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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Please only reply if you're female and closer to 50 than 40

612 replies

IWillSurviveHeyHey · 29/12/2017 09:26

Because how in the name of the holy cheeses does one loose weight at the age of 48, when nothing that used to work in the past, works anymore?

I am reasonably active and don't overeat although admittedly I do drink alcohol and have a weakness for sweets. This was never an issue before but clearly it is now. Simple I hear you say, stop drinking alcohol and eating sweets. But I have. And whist in the past I would have started noticing some change after a couple of weeks, nothing moves at the moment. In fact, I am just getting bigger and bigger.

I have extremely large thighs and I am only short so I feel really uncomfortable within myself. My only saving grace is that I don't have a fat belly.

I am a bit sick of being hungry pretty much all the time and still, it seems I need to accept that I've gone from a size 10 to a size 12 in the space of a year and I've been hungry for the most part. Well I don't want to accept that. I need to go back to a size 10 or by the end of 2018 I'll be a size 14.

Please help me.

OP posts:
grannycake · 13/01/2018 15:35

I blamed the menopause for my inability to lose any excess weight as easily as I had in the past but if I'm honest my activity levels had definitely gone down and my snacking/rewarding myself with nice food had gone up. When the DC were young we didn't have much cash so only ran one car which my DH needed to commute so I walked everywhere. Then when they were a bit older we all had active weekends camping and surfing. I then retrained as a teacher and was in my feet for much of each day. Come the menopause my DC had grown and left, I was promoted to a non teaching desk based job and now used a car to commute. I still baked like I had three DC to eat it and I was putting on a stone per year. I've sorted it now by cycling/running and using 5 2 when I want to lose a bit and 6 1 to maintain. It is mostly about health. I've watched my MIL deteriorate with heart disease and arthritis until at 88 she no longer has any mobility and I am scared for my old age. There's also a love of fashion that motivates me as well. I'm now coming up to 62 so the menopause symptoms have largely disappeared but I am determined to stay as well as I can to enjoy my retirement in 4 years time

Original poster
IWillSurviveHeyHey · 14/01/2018 11:45

My breath is shocking though, and I always have a metallic taste in my mouth.

OP posts:
YearOfYouRemember · 15/01/2018 13:26

Hi

How I see everyone's doing? DDog still not back to long walks so I've been on the bike twice today instead. Doing 31 minutes this morning and 53 more minutes just now.

Food wise I'll be having a salad wrap soon with a slice of turkey.

Hope everyone is okay. I'm a bit low so the exercise is giving me something to do.

TalkinPeace · 15/01/2018 13:43

Iwillsurvive
I always have a metallic taste in my mouth.
Worth getting that checked by the GP. It may just be menopause but not always.

Yearof
I'm going for the "shivering" approach to weight loss
while I wait for my boiler to be mended !!!!

YearOfYouRemember · 15/01/2018 17:34

I've done over two hours on the bike today in between two sort walks with DDog. She wasn't in the mood.

Epic parenting fail tonight so will have to try hard not to stuff my face. I have made cranberry muffins for the kids so might have one as a compromise.

YearOfYouRemember · 15/01/2018 17:35

Hope your boiler is mended soon, TiP.

YearOfYouRemember · 15/01/2018 17:36

Hope your boiler is mended soon, TiP.

Twoo · 16/01/2018 06:45

Tattybear’ The app allows you to scan a barcode

ferrier · 16/01/2018 07:14

IWillSurvive

I'm over 50 and was a stone overweight at the beginning of 2017. I have now lost 2.5 stone, have gonw down 2 dress sizes and have a bmi of 22. I achieved this in 5 to 6 months and have maintained that since.

I haven't counted anything - except weight and body measurements. I weighed myself every day and still do to keep me on track.

I doubled the exercise to 1-2 hours 4 or 5 times a week. Replaced all snacks with fruit. Did portion control. Reduced carbs. Did 16:8.

I lost a stone in the first month, another stone over the next two and then half a stone over the next 2 to 3 months.
I've been less strict for the last six months and haven't lost anything but have maintained the lower weight. I'm planning on losing another half stone this year to get me down to a bmi of 21.

TalkinPeace · 16/01/2018 13:00

Boiler still kaput : hopefully sorted before the weather turns cold.
I can see why people slouched about less in old cold houses !

It is indeed about eating REAL foods.
Anything with ingredients you do not understand should stay in the shop.
Any product with more than ten ingredients should be looked at critically.

