Managing weight

[missfliss]

Hello - 45 and overweight. Have been a size 12 for years which at 5'6" was fine. Never been really slim but ok and within top end of healthy BMI. Past year I've been size 14 and over 12 stone and it just won't shift.
Approaches I've used in the past have been weight watchers and 5:2 and they have temporarily worked - but they are not sustainable for me.
Have a desk bound job but manage to be reasonably active ( sea swim and run).

Have recently changed from combined contraceptive pill to HRT ( oestrogel and Utrogestan) and feel much better. Really want to manage my weight and diet and had started low carb in the run up to Xmas and very slowly was beginning to see results. Period of illness and Xmas followed and haven't been low carbing ( more like carb inhaling) over Xmas - but planning on getting back to it now.

I'm happy to not diet - I am keen to embrace this as a lifetime WOE with occasional lax periods for celebrations and holidays - but I wondered if I was missing anything?

In terms of medication I have taken low dose sertraline too for years and am super gradually tapering off as the HRT has helped me feel so much better.

I'm looking for tips and insights really - I want to reduce my weight and keep it there and am looking to no longer 'diet' but to establish a new way of living permanently

I recommend 'Why we eat (too much)' by Andrew Jenkinson. I have been following the suggested WOE for a year (with the odd lapse) and reduced my BMI from 33 to 23.

The basic principle is avoiding processed or refined food; and especially ultra processed food. So the diet is naturally low in carbs as you don't have added sugars or flour, but unlike with true low carb, you can have 'carby' fruit and veg, such as apples, potatoes and rice.

You need to be 'mindful' about your eating on this diet but there is no counting of calories or carbs.

Low carb has also worked for me in the past but I find it hard to sustain in the long term, as I start craving carbs. This WOE is very sustainable. It's not a quick fix, though - as I said, it's taken me a year to lose approx 4 stone - but unlike LCHF you don't ruin everything if you have a slice of bread, say - as long as you stick to it 95% of the time it will work.

Thanks Able - I have read that too ( very recently finished) it's an excellent book - so so useful

It's worth trying Michael Moseley's 5:2 diet- I've been doing this 8 years or more and I not only maintain weight (with ups and downs) but it's believed to protect against cancer and heart disease. I'm 62 and in very good health, as is DP, so as a sample of 2 it's looking good!
2 days a week we have one 500 cal meal in the evening and fast the rest of the day. Other days we pretty much eat what we like.
It's a way of eating for life (with a break for holidays!) and suits us very well.

Thanks @Cooroo have used 5:2 in the past and whilst it undoubtedly worked it's not sustainable LT for me. I reasonable naturally fall into a 16:8 pattern anyway - don't tend to have breakfast but do have lunch and dinner

WOW arble, to go from BMI of 33 to 23 would be a dream cone true for me, what an inspiration!!

I have just ordered the book...I would be delighted if it had the same result for me as it did for you.

@angeltattoo

WOW arble, to go from BMI of 33 to 23 would be a dream cone true for me, what an inspiration!!

I have just ordered the book...I would be delighted if it had the same result for me as it did for you.

Best of luck @angeltattoo ! There are threads for this WOE in the weightloss chat section if you are looking for support and recipe ideas - latest one here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4332041-Why-We-Eat-Too-Much-Thread-4

Thank you