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Original poster

Accepting weight gain or fighting it? Soooo tired of fighting it!

40 replies

Whosaidthattt · 27/12/2023 00:10

I was always a size 8-10 until 2 years ago when I turned 55. I'm now a 12-14 and not happy with it, but I'm so tired of exercising/dieting/ restricting food or alcohol to try to maintain a size I don't think is achieveable anymore. I feel defeated and so sad. Are you still fighting it or have you given up?

OP posts:
custardlover · 27/12/2023 00:13

Not sure whether I would characterise it as giving up but I cannot be arsed to deprive myself to remain the same size as I was a decade ago. I've gone from size 8 to 12 and honestly, I'm fine with it. Just brought some new jeans and stopped thinking about it. Life's too short.

custardlover · 27/12/2023 00:14

And I should say I do a lot of exercise - for pleasure - and I eat healthily because I want to be a strong old lady but not for the bum-size.

Back21970 · 27/12/2023 00:34

I’m similar, age 58 and have accepted I won’t be a size 8 anymore, but if I don’t fight it I will end up a 16 or higher as it seems so easy to put weight on now and much harder to lose it!

I still want to wear nice clothes and feel slim so aiming for a happy medium size 10 to 12 and it’s hard quite work.

Intermittent fasting has been working for me, along with yoga, walking and some weights at home.

All depends on if you can accept yourself at a higher weight, I couldn’t, went up to a 16 and was seriously unhappy when I looked in the mirror.

CharlotteRumpling · 27/12/2023 03:19

I have fought it and won. By which I mean, I am not the size 8 I was 10 years ago but I am a 10-12 which I am happy with. I don't diet, but I have reduced portion sizes and I don't drink. I also walk everywhere ( not possible for everyone).

Nandocushion · 27/12/2023 04:02

I started working out with weights age 53 instead of running (which I did for 25 years). Progressively heavier weights, though I'm not what you'd call a lifter, but decent weights that I can only do 8-12 reps with, 4-5 days a week. Add in more commitment to getting 8k steps a day and I've lost nearly a stone and changed body shape without any dieting at all - didn't even cut down on booze (though I will do that after the holidays as I need to anyway). If I want to lose more I'll probably need to adjust the diet, but seriously, weights are a great option.

DH says he can't believe how much my middle has shrunk and how much more defined my back is.

StoneTheCrone · 27/12/2023 04:07

I will continue to fight as I feel awful at a size 14 (I get stocky, not curvy).

I think weight training, intermittent fasting and keto all help.

I blame HRT for my weight gain. My chest is huge now compared to before.

Dentistlakes · 27/12/2023 04:47

Weight training has worked very well for me. I also do some cardio for health, but it’s not terribly good for weight loss. A high protein diet and I don’t drink alcohol regularly. Daily I get in around 12000 steps. Consistency is key and maintaining your muscle mass. I eat round 2250 calories per day, so don’t restrict my food.

Saggypants · 27/12/2023 04:53

I'm ramping up my focus on good nutrition and exercise to try to stay as healthy and active as possible into old age. If that has a positive effect on the scales great, but it's not the end goal. I'm hoping to get rid of a lot of the visceral fat, though.

GodDammitCecil · 27/12/2023 04:53

Nandocushion · 27/12/2023 04:02

I started working out with weights age 53 instead of running (which I did for 25 years). Progressively heavier weights, though I'm not what you'd call a lifter, but decent weights that I can only do 8-12 reps with, 4-5 days a week. Add in more commitment to getting 8k steps a day and I've lost nearly a stone and changed body shape without any dieting at all - didn't even cut down on booze (though I will do that after the holidays as I need to anyway). If I want to lose more I'll probably need to adjust the diet, but seriously, weights are a great option.

DH says he can't believe how much my middle has shrunk and how much more defined my back is.

Do you mind me asking @Nandocushion - what sort of weights are you doing?

mistletaupe · 27/12/2023 04:59

Dentistlakes · 27/12/2023 04:47

Weight training has worked very well for me. I also do some cardio for health, but it’s not terribly good for weight loss. A high protein diet and I don’t drink alcohol regularly. Daily I get in around 12000 steps. Consistency is key and maintaining your muscle mass. I eat round 2250 calories per day, so don’t restrict my food.

Same, hearty high protein portions and now loosing weight after fighting weight gain and restricting since gaining weight in my early fourties. Water, sleep, high protein and daily walks, gym 3 x a week. It's the high protein diet that's made the difference for me.

Nandocushion · 27/12/2023 07:52

GodDammitCecil · 27/12/2023 04:53

Do you mind me asking @Nandocushion - what sort of weights are you doing?

Show quote history

I do individual and compound exercises, about 7 different ones of 4 sets, with dumbbells ranging from 15-25lbs each.

WhereAreWeNow · 27/12/2023 08:03

All of you who do weights, how do you start doing weights? Do you need a personal trainer? Do you go to a normal gym and just start lifting? I'd really like to give it a go but I've got no idea where to begin.

rockingbird · 27/12/2023 08:06

Nandocushion · 27/12/2023 04:02

I started working out with weights age 53 instead of running (which I did for 25 years). Progressively heavier weights, though I'm not what you'd call a lifter, but decent weights that I can only do 8-12 reps with, 4-5 days a week. Add in more commitment to getting 8k steps a day and I've lost nearly a stone and changed body shape without any dieting at all - didn't even cut down on booze (though I will do that after the holidays as I need to anyway). If I want to lose more I'll probably need to adjust the diet, but seriously, weights are a great option.

DH says he can't believe how much my middle has shrunk and how much more defined my back is.

