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

[IWillSurviveHeyHey]

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.

The soup stays for about three days in the fridge. I eat lots and lots of (raw) nuts especially for breakfast. If you want to kick start the weightloss, I'd say replace the carbs with nuts for a few days to start with and the soup. It's very important to eat enough so you don't feel hungry. Meat is filling but watch out for veggies high in carbs. I had to change the way I looked at food and also it does take a while to get going but I believe that the longer it takes the weight to come off, the better it is for your metabolism. It'll be easier to keep it off.

@Bombardier2596

No, I'm not at all miserable. I'm simply stunned that someone had the nerve to suggest that I should be prepared to let myself be a "slightly wobbly size 12" cos I'm "in my bloody 50s". That's all.

RPPP - some of us 'oldies' still want to be fit, healthy and look good as we reach menopause

Exactly so. And why ever not?

You CAN make soup without onions. I don't get on well with onions or garlic (IBs -ish) but make a great chicken stock from simmering the carcass for 6 hrs, with a carrot, parsnip and celery.

I make a soup with the chicken stock, carrots, red lentils and sweet potato. All whizzed up in the blender.

I'm roughly the same weight as in my 20s - under 8st (am now 62 and told I look 10 yrs younger at least.)

Breakfast - eggs- boiled, scrambled, poached, - and 1 slice gluten free bread.

Snack mid morning sometimes - an oatcake with almond butter.

Lunch- either homemade soup, or a salad with small tin tuna, or tinned salmon, lots of watercress, grated carrot, red pepper, and a small avocado .

OR I might have Greek yoghurt and an apple / blueberries.

Dinner- always a big chunk of protein- eg salmon fillet, chicken (stir fry, oven baked...) , fresh fish oven baked with roast veg (peppers, sweet potatoes etc), chicken roast dinner, homemade shepherds pie (I use venison mince which is lower in fat), stuffed peppers (I use a mix of Puy lentils, herbs and mushrooms), loads of veg and always broccoli/ cabbage, green beans, carrots etc daily.

Apple, blueberries, other fruit in season.

Everyday I eat:
some nuts- walnuts or almonds
a small avocado
full fat Greek yoghurt
eggs
at least 6 veg & fruit (combined)

Treat is 2 small pieces dark choc.

@Payfrozen - thanks for the pointer to the No S diet. I think that's exactly the take it slowly approach I need.

I am 48 and have across a book by James Duigan called a Clean & Lean Flat Tummy Fast! Which talks about eating healthy fats and going to sleep at a regular time without using screen time and helps the body stop putting on fat at night time and more importantly it explains how stress hormones have a big impact on weight gain . Going to give it a try as like you nothing else is working. Good luck

Meant to have said I have put on a stone and a half in a year and The only thing that changed was a lack of sleep and stress so I know it wasn't caused by eating more or exercising less as I wear a fitbit everyday.

PollyPerky thank you for taking the time to post your typical day's diet. That's so useful.
I love nuts, absolutely adore them, but need to not have them in the house as I don't est a handful, but the whole 250 grams packet in one day.

The thing I have observed about women who remain slim post-menopause is the limitation of carbs.

My work colleagues take salad & crackers/ryvita at lunchtime rather than sandwiches or rolls.

Not avoiding carbs altogether, but having minimal bread/rice/pasta/potatoes. Loads of salad & veg.

Interesting thread. I'm not thin but I'm definitely not fat either. OP you say you're always hungry which I think is a really huge obstacle to losing weight. I used to be always hungry too. Now I when I get up in the morning I don't eat until I'm hungry and often that isn't til 2pm. I know that we're all told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day blah blah blah in case we go mad and eat a bakery but if you trust yourself not to eat a bakery when you feel ravenous but to have eaten something before that point, I personally have found it a good way to get that constant hunger under control. I used to be constantly hungry as well. I'm 47 and I definitely think that the hunger that used to drive me crazy when I was watching my weight when I was younger just isn't there in the same way any more. I hope that that doesn't mean something bad in itself.

I'm only a little bit bigger than when I was a teenager, I'm 9 stone.

