Food!

[Supersares]

So as the title suggests my question is about food and diet.
I’ve been perimenopausal for several years and likely to be close to menopause (I hope).

I’ve always enjoyed food so have had to watch what I eat to avoid going overweight. However I feel like I’m spiralling out of control with my eating right now and feel unable to reign myself in. I’m 5ft 7 and a size 16 now and hate feeling ‘big’ as I know it’s bad for my health and my self esteem.

Does anyone have any tips for a 52 year old to get back to healthy eating habits? My downfall is definitely snacking between meals.

My self control is at an all time low.

I think it depends on why you’re snacking. If you’re hungry, look at eating more protein with your main meals. If it’s boredom or habit, can you find something else to do to fill the time you’d usually snack - do some online yoga, go for a walk, clean the bathroom, knit or whatever to distract you and physically take you away from the snacks. And drink lots of water - it’s easy to reach for a snack when what you really need is a drink.

It's so hard. I've been exactly where you are and still am to an extent. I managed to take control of my eating in October by starting calorie counting. It works well for me but I realise it won't work for everyone. It's helpful to see, written down, how many calories I actually consume.

I've lost a stone and a half.

There were times when my appetite was out of control. I simply HAD to eat. Some people won't understand that, but many will and know EXACTLY what it feels like. It still happens, but less often now.

I used to eat far too many calories in a day, simply because of the type of food I would eat. So I changed some of the food, ate less generally, and stopped the chocolate binges every night. I'm not even going to say how much chocolate I used to eat. I still have chocolate (it's a minor addiction...) but less.

I still need to make further changes, but one step at a time.

What are the snacks that you are reaching for? Could you make changes there so that you can have snacks, just less calorific ones?

What's your diet like overall? Generally healthy or could do with some tweaking?

Is it an option to increase your activity?

Should have added - I'm 55 and been peri-menopausal for a few years and suspect am now in menopause.

Are you tired all the time? I find myself eating when I'm tired as if it's going to magic the fatigue away...

@Apileofballyhoo - yes, me too! That still happens, and even though I know eating more won't make me less tired, I still do it!

@PunishmentRoundupWithJoon yeah, it's really difficult, because it kind of feels like you're hungry.

The only thing that has worked for me is cutting carbs (only lowish, not keto), adding fat and eating an absolute ton of veg, at every meal if possible. So much veg that there's little room for anything else.

I have a jar with a mixture of protein powder, ground flaxseed and psyllium husk that I keep in the fridge and add to yogurt or almond porridge, helps me feel full.

Having said that, I backslid at Christmas and am now clawing my way back! But has been otherwise pretty easy to maintain, my appetite is more manageable on low carb.

I’m 56 and lost a stone and a half last year. Another stone to go. I was eating healthily but too much.I was also super snacking on cheese, crackers and crisps.

what works for me is
protein for breakfast, scrambled eggs on whole meal sourdough.
or porridge with Greek yoghurt and berries

I take in soup or bean stew or similar for lunch. The soup is lentil or bean.

I’ll have an apple or banana at work to try and stave off snacking when I get home before tea. Then a tea with protein, veg and carb of some kind.

I’ve pretty much stopped with crisps, and the cheese and crackers.

I’ve stopped sitting on the sofa and drinking half a bottle of wine. Though I’ll have a drink when I’m out.

the protein and more fibre has stopped that sickening hunger feeling.