hungry now 😂 I track my calories sometimes but find myself going over more and more and then I can't be bothered.

How do you stay slim? Or is it not worth it and you may aswell give in to it and enjoy yourself?

Thanks for listening to my rant!

I think you sound like you have a beautiful healthy slim figure :) you exercise but don’t deny yourself sweet treats. I think just accept your bodies settled at a healthy size ten :)

@Doneit555 Thank you. I eat so much sugar though especially recently. I know how bad it is but always have cake at work, meals out etc.
Feels like denying these is missing out on all the fun!

I feel exactly the same! Also late 30s, size 12-14, and have similarly put on about the same amount of weight over the last few years. I'm so annoyed with myself because in 2020/2021 I was (I now realise) quite slim, but was convinced I was overweight then, so I kept trying to lose weight by restricting even more. Unfortunately that led to a complete swing in the opposite direction. I wish I could go back in time!

You're right, it is so hard, especially when there are lovely restaurants/cafes nearby, and when food can be such a nice sociable activity. And I do think it gets more difficult to lose weight as the years creep by. I don't know how people stay slim. Sometimes I wish I could be Ratatouille'd by a rat that loves the gym and detests cake!

You ignore the poster above and don’t eat too much.
have an Easter egg or go out for breakfast…

being fat isn’t a positive.

I do think as you get older you chill out a bit about food. I’m similar age, was obsessed with dieting when I was younger but weirdly I’m at one of my smallest weights now I’m slightly less obsessed!

Also I love sugar. On my feet all day and night. Around food alllllll the time from working in hospitality. So never fancy a meal but eat too much chocolate

Basically I’m slim but so unhealthy!

I think if you have a lifestyle/diet that is conducive to staying slim that’s really all that can be done. It helps of course if you don’t like chocolate etc.

For me it’s having kids and not getting out much so the only pleasure in life is snacking on the sofa when they’re in bed. Also eating my feelings when they’re ill, arguing or just generally stressing me out.

You’ve answered your own question - you eat too many cakes and sweets. Yes, people’s metabolisms can change and slow down as you get older and hormones play a part but so do choices. It really isn’t hard to just…not eat the cake.

@neverenoughplants Wow you sound very similar to me!
Put on weight in lockdown, in 2021 lost it and was quite strict then relaxed at Christmas and just totally swung the other way and still going now!
I make crap excuses. I say if I lived on my own it'd be easier!

Approaching late 30s and recently lost 18 kgs to get back to pre baby weight. Managed it by eating zero processed foods (only nova food group 1 foods & some group 2), gym three times a week, bit of running, 2-3l of water daily. Quit smoking. Also quit my stressful job. And run about after a toddler! A lot of effort across all parts of life tbh. Do feel better though.

@Upinthenightagain Yep I do that too, reward myself with chocolate or wine when my daughter is asleep. Always so hungry at night, it's the hardest time to try not to overeat.

Track calories/ macros, eat in deficit and prioritize protein. I’m mid 40s; started gaining weight and realised if I don’t get it under control, it’s only downhill from here (menopause etc). Now am down to 120s lbs at a weight where I was in my 20s and quite happy with it. But yes, takes a lot of work.

I am 45, over the last 5 years the weight has slowly crept on. Used to be 10-12, now 12-14. It's is much harder to shift now I am older. I remember friends staying this to me. I wish I had listened! I to, like biscuits and wine, now have realised I need to rein it in as don't want to feel heavy and unfit as I get older again

@Doneit555 I totally get it, I love sugar roo. Always rushing around so feel like I deserve it , but then just crave it more.
Think I need a sugar detox! It's just getting to that point, this weekend is not ideal for that!

@babyproblems Well done on your weight loss! That's very disciplined especially with a baby..

Swap it for honey and reduce it slowly. Some is ok! X

@rainydogday This is what I needed to hear, thank you.
I love biscuits and wine too.
I need to try and be more disciplined and not bow down to excuses.

I’m early 40s and it’s getting so much harder to stay slim. The only time I’ve carried extra weight was pregnancy and I hated it. I’m very motivated by having a flat stomach but know at some point I will have to throw in the towel and accept the meno belly. Until then I’m working out 4-5 times a week, eating healthily, doing intermittent fasting and not drinking alcohol. I have more will power now I’m older and I feel so much better when I eat better and drink less alcohol so that keeps me ticking over at the moment.

It isn’t easy - for me anyway. I’ve ranged from 8st7 to almost 12st (post baby number 1) I’m only 5ft 1 so even gaining a few lbs is quite noticeable for me.
I’ve been much slimmer than I am now but I was also very unhealthy, extreme dieting and zero exercise. I’m about to turn 50 and although I’m heavier I’m also the fittest I’ve ever been. I do have a sweet tooth but I know I have to not go overboard. For me the exercise coupled with allowing myself some treats but eating healthily the majority of the time works for me. Oh and not working shifts anymore has helped me personally. I seem to snack less and I’ve been able to get into healthier exercise routines

Thankyou.. I put on over a third of my body weight whilst pregnant so it was a huge change. I was so uncomfortable I had to shift it. I literally felt like I was wearing a fat suit and everything was uncomfortable. I was v active before baby so that made it easier. But I have absolutely transformed my habits with what I/the household are eating. I think that’s made the biggest difference is actually only eating real food. No processed food whatsoever apart from cheese. x

Maybe I'll eat my words as I need to diet again soon but I lost over a stone in 3 months (whilst only sticking to the diet maybe 2/3 of the time).It's taken me 3 years to put that weight back on and that's with practically zero exercise and eating whatever I want.

I find losing weight much quicker than putting it on. Provided you get the diet right for you. For example, there are certain things I knew if I ate at all,I wouldn't lose weight for a few days. For me it was pasta. Even the wholewheat stuff.

Obviously some people gave medical issues too. But if you've done it before you can do it again. Lots of people get into the 'it's impossible mindset' and shoot themselves in the foot before they start.

Join a slimming club. Figure out how to lose 2 lbs a week, stick to that diet. It'll be boring but you'll get there. Fuck calories. Just maybe get into a habbit of filling up on fruit and veg as much as possible. The warmer weather coming, you'll crave fresh stuff more.

I totally relate! Sometimes I look back at how strict I was back then and have no idea if I could ever manage that again! (Not saying it was a good type of strict - more that it worked well, but was tough to sustain)

Food was always a source of reliable comfort or distraction for me, and I think over time, the threshold for reaching for a treat has become much lower (e.g. it used to be 'I've had a really hard week, so I'll have some chocolate' - now it's 'Hmm, it's 10am and the day is already very stressful, time for choc' etc).

I think that cakes/brownies/crisps etc easily hit the 'immediate satisfaction' button, so it's really easy to reach for them because they so reliably taste good. But then it's so much harder to reduce them or cut them out, especially when you're hungry, tired or stressed. Evenings/nights are definitely the worst!