My old boss who was late fifties used to tell me she ate about 30% less once she hit 40 and she maintained her weight.

The big difference i have compared to friends of a similar age is I have never been a drinker, I'm not teetotal. Put it this way on Christmas Day I had a Gin and tonic. I will have a couple glasses of champagne tonight.

I just have slightly smaller portions of everything and have less carbs for sure. I was also worried about diabetes developing as three of my older siblings have developed it.

My food intake is typically

Porridge
Bacon and egg sandwich, cheese salad or something similar

Fruit
Fish, meat, rarely eat processed meat, I like meat that looks like it's part of a body if that makes sense and lots veg, rice and sometimes potato.

I don't really snack but that's something that's the habit of a lifetime.

I'm 47 and trying very hard to lose weight as I'm t2 diabetic. I've lost just over 3 stone so far, and jesus it's been hard. For breakfast, I usually have a ready pot of no added sugar porridge (Moma ones) as it's just easy, and I stir in some protein powder or protein yogurt. For lunch I either make home made squash/green veg based soup (not too many root veg), or make a sandwich using lower carb bread (Hovis very good) with lots of salad in. Evening meal is usually salmon, quorn fillet with a mountain of veg and very small serving of potato/whole rice. I walk around 4/5 miles a day with the dog, good pace so I'm out of breath. And it slooooooowly comes off at around 1lb a week. So bloody disappointing and hard work. I've had a few days off for Christmas, and put 6lbs on....I literally could cry. But onwards and upwards .

@JaneEyre70 - why don't you go the whole hog and embrace low carbing? It will be especially beneficial if you're a diabetic.

janeyre
A pound a week is 4 stone in a year
and if it stays off then FAB

also - do look at one of the variants of intermittent fasting as that helps the insulin system to reset itself

I was out walking the dog this morning with a dog walking friend. We were both saying “I want to lose 2 stones by the summer”. She, because she has a holiday booked and me because I’m 15 years older than her and NOTHING stops the “spread”, it seems.

Cravings are my downfall. I can lose weight very well but it always returns and that’s soul destroying 😐. I’ve GOT to do it though for my own sanity. I’m 5 6”. 11st 7lbs and I feel awful. Even a stone off would make things better but I feel defeated before I even start as I’ve spent my entire life doing it.

I've invested in a personal trainer - it's e pensive and takes time but worth it!

I'm 51 and in the menopause. I was a size 18.
Joined Slimming World in May and lost 2 stone in 4 months. After the first 10 days I found it very easy.

I used all my syns for wine

I'm now a size 14 and haven't put the weight back on so far.

I'm planning on staying that way

I'm 45 and need to lose 2-3 stone. I walk 5-6 miles most days but have recently gone on medication which has made me hungry all the time. I thought the two walks a day would help but while I've got a bit fitter I haven't got any slimmer.

I've decided to enjoy the food of the season then start afresh next month. I have food issues and while I know why, I can't make them go away. I also feel 8 don't eat enough or the right foods. I suspect I have IBS and eat too much toast every now and then.

I just need someone to tell me what to do.

I've been reading weight loss is more about food intake than exercise which is a bit rubbish. Even when I was doing 90 minutes on my exercise bike on top of the walking, I didn't lose anything so maybe they are right.

I am 55. Until i was mid 40s, i was 8st 4lbs and a size 8.

Then, no change of diet, the weight just would not stop increasing.

I have always had a sweet tooth, often sendijg Dh out to the village shop late at night because i NEEDED chocolate.

6 months ago, i decided enouggh was enough. Bleating on abput always being to eat this stuff and never putting weight on had to end.

I went very low carb. Cut put all sweet stuff, bread, wine and chocolate.

I can honestly, hand on heart, say that I have no cravings at all now. We eat out regularly but i have literally no interest in chips, sweet desserts, or any processed crap at all. I switched from wine to an occasional vodka and tonic and have lost 2stone, back down to size 8 bottom and 10 top.

It is not a 'diet' per se, just a change of eating habit. No great thought has to go into it at all, and in addition