Is weight gain inevitable?

[suckingonchillidogs]

Fairly sure I'm in peri-menopause and have gained around half a stone (I know, not the end of the world). Lockdown didn't help but I'm back to the gym now and back to the office a couple of times a week - I walk there and back - so am pretty active. I cannot shift one sodding pound of weight though. I eat pretty healthy most of the time and watch my portions. If I do lose a pound then it goes right back on again.

Is there a point where I just accept there's no point getting irritated and this is just the way it is?

This is exactly me too. And various friends who I've had the conversation with. All active and don't over indulge all of the time. I agree it's very different now. I'm mid 40s and even 3 yes ago if I needed to drop a few pounds I'd have a week of watching what I ate and laying off the alcohol and it would be gone.
Now I'm always saying no to treats, making better choices with meals,exercise at least 5 times a week don't drink during the week at all and nothing changes.

I can't accept that there is nothing to be done though

I think about half a stone around the waist is fairly inevitable, hormones change our shape.
When you spay a dog, you have to reduce it's food by 25%, unfortunately it seems to be the same for humans as our ovaries pack up.
You also need to keep up exercise, bones and muscles are also highly influenced by hormones.

I think about half a stone around the waist is fairly inevitable, hormones change our shape.

Not it's not.

That's a LOT of abdominal/visceral fat to carry and very bad for health.

Women's shape does change (although maybe not if on HRT) but not in such a drastic way as half a stone. Weight put on tends to settle on the waist but that's weight put on. It's not inevitable to gain weight.

It's worth googling Zoe and Prof Tim Spector. He believes that everyone loses or gains weight in a very individual way according to gut health and gut microbes. Some people lose weight on a high fat/ low card regime, others do better on a medium carb and low fat.

What is clear is that gut microbes are very important and he suggests that we all eat at least 30 different plants a week. (You can't count the same one twice!)
Plants includes all veg and fruit, as well as herbs and spices, and wholegrain cereals/pulses.

Low carb works for some people- that's no more than 50gms a day max- whereas for other people they feel starving and can't keep it up long term.

I'm the same weight as I was in my 20s but I know I am carrying a couple of pounds more fat on my tummy and have lost muscle off my thighs. It's an ongoing battle! For me, low carb works, which means I only eat carbs once a day or twice in very small amounts.

You've just got to work out what works for you!

Exercise doesn't always cut it and you may be eating more than you need, in spite of it being healthy food.

I have to track eating quite strictly these days. Can't just guessemate any more sadly.

Thanks for that @JinglingHellsBells - think I need to do my research then. As @123rd says just cutting out alcohol and treats isn't making a jot of difference anymore, whereas that used to do the trick. I have a friend 4 years older who's managed to lose a stone but she's out running everyday for 2 hours - I can't fit that in as well as the gym and my job!

Touch wood my weight been much the same in adulthood. About half a stone heavier since having children but ok with that. With HRT I seem to have lost a couple of pounds or so. Not sure why. Water retention? Was not expecting to lose weight...

No, nearly 5 lbs heavier than at 25, 10st 2, now 10st 6 or7, I lost 2 st at 50, menopause at 45, lasted 13 yrs, 59 now.
So much so I have hormonal depression, so medication for that, changing shape def, can still lose weight, tho not much these days

Relax @JinglingHellsBells I'm an outlier. Very tall with a narrow pelvis and went into menopause with lower than average fat and higher than average muscle. I now clock a 28 inch waist and am happy with that.

The bottom line is that you need to go into menopause in a healthy state. It is very easy to be reasonably healthy in your 30s with a BMI of thirtyish, by the time you have added a wee bit more weight and hit 55 you will be starting to struggle.

There is an eat 10 a day thread in chat which is good.

For maintaining thigh muscle can I recommend hill walking, lots of stairs and ditching the car as much as possible.

I'm not as knowledgable as some, but what I've heard from those who've gone before me is that it's harder to lose weight, not that weight gain is inevitable. Two different things.

I'm perfectly relaxed @Postdatedpandemic :)
For me, half a stone would be a huge amount round my middle.
My waist is 28 too.
BMI of 30, which you quote as being possibly 'healthy' is actually classed as obese (unless someone is an athlete!)

Good point dudsville. I am 60 and have been the same weight since my mid-20s, except during and several months after my 3 pregnancies. I cycle to work and run 5k once a week, eat reasonably healthily but don't restrict what I eat and I do drink wine at the weekends. However, the distribution of weight has changed since my menopause - my cyclists' bottom is much flatter these days and my waist less pronounced. I am still very flat chested, but appreciate it much more since I started running in my 50s (in an attempt to keep my bones strong). As Postdatedpandemic says, I suspect it is a lot easier to maintain a healthy weight than try to lose weight at the menopause.