YearOfYouRemember · 17/01/2018 10:52

Morning all. How is everyone doing?

Since I started on January 5th I have lost almost 5lbs and put back on a pound. I am not giving up as I ave kept 4lbs off for a week but have been stuck at that weight for the same time. Do I need to exercise more, cut down my calories, keep doing the same? Any help would be great. Thank you.

ppeatfruit · 17/01/2018 11:27

Apologies because I haven't read the thread Yearoff Iam nearer 65 than 50 ! But I Lost the 3 stone I needed to and am maintaining easily No starving or calorie counting or weighing food!!!!!! No misery!!!!!

I have followed the Paul Mackenna way of eating which helps you learn to eat when you're properly hungry. and STOP when we're full. So it's naturally how we should all eat!

It's great because you can just restart it if you 'forget' or go out or whatever!

YearOfYouRemember · 17/01/2018 12:28

There is no misery in what I'm doing, ppeatfruit. If I want something classed as a treat I just do extra on the bike. I'm definitely getting fitter as I can do what used to be an hours walk in 3/4 hour now. Thank you.

EBearhug · 17/01/2018 13:20

you learn to eat when you're properly hungry. and STOP when we're full

I find this is not a problem when life is fine, but when it's not, I find the physical sensation's of stress and anxiety override being able to determine if I'm full or not. At its worst, it means I can't face eating and lose weight (not a diet I recommend, though! ) But between that point and normality, I tend to overeat, because eating means things are okay - which is partly tied up with how rare arguments were handled in my childhood. And also conditioning that it''s good to clear your plate and not waste food - all of which is fine when life is fine, but not when it's not.

hevonbu · 17/01/2018 13:30

I changed my diet and cut out sugar and dairy, not with the intent to lose weight but for other reasons, and the weight started to decrease all by itself in spite of never having been able to lose a single gram before it's now half a pound in a little over a month without effort. I think it's the white sugar that's the biggie, plus porridge for breakfast every day, and more veggies. Will be interesting to see if the trend continues. I'm 53.

hevonbu · 17/01/2018 13:32

Oh, and I don't do calorie counting, I hate that.

ppeatfruit · 17/01/2018 16:29

I know what you mean Ebear Now I know how much I can eat comfortably so don't waste , or I put it in the fridge for tomorrow if there's too much on my plate.

Year the post I DID read was one moaning about all of us silly people . starving ourselves. ! Which I have never done and never calorie counted either!

Original poster
IWillSurviveHeyHey · 17/01/2018 17:14

If I am already doing low carb (no alcohol, no sugar, no pasta, bread, rice, any grains, potatoes, no fruit), mostly meat, veg and fish, is it important that I also cut down on dairy? I do have milk with my coffee, and will eat yogurt and cheese.

OP posts:
YearOfYouRemember · 17/01/2018 18:35

You need it for calcium for bones. I'd still have some.

Payfrozen · 17/01/2018 21:26

So this week's wellbeing change has been finally giving in and sleeping in spare room. I still get hot flushes but now I can get back to sleep as I'm not sharing the bed with a snoring Darth Vader.

DH is a bit sad but I am overjoyed at more sleep. The first night the silence was brilliant. The room felt cosy like black soft velvet.

On weekends DC will be home so I'll be in with DH.

Sorry to ramble but the lack of sleep was directly affecting eating and exercise due to fatigue.

TalkinPeace · 17/01/2018 22:13

Payfrozen
Years ago I found a stat that one in three of happily married couples regularly sleep separately
because they recognise that good sleep is important for a good marriage

I snore like a train and DH and I have always had the rule that if I'm loud, one of us moves
as being tired is not good for health and weight management

Payfrozen · 18/01/2018 07:20

Thanks for that Talkin

We did have a chat about the health benefits yesterday.
I'm going to park at bottom of hill and walk 15 mins into office today. Swim this evening maybe but that does depend on how long DD is at careers evening.

YearOfYouRemember · 18/01/2018 07:21

. .please forgive me this indulgence. I'm 5.2 lbs down in 17 days. Hurray! And yesterday I ate some chocolate as well but what was interesting was I didn't enjoy it as I used too, there was no endorphin rush so it will mean in future I buy less and buy the good stuff.

Payfrozen · 18/01/2018 07:45

year go you Star

OliviaD68 · 18/01/2018 08:13

@IWillSurviveHeyHey

Low carb means high fat. Dairy can have a lot of fat. I eat tons of cheese. Avoid the low fat stuff.

It's also right to say that the calcium is good for you.

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