new BMI is really getting me down

[Flabuary]

It’s 25.5. The highest it’s ever been and I hate it. I’ve had 4 DC so I did always have a mum-tum, but now it’s just horrible.
im 43, 5’1 and 9stone 9. Is this weight/bmi too low for any sort of weight loss medication?
having the DC means my lifestyle isn’t as I’d like it to be. I can’t really exercise as I have arthritis in my ankle, I try and make meals from scratch as much as I can.
thanks for reading. I just don’t want to feel so self conscious any more

But seriously BMI is very useful but it is not perfect and at the boundaries is where it is less perfect - largely because it cannot tell the difference in body composition: 10kg of fat and 10kg of muscle are the same as far as BMI is concerned.

Unfortunately age can be a factor here, I was always a small size 10 and stayed the same weight for years and it all went downhill after I hit 40.

Move more, have a look at what you are eating and log what you are eating, limit carbs and eat more protein. Drink plenty of water per day at least 3 litres

If it makes you feel better, my BMI is in the obese category. Remember, BMI is imperfect as weight and height alone are an imperfect measure of health. I bought a smart scale, and it seems a high proportion of my body weight is muscle mass (assuming its correct).

I can sympathise. I went to the doctor at almost 42 and 2y after my 2nd kid and was "not fat" according to the doctor which was nudging the overweight category. I'd been slim until after my 2nd. I've used it as motivation but it's slow going with toddlers! Fasting, low calorie food have done a bit but I really need to find more time to exercise which is not happening. Definitely work on it because it's not a lost cause but accept it might not go ALL the way back to what it was with kids to look after and age.

OP if you are stuck with where to start losing weight, I suggest you start a new thread asking for dietary help. Post a typical day of food (be honest) and people will help you with easy ways to improve it.
You could go full on calorie counting if you want, but I would personally have a shot at losing weight without that first, as some people find it screws up their relationship with food. You may find a few tweaks to your diet will make the weight come off slowly without thinking about it too much.

I hate them nevertheless.
Easy answer instead of discipline.

Being in a calorie deficit, there are websites that can calculate what calories you should be having, and the amount of calories you need to go to in order to lose weight steadily and sustainably.

Download my fitness pal, document everything as you can be surprised where the sneaky calories come from, such as cooking oil, cups of tea etc! They can really add up. I lost 2 stone after my baby doing this method and the gym, most of the weight loss was from diet. I didn’t deprive myself I still had chocolate when I wanted, glass of wine etc. but I just incorporated it into my calories for the day, or my calories for the week, if I had surplus calories to use. It was tough at first I felt hungry, but that reduced after about a week. I would recommend filling up with protein as it keeps you fuller for longer! Now I don’t calorie count but still loosing weight as I am so much more aware of what I am eating!

My BMI was 18 pre-pregnancy. I put all my weight on after having my son :/
I was around a BMI of 25; 4 years on I'm at 21. Exercise is no where near as helpful for weight loss as diet - weight is 95% diet. Having said that, hormones play such a crucial role so it's worth getting an overall check with the Dr. I had low iron, low thyroid and low B12.
Avoid or try to limit sugars, including alcohol and refined carbs (the hardest bit cos that was all I wanted when I was knackered).
The weight should start to slowly come off.
Your weight sounds fine btw, but I know what it's like when you are used to looking and feeling a certain way. It's important to accept your body at any stage, and respect it for what it has achieved.

Id suggest reading some proper science on the the effect of dieting. By far the most likely outcome is that you end up heavier eventually than pre diet and every time you try to lose weight this effect is magnified. You may be better just accepting your body changes as you age. Up to you obviously it's your body but the data is really clear on this and setting off down a continual cyclical diet path is a path to ending up fatter not thinner.

Right, so because some people want to use them irresponsibly, they should be banned?

Other properly fat people are just lazy fuckers?

All the weight loss drugs do come with warning OP! You might be ok or you might have some serious health consequences. Why risk it? According to your BMI you are just ever so slightly overweight it would be more beneficial to you to make lifestyle changes. It will boost your health, form healthy habits and help to have your body moving and working as it should for longer. You will feel better.
you may be quite overwhelmed where to start. I can only advise what worked for me. Habit stacking. I started with intermittent fasting as it’s easy for me to limit my food intake to 8h window. Once that was established in a week or two I added 10000 steps a day, my next thing is to add a workout or two a week. Good luck 🤞

Muscle mass is unlikely to be throwing OP's BMI out, since she does no exercise.

