I just cannot lose my peri stomach ( and boobs)

[Gladiator552]

Hi all, honestly how does one get rid of that barrel shape look?! I’ve always been slim without effort until I was about 40. Now im a tight size 14. Im 44 now
im on HRT, active, I do something every day 10000 steps a day
I haven’t had a drink in 3 months
healthy meals- protein rich
today was Greek yoghurt with flaxseed, raspberries and chia seeds at 10am after fasting for 13 hours
then lunch was two scrambled eggs with spinach, smokerel mackerel, kale, cucumber and mixed beans salad- just a plate full no dressing
banana
hsndful of nuts
then 45 mins weights in gym, resistance machines
also had a three mile walk
dinner one plate of pasta with olives and pesto as need to food shop soon
I did have 3 small biscuits
I also swam an hour this week, a 3 mile run and walking the dog. Will have another swim and weights this week. I also do 5-10 mins core here and there
I have always been fairly active but upped my strength training as want to change my “doughy middle”
my arms and legs are fairly slim and toned, it’s just my matronly boobs and huge bloated belly I hate. I just cannot seem to lose any weight and it’s really getting me down I cannot seem to get any results or wear what I want without looking frumpy.I hate myself when I see me in the gym mirrors
anyone still reading has any advise please?

I also drink 2l water, one coffee and a few green teas a day

I hear you. No solutions but this is currently my life too. Bet my 14s are tighter than yours though lol.

@Hoglet70 ha not so sure about that as I’m veering towards a 16!

My God, if that doesn’t do it what hope is there?! Came on not because I have good advice unfortunately but to follow as I need advice myself.

I think I'm still only a 14 as I shop in Fatface and the sizes are huge haha.

Cut the biscuits and halve all portions for 2 weeks. If that works, continue. You will see results.

As depressing as it sounds, I think you’re going to have to track your calories - it’s the only thing that’s worked for me after I gained recently, all in the belly area too. I would say that you’re eating more calories than you realise, whilst your food is all good, the mackerel and beans and pasta all add up, with biscuits on top too and unfortunately exercise doesnt seem to burn as much as we think, maybe a portion thing?

I have to log every calorie and have a mix of some days under 1200 and the rest under 1500. But I lose for 2 weeks then binge then get back on. I’m going in the right direction but the self sabotage is depressing.

Ok will try that, however I feel I would be too hungry to maintain being active? They’re not huge portions
and giving up my three small biscuits seems harsh after I already gave up wine etc. I wasn’t a big drinker maybe a couple of glasses a week but surely there already should be a calorie reduction from that plus upping my strength training. I read everywhere weight training burns fat etc so was hoping to see at least a small improvement on the scales or at least how my clothes fit

I had to literally stop eating much food. Went down to barely any food for a few months.

1 egg and 1/8 avocado and 1 cherry tomato for brunch

Sliced tomatoes and cucumber for early dinner

Nothing else.

Sound mental right? In the end that's the only thing that worked. Down from a 14ish to a 10.

Now I'm eating a bit more but basically I now know I will never eat a whole pizza. I will never have a whole bowl of pasta. Or anything resembling a full meal.

I train hard and bizarrely I am stronger than ever. I don't understand it but there you go.

This is depressing. I’m 44 and peri and am in exactly the same position. I’ve always been able to eat what I want and be an 8-10 but I’m now pushing 12 and rising. I’d better revise what I eat. PPs, are you on HRT or testosterone?

Healthy or not that's a hell of a lot of food. I'm not sure how you have capacity to eat 3 big meals.

Pasta and pesto is hugely calorific.

Skip breakfast. Cut your portion sizes

@HowIrresponsible 3 big meals? I wouldn’t say that’s a hell of a lot of food ?
two spoons of Greek yogurt and some raspberries and isn’t a huge meal?

im just trying to eat enough protein and get my 5 a day 😔

The only way I can lose weight now I am in menopause is to eat 1200 cals a day,
A 1500 cal a day diet doesn't see me loose any weight. But 1200 does.
It's very little food, sadly. I can maintain at about 1500.
I am about as active as you.

@Silviasilvertoes estrogen patch and progesterone

3 small biscuits might well be 150 to 300 cals depending. If that's every day that's part of your answer.

Hides empty bowl of chocolate cereal in dishwasher…

I am 54 and was squeezing out of size 14s. In the end it was drastic measures and I did the fast 800 (maybe closer to a 1000) for about 12 weeks. Now on 1400 calories a day and still losing. Also active. Have gone from tipping into the obese category and now in the healthy weight range.

Lost just over 2.5 stone size February.

Eating healthy food, minimal processed foods, minimal alcohol.

@Alainlechat is that dr moseleys fast? I might try that

@Alainlechat btw well done 2.5 stone since February is amazing!

Carbs. Go very low carbs and no refined sugar

I’ve found that since I’ve turned peri I’m obsessed with carbs and sugar.

I’m 44 - 5’4” and at the beginning of April was my heaviest weight I’ve ever been and I bought some size 12 & size 14 clothes - usually an 8-10.

For the last 12 weeks I’ve been sticking pretty rigidly to 800cals per day. Just in the last 2 weeks I have eased it a little bit and have averaged 900-925 per day. I’ve lost 24lb so far and still have another 10lb to lose to get to where I want to be - but know that may not be possible.

Most days the 800cal is fine - I eat A LOT of steamed green veg and my main protein is chicken - either steamed or fried in just the juices of some mushrooms and a tiny bit of water - no oil at all. I am allergic to eggs so can’t eat them and don’t eat any fish so that’s out too. I only eat a very small amount of carbs now. Sadly I think pasta is a thing of the past for me now.

I aim to walk 15,000 brisk steps per day and manage that probably 4 times a week - the other days are all around 10-12,000. I don’t do other exercise due to injury.

My appetite has genuinely shrunk loads but it is utterly depressing how low I’ve had to go to lose the weight - I used to just drop to 1200 a day and the weight would fall off. Peri/Menopause is shit

Bloody hell how are you alive?!

How can you stand to live like this? There’s no joy in not being able to enjoy a pizza or some pasta.

I am nearly 44 and I am 4 stone heavier than I was 20 years ago. I would love to wake up tomorrow and be slimmer but due to early menopause and autoimmune issues that’s not going to happen unless I starve myself and I’m not prepared to do that. I eat well, I’m active, I have a stomach that most women do in their 40s and 50s and I’m okay with that.