Upset at not being able to lose weight

[BelloItalia]

Im 45 this year. Never had a problem with my weight before and whenever it crept up I’d just go on a bit of loose diet and it would fall off again.
Since I turned 40 I’m no longer able to lose weight. I’m now 11 stone which isn’t massively overweight but 10st is ideal for me. I just can’t get there.
Mir doesn’t seem to matter what I eat, the weight won’t shift. I’ve tried slimming world, low carb, calorie counting, intermittent fasting - nothing works. I’ll drop a couple of pounds then it will come back again. It’s actually making me quite upset. All my clothes are too tight, I spend so much time meal planning I feel like it’s all I ever think about.

AIBU to think there must be a way to get back to 10st?? I’m not menopausal

1200 calories a dsy, I've lost 12 pounds and iam menopausal. Yes it's been slow(since Jan 1st) but I've done it

Did you mean to type 125g of chopped walnuts?
If so…that’s probably why you’re not losing weight your breakfast is about 1000 calories

Op delete thread and start again! w
#walnutgate

No sugar, no junk like crisps. Drink only water. I have no idea how many calories I eat, I can't be bothered with that level of detail.

Walk at least 3 miles a day, do a half hour workout each day.

No food after 5 pm, clean your teeth and shut the kitchen door until the morning. Go to bed hungry every night (you will soon get used to it), have salad prepared in the fridge if you want to chew something.

I can't guarantee it will work for you but it works for me.

I was the same and spent a year trying all the things I did previously when the weight fell off easily. This time I bounced around losing the same 2lb over and over. I crept up to 12st 9 (previously I’d always been under 11st). Anyway, I’ve finally got to 10st 9 but the only way was injections. Calorie deficit on its own should work but I just couldn’t sustain it without wli.

Sounds exhausting and a depressing way to live! Drinking tea and coffee,having cake and a glass of wine occasionally is the reason for living and enjoying life 🤷‍♀️

Jesus christ, I wish it would be compulsory to click on 'See all' (OP's posts) before commenting. Walnuts seem to be the new 'cancel the cheque'..

Anyway, OP, I'd suggest you track your intake for at least a week, weight everything you consume and log into the MyFitnessPal. EVERYTHING. And be mindful of cooking oils, sauces and what you drink too - sugar/milk in your coffee/teas, fizzy drinks, milk, etc.

Years ago after a pregnancy (plus other related stuff) and substantial weight gain I've lost more than 7 stone by religiously tracking my cals. RELIGIOUSLY. Weighted everything, including cucumber slices and lettuce. Went on a very low cal diet, lost all the weight. Did it very quickly, as it was the only time in my life I was overweight and I just couldn't be faffing with 'slow and steady' bullshit - wanted it off. That was 12 years ago, kept it off.

Back to the tracking, my mum had the same problem as you. Ate nothing - weight didn't budge. Until I started supervising her and helping her with weighting, logging and tracking things. That 'nothing' turned out to be a mountainous spoon of mayo here, couple of spoons of oil there, some ketchup, a sugary cappuccino with a colleague, a biscuit at work 'because colleague offered with coffee', an ice cream as 'it's a hot day', an apple and a banana 'because it's healthy' (yea, and calorific), glass of fizz, because she's thirsty, glass of wine, because why the hell not, it's just one glass and so on (not all those in one day, obv) ON TOP of her normal day's intake.

She lost the weight and is healthy size now. After being truly mindful.

Obviously, it might not apply to you, as you might be already tracking your intake. If so - then it's simply too high and needs lowered. And don't listen to that 'starvation mode' bullshit, I'd be dead if that'd be true. My diet was 600-800 cals a day for a good few months until I lost the weight, no 'starvation mode' interfered.

800 cals a day?!😗

100% Peri related. Lots of good info above about calories, but you have to ditch the wine. Studies show that your body doesn't burn fat when you've drank alcohol. Your body prioritises metabolising the alcohol, and which stops the fat-burning process, and of course, more booze, less fat loss.

Sorry 🥴

In other news, seriously look at prometabolic diets and weight training. Ditch cardio and HIT workouts and you might see some changes. Lots of female coaches on social media promoting this. A rare glimmer of hope!

Where does the OP say she drinks wine? She specifically says she doesnt drink.

How are people getting mounjaro at 12 stone? Are you very short in height??

Walk at least 3 miles a day, do a half hour workout each day.
No food after 5 pm, clean your teeth and shut the kitchen door until the morning. Go to bed hungry every night (you will soon get used to it).