Maybe start swimming and fewer crisps and biscuits (they're always my downfall). It'll turn it back in the right direction. You just have to start chipping away at it.
What about gentle weights and no low impact cardio, possibly a rowing machine.

You are barely in the overweight category, but if you want to drop a few pounds, go down to two meals a day, reduce your normal portion sizes by a third and don't eat anything between meals, unless you are really hungry in which case have a piece of fruit.

I also have put on 2 stone over the last 5 years, I am 5’3 and crept up to 11 stone. I’ve been using the app my fitness pal to count my calories and eat in a calorie deficit since January and I’m down to 9stone 9lbs. It will only take you a couple of small changes to lose the tiny bit of weight you feel you need to lose 🙂

BMI is only a guide....
You are quite short at 5ft 1 so that goes against you. I'm 5ft 4 and weigh 10st 4 but my BMI says I'm ok!
Start watching your diet, and do some exercise every day. A walk around the block makes all the difference. And drink plenty of water.

You absolutely can and should exercise, arthritis can be worked around. Try swimming, cycling, swim-walking.

You'll be fine OP, you just need a bit of willpower.

BMI is a blunt instrument. Mine is 25 but I also have 61% muscle mass, which is high for a woman of my age.
Focus on fitness, not the weighing scales.

Aww @Flabuary, we’ve all been there. Don’t beat yourself up. You haven’t got too much to lose.

Weight is food intake, though exercise helps, like a brisk daily walk. You have to start changing eating habits in 40s. What’s your diet like? Little adjustments can make a huge difference. Do you have sugar in hot drinks? Do you generally eat lots of sugar, (non gluten) carbs and fizzy drinks?

Intermittent fasting works for me. When you feel hungry drink lots of water as it can actually be thirst. Green/herbal tea/black coffee. Cut out sugar. Weigh yourself only once a week (e.g. Sunday) in the morning before you eat and write it down in a notebook. It really helps to hold yourself to account and see the progress each week, even if it’s only 500g.

Do you like salads? It’s so cheap and easy to make different ones every day. Same base of rocket (or whatever leaves you prefer), then finely chopped celery, cucumber, radish, sliced beetroot, pitted olives, gerkins, tomatoes, peppers, herbs (parsley, dill). Then scatter salad topper and different hot ingredients over the top. Mushrooms or prawns pan fried in chilli flakes/garlic, microwaved smoked mackerel. Or smoked salmon and sliced hard boiled egg. And a drizzle of low cal dressing.

Is this osteoarthritis? In that case You can and should be exercising - it will make it better. If you do not move , it will make things worse. You should see a physio who will prescribe gentle stretches and body weight exercises to strengthen the muscles around your ankles, and you should walk/swim/ride a stationary bike. Aqua aerobics is excellent too. I know it sounds cheesy and cliche but motion is lotion and it will make you feel better, not worse

OP you can always pay to see a private dietician who can help create a healthy meal plan and guide. I saw one a few years back and she was great! She helped me with some digestion issues I'd had for years as well. Obviously this costs but if you were willing to pay for WLI (which I agree you wouldn't be prescribed), might be a good investment in your health.

You’re crazy. I’m the same height as you and currently 12 stone. I’d be very happy at your weight and when I was I was wearing size 10 and looked and felt great!

Just cut out bread pasta rice and potatoes for a month and it will drop off. Load up with vegetables. Have an omelette for breakfast.

Have you seen a physio regarding your arthritis OP?

I have this and have always been told that exercise is crucial to manage it. I stick almost entirely to weights and low impact cardio i.e. walking workouts or just walking but it has really helped with the pain management.

I know weight loss is 80% nutrition but for me the extra 200 or so calories I can earn daily with some exercise means I can have a small treat or a glass of wine at the weekend using those calories and it makes the whole process a bit less monotonous.

I use NutraCheck to log my calories.

I wouldn't describe what I do as dieting; no forbidden foods, so limiting portions etc. I just track what I eat and it has taught me where I was eating loads of calories for no reason. For example I love having two fried eggs for breakfast and used to have them on two pieces of toast. That's loads of calories (and no nutrition in the bread) so I switched to two fried eggs with masses of mushrooms ("fry" them in water and then add a small bit of butter at the end to give them the fried taste). Suddenly I'm down by 300 calories, and I am equally happy with my breakfast!

I worked out my TDEE using an online calculator and try to stay 400/500 calories under it each day. I've lost 2st in 4 months.

Tracking the calories taught me how to eat well while eating less calories. It doesn't feel like dieting to me, just adjusting.