This has given me hope!! I'd been thinking about getting back into the gym and changing the routine (normally spinning and swimming with the odd body pump class). I'd read somewhere that the best exercises for menopausal women was lifting! I'll need some guidance I suspect from a personal trainer but this could be money well spent. I'm carrying 2st more than I should be and refuse to settle for the size 12/14 clothes I'm hiding in..

EmpressaurusOfCats · 27/12/2023 08:12

WhereAreWeNow · 27/12/2023 08:03

All of you who do weights, how do you start doing weights? Do you need a personal trainer? Do you go to a normal gym and just start lifting? I'd really like to give it a go but I've got no idea where to begin.

I joined my local gym & signed up with a personal trainer for fortnightly sessions. In between I work out there by myself, sometimes with free weights & sometimes on the machines. Having the fortnightly sessions with her really helps - partly for getting the techniques right, partly for holding me accountable!

Magnolia82 · 27/12/2023 12:27

Those of you who do weights - do any of you do this from home? I need something I can do at home. Can anyone recommend where to start and what weights to buy etc?

Similar to people above, I have gradually gained weight over the last year and struggling to lose it. (Always been a size 10 & heathy weight until now.)

I eat well, walk 15000 steps a day and do some low impact workouts at home but am a stone heavier than I was 6 months ago. So maybe lifting weights will help?

EmpressaurusOfCats · 27/12/2023 13:43

A lot of women on this board talk about Caroline Girvan for at-home workouts if that helps.

BLOOMINTIRED · 27/12/2023 14:07

I was a size 6 (actually wore age 14-15 as I'm also short 🤣) before my first child 20 years ago.

I'm now a 12...

I'm currently injured and it's significantly affecting my mobility, I've spent the last week barely surviving on painkillers and coffee 🥴

It's a recurring injury I sustained during my second pregnancy and the only thing I can do to prevent it is to stay fit... 2023 had other ideas so my fitness was not a priority and now I'm paying for that.

The way I see it is that I want my body to be strong and mobile into old age, I don't want to be regularly laid up and in significant pain so that means eating well and exercising often... But it also means incorporating more movement into my day to day life (I work a desk job).

I'm currently thinking about what I want to achieve in 2024 and I'm not even considering a weight loss goal, my strength and mobility are more important.

It's time to celebrate what our bodies can do, rather than what they look like 🤷‍♀️

Dentistlakes · 27/12/2023 15:13

WhereAreWeNow · 27/12/2023 08:03

All of you who do weights, how do you start doing weights? Do you need a personal trainer? Do you go to a normal gym and just start lifting? I'd really like to give it a go but I've got no idea where to begin.

I have a PT I see twice week. It’s useful to have one at the start as it gives you confidence and a program to follow. Most gyms have staff on site who will put together a program for you and take you through it the first time.

TellySavalashairbrush · 27/12/2023 15:22

I have gone from size 10 to 14, but now slowly going down to a size 12. I had to greatly reduce my portion sizes, little if any snacking and limited alcohol intake. Chiropractor told me to take up Pilates and abandon the gym . I also walk a lot more now . It’s the first time in two years I’m starting to see some results following this regime .

Nandocushion · 27/12/2023 22:01

Magnolia82 · 27/12/2023 12:27

Those of you who do weights - do any of you do this from home? I need something I can do at home. Can anyone recommend where to start and what weights to buy etc?

Similar to people above, I have gradually gained weight over the last year and struggling to lose it. (Always been a size 10 & heathy weight until now.)

I eat well, walk 15000 steps a day and do some low impact workouts at home but am a stone heavier than I was 6 months ago. So maybe lifting weights will help?

The thing about weights - and you do need to lift as heavy as you can comfortably, not just 2-3lbs (except right at the start) - is that it increases your muscle mass, which means you burn more calories just existing, like men do. Women have much less muscle mass naturally than men, and then we actually lose more of it during menopause, so building that mass up is really helpful for weight maintenance and/or loss.

I work out at home in the mornings and I follow this trainer, but there are all sorts on Insta/YT you could follow. (I have had a PT in the past so didn't need lessons on form and safety.)

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/movedailyfitness/

DarlingCoffee · 28/12/2023 05:40

Those of you who follow a high protein diet, what does that look like for meals on a day to day basis please? I always struggle to get enough protein in.

Gnomegnomegnome · 28/12/2023 06:55

WhereAreWeNow · 27/12/2023 08:03

All of you who do weights, how do you start doing weights? Do you need a personal trainer? Do you go to a normal gym and just start lifting? I'd really like to give it a go but I've got no idea where to begin.

I see a PT once a week and then go another two times every week alone. The Pt gave me a programme which I follow.

I use a mix of free weights and machines.

TheRestingElfontheShelf · 28/12/2023 09:19

I'm envious of those who can lift heavy weights @Nandocushion

I had a full prolapse repair, 30 years ago, and was told never to lift anything beyond 1stone (14lbs) and I've kept my weights to no more than 2- 3kgs.

I was also told by physio never to do high impact exercise (jogging etc.) I walk fast for about 15 miles a week.

It's worth bearing in mind if you've had two or more pregnancies.

One of the best things I've done this year was enrol for ZOE personalised nutrition to have my gut bacteria analysed and the food that is beneficial to me. There's a lot of evidence coming through that gut health changes when hormones fall and this can contribute to weight gain as your insulin levels rise and fall over the day. It was expensive although I got an early bird fee, but it was fascinating.

Gherkingreen · 28/12/2023 09:29

I've always been a size 12/14 & 5ft 11. I'm late 40s now and find walking an hour or two a day with my dog around f/t working from home, plus 'fasting' from dinner until lunch the next day, weight training at home 3 x week and limiting alcohol and snacks is the key to stability for me.
I follow Garage Fitness Girl on YouTube and Caroline Girvan for weight sessions, currently using 8kg weights/10kg kettle bell.