I’m 57 ....l weigh the same as pre children( BMI of over 19) .... I still have a defined waist and no excess weight there.... but my bottom is flatter, I am not as toned ( I have never exercised, bar dog walking) and I eat far less than when I was younger (probs average 1200 Calories during the week)

I don't think weight gain is inevitable. I'm peri menopausal and my BMI is 19. I'm actually about a stone lighter than I was in my twenties and thirties. I try and eat healthily though. I do IF which I think really helps. I don't drink much and never eat bread or pasta. I take probiotics and drink kefir. I probably have a different distribution of fat though-my bum is flatter and any excess weight goes straight to my tummy which was the opposite of when I was younger. I also exercise most days and have an active job.

I've found this with peri.

Never had an issue with weight loss before though lockdown didn't help.

I also found exercise very challenging due to joint pain and exhaustion in a way I've not before.

I've noticed that hrt is giving me more energy; when I've more time (pre schooler at home and full on busy at work) I can imagine that I can get back to being more active. I've also noticed my cravings have gone which helps .

It's harder but not impossible but.. I intermittent fast which helps and do Pilates or yoga every day before the day gets going .. also avoid big obvious sugary treats.. stick to berries as well instead of fruit and try to limit alcohol to weekends only.

It's not inevitable. It's really not. But it's definitely harder to lose weight in your 40s than your 20s.

I recently lost 4 stone doing WW. I loved it! You track all your food on your phone (the WW app is genuinely amazing). There are also online meetings and exercise videos and meditation audios - again, all on the app - and a huge community. On the app.

I think middle-aged spread mainly comes from alcohol (especially wine).

I think I'm just fed up because I AM active, I don't drink alcohol in the week and I do watch my portions. I went to the gym on Saturday and going again tonight. I run when I can. I just think what's the point if nothing changes. I didn't really watch what I ate over Christmas and didn't put any weight on though - I don't seem able to lose or gain so maybe I'm where I'm meant to be.

No, not inevitable. Cancer treatment put me into menopause. I finished the treatment pretty overweight with a fat percentage of around 40%. Over the last few years have lost 4 stone and my fat percentage is 23%. I weigh the same and have roughly the same measurements as I did when I was 16, I am now approaching 50. I lost the weight by running, walking, weights and resistance exercises pretty much everyday and ensuring a calorie deficit through logging my food against exercise on FitBit.

What does "watching" your portion sizes mean, though? In my experience - a hardened yo-yo dieter! - my normal portions looked fine to me but were way too big to lose weight.

For example, I'd usually eat pasta. My healthy-looking portion of dry uncooked pasta would be 75g. My happy portion would be 100g. WW taught me yo eat 40g!

I've started weighing cereal and cutting out starchy carbs. I think things may improve in the Spring when I can get out more in the evenings. Maybe a bit of chub is ok in the winter!

I believe that body shape change is inevitable but not weight gain itself.

I think it can happen if you let your guard down. I try to be careful not to overeat (whilst also enjoying lovely food) and I found I'm actually losing weight without really trying. For me personally, it really helps to get physical (walking 10,000 steps a day for me. I don't like running or going to the gym). If I stick to this then I don't put on weight.

@AlbertBridge

What does "watching" your portion sizes mean, though? In my experience - a hardened yo-yo dieter! - my normal portions looked fine to me but were way too big to lose weight.

For example, I'd usually eat pasta. My healthy-looking portion of dry uncooked pasta would be 75g. My happy portion would be 100g. WW taught me yo eat 40g!

The advice is along the lines that the portion of carbs should be roughly the size of the palm of your hand. For most people that means a pasta portion is roughly the size of a saucer, or smaller, not a dinner plate.

So rice, potatoes and pasta should be around that size.

I don't eat pasta as I'm a bit intolerant to gluten. I eat lentil pasta, as I don't think the gluten free type made with refined corn is especially healthy although the brown rice sort is okay-ish.

Basically, it's best to cut out all refined white carbs- rice, bread, cakes , biscuits, pasta- except as a once a week treat- replace with wholegrains, and focus on protein, veg, fruit, pulses, and full fat dairy in small amounts.

@heyhoehey

No, not inevitable. Cancer treatment put me into menopause. I finished the treatment pretty overweight with a fat percentage of around 40%. Over the last few years have lost 4 stone and my fat percentage is 23%. I weigh the same and have roughly the same measurements as I did when I was 16, I am now approaching 50. I lost the weight by running, walking, weights and resistance exercises pretty much everyday and ensuring a calorie deficit through logging my food against exercise on FitBit.

that's great! well done you!

It's not inevitable but it does take more effort to lose weight or to stay the same as your younger weight. Weight comes off much more slowly. It will come off eventually if you persist.