I wish people would actually fuck off with this crap. I have two young kids and I work, I don't even get home til 6.30pm and i do need to eat something.

There is zero time for 3 mile walks and half hour workouts!!

And don't say "use your lunch hour". I barely ever get more than 15 mins between meetings and don't have time to actually leave the office to powerwalk.

Ditch all cardio? That's not good for your heart and lungs. She can do both strength training to raise her BMR and cardio. It's not an either/or thing.

Like a previous poster has said, track every single thing you eat including oils/sauces/butter etc, it’s amazing how they add up. Calorie deficit is the answer and moving more than you usually do, like upping your steps. Similar age/weight to you and I’ve lost over a stone since August by doing 1500 calories a day on average (I save some for the weekend usually). It’s been slow and steady but it’s sustainable. Have a look at Aaron Nee Nutrition on Instagram/tiktok. He talks so much sense and will explain it better than I can!

I bet you aren't eating enough protien

OohLarLar which is exactly why I said it might not work for everyone. Calm down.

Whatevetwhateve I can't drink coffee or alcohol for medical reasons. Not keen on tea.

It is not miserable, I have a great life, but appreciate your concern. I do a particular sport which would not be so easy if I was fat, and I enjoy it too much to give up.

Not only does staying slim feel good, it has the added bonus of helping to control a chronic illness. At my quarterly checkups they comment on how little the illness is progressing and tell me it is partly due to not being overweight.

@Lentilweaver - crikey, you're right. I read a different post just before this and came back in to reply and got fuddled. Sorry! (Although it may help others, as it is true, unfortunately).

@MuckFusk - same reply as above! Was to someone else entirely. Menopause brain is a riot, eh 🤪

What time do the kids go to bed? I used to work out at home after my kids went to bed.
Sometimes I did it right in the living room while they were watching TV so I could still keep an eye on them. You don't need a lot of equipment, just a mat and some hand weights. There are lots of videos on YouTube and fitness apps for your phone that have classes. Also, you do get days off work, right? Can you walk to the park with the kids and engage in active outdoor play with them? All physical activity adds up, so it need not always be as structured as a powerwalk or fitness class.

Same same and Mounjaro is the only way I’ve lost it. I’m going to stay on it until I get to the lower part of healthy BMI for when weight inevitably creeps back on.

Cake, tea and booze as a reason for living? Really?
Well it might be your reason for living (which IMO is pretty strange) but it's not the reason which applies to everyone.

I'm older and peri and the only way I'm shifting weight finally is using puriton shakes.

Shake with milk for breakfast
shake for lunch depending on WFH or out I do sometime have eggs.

Then Evening meal, normal gusto, healthy portions with high protein and fats about 500 calories.

No snacks, and this is the biggest change almost 1-2 ltrs of water a day.

I have upped my walking, gym routine but nothing crazy, just some heavy weights 1-2 times a week.

I do have wine and some carbs and accept that's slows down my losses, but I like to live!

I'm having to go down to 1000 a day to see any loss at all, I used to maintain at about 1500 when training.

Oh I'm also 5'2 which has a big bearing on my calories, you can work yours out and see if 2 weeks cumulative works.

Your poor body doesn't know what you want it too do!

Water is the key!! It's helps so much.

The Greek yoghurt and the walnuts are full of calories. Have a cooked breakfast of bacon (fat removed) eggs (poached or fried in low calorie spray), baked beans, tinned tomatoes, possibly sausages if you use low fat ones (vegan or veggie can be ok but check fat content).
Salmon fillet is fine, but how are you cooking it? Have a salad rather than stir fried veg - unless using a low calorie spray.
Dinner is fine but you can have real rice. But again, low calorie sprays for frying. Assume you are cooking from scratch and not using a bought sauce, which will be high in calories. If adding yoghurt use a 0% fat one.
Have healthy snacks,e.g. fruit and do not be hungry at any point.

If you have milk in tea or coffee replace whole milk with semi-skimmed and keep a note of how much you use a day.
But the reason you are putting on weight and not losing it is that you are going through the early stages of the menopause and women's use of calories changes along with our reproductive cycle i.e. our metabolism changes, so old eating habits have to be replaced. Go for walks and take up an exercise hobby (no need for weights at the gym, but swimming, dancing etc are good and fun).

I could if I wasn't as I'm 5'2 and at my heaviest was 12 stone. So that puts me in the obese level.

You sound very sure of yourself. You do not know OP is in perimenopause, and even if she is, not all women put on weight at that time.
Also, telling someone to ditch cardio and HIT is poor advice. If it's exercise she enjoys then she should continue, and all exercise has benefits.