51 and getting porky! Help!

[CoQ10]

I'm at my fattest, 1.5 stone overweight and tummy/ thighs are the worst. I've always been slim and a size 10, so I need to focus as it's getting me down.

Does anyone have any advice? I'm starting Joe Wicks to try and burn body fat, but I am grateful for any advice from anyone in a similar place. Or from any PTs out there!!

Thanks .

Ps of anyone wants to join me in losing weight, please let me know.

Hi op. I’m similar! Managed to avoid weight gain through covid and other life challenges, but it’s started to get to me now! Going to do a bit of keto and intermittent fasting I think. I don’t drink already, so I can’t give that up!

Great to hear from you. I'd love to have a buddy as I need some impetus!
What IF will you do?

I'm 50 and my waist has disappeared totally I am a barrel shaped and I used to be slim ish - I already do 16/8 most days but weight is just creeping up and up slowly
I would love some support and ideas! I am no good at cutting out food groups entirely so I am just going to try and eat smaller portions - less booze - more exercise - no snacks and I will see if it helps - good luck!

I joined Slimming World in January and have lost 2 and a half stones and 9 inches from my waist since then.

Oh god I've found my people. 47, always been slim-ish without paying too much attention to diet or exercise. If I ever found I'd gained a bit of weight, a short stint of intermittent fasting soon sorted me out.

In the past few months it's like a switch has flipped! I'm steadily gaining weight and intermittent fasting isn't helping. I'm hopelessly unfit which of course is an issue in itself. I need to do something but working full time and three teens/tweens with various shit going on doesn't leave much spare time. And work is stressful so I'm drinking more than is good for my waistline.

Hoping for some inspiration!

Me too. I'm the biggest I've ever been and about to turn 51. And now I have a bad back as well so exercising is difficult ! I was just on Mumsnet trying to look for a home exercise machine that I"ll actually use.

How do get around? If you drive a lot or take public transport, then consider walking or cycling shorter trips. You could set yourself a goal and say that anywhere within half a mile is walking/cycling only (exceptions if you need to move a sofa or something 😜). Then in a month or so, increase that distance to a mile, and maybe even a bit further after that. Building activity into your daily rhythms, rather than just a block of exercise for the sake of exercise, is an easy way to start shedding excess weight.

@CoQ10, starting with 14:10 and will see. Finish eating 6pm, then fast. Easy when going to the office, but much harder when WFH - too easy to pick between Teams calls!

Don’t really do any exercise either. I’m just soooo lazy! I know it but I hate exercise. I do have dogs though and walk them, so I’m not a total sofa-hugger.

Our bodies change a lot as we get older. You need around 200 calories less per day than you did in your 20s and 30s. That’s around 10% less food on your plate.

You also need to do more functional fitness and strength training to counter the effects of age. Cardio will remain important to keep your heart healthy, not as a means of weight loss.

Even with all this, it’s likely your waist will thicken due to the way our hormones change fat distribution . There is quite a lot of relatively new information about what we can do to fight the negative side effects of aging, so it’s probably worth a google.

Thanks for this. I will try it as I prefer to eat early evening anyway

I've tried SW before and it didn't suit me! However am back on Joe Wicks eating plan so fingers crossed.

Are you also exercising?

Same here on every front!!! Too many mid week drinks, too - have got into bad habits.

Sounds like there's a lot of.us feeling the same. I'd love to have a support group.

I'm focused on diet, eating better and less, and more exercise using weights and some HIIT.

Who's in!?

I had been going up by a few pounds each year for a couple of years. Joined WW again and it did nothing for me. Gave Noom a try and it's working. Have lost 9 pounds so far. Really pleased

I've never heard of Noom.

How long have you been doing it?

@CoQ10 I am exercising - riding my bike instead of taking the car and walking miles with my dog.

Whilst you can drink alcohol on Slimming World I decided to give up altogether and I think that has made a huge difference to my weight measurement. I have a proper pot belly before.

Can I join you. I’m almost through my menopause but I have piled on the pounds over the last year and now have a huge stomach, double chins and back fat. I’m dabbling ineffectively with reduced carbs but it’s not working. Noom sounds interesting - I’ve seen it advertised lots.

I'm getting up to do a workout. This group is already giving me the kick up the backside that I needed 😊

Well done OP! I'd join you but unfortunately had one too many wines last night. It's definitely convinced me that I need to drastically reduce my alcohol intake - not that I drink a huge amount, but even a relative modest half bottle of wine is enough to wipe me out the next day and it just isn't worth it.

Yes I am doing the same, totally.

I'm also going to bed half an hour earlier. This morning woke up feeling so good.

I need to create a plan of exercise though. Based on a pp I think I need to do more running and more functional exercise....

I have signed up to Noom but so far not really getting it! It's just asking me to log meals. Is that right?

Ignore my last post.

My Noom eating and exercise plans have just hit my inbox. They look really good.

SO...

I'm going to commit to Noom for three months and see how I go.

Anyone want to join me? Thinking that a WhatsApp support group might be more suitable ...

I'm finally in gear after struggling with the mindset and stability to adjust my habits.

Since new year, I've been much better at fresh food, vegetables and nutritious cooking. Since it's warmed up and salads become more appealling I'm back on 5:2. I'm too lazy to calorie count, but by sticking to salad/ vegetables, protein and a bit of fat, it's going to be nutritious and effective for the calorie content.

I do a lot of exercise; running, strength and other activity and a fair amount of functional walking. They certainly help with calorie burn (as a shortarse, it's on the annoyingly low side anyway) but are valuable for their own health benefits for hearth health, bone density and muscle mass. Weight is mainly determined by what you eat, but exercise helps and builds a stronger, healthier body.

It's all about mindset and stability. I'm the same. I've had a year off ill heath (post viral fatigue, peri, burnout) and only just on the mend. So.i hear you!

Can.u.share what exercises you do - this is key to me. What is functional walking? And what strength building do you do?

Thanks.

I'm 50 this year and size 18. I've always been a pear shape but now I have a load of fat around my middle. I do cycle 40 miles a week for work which stabilises my weight but doesn't shift it. Over the summer holidays I want to give C25K a go and see if that also curbs my alcohol consumption. I also eat too much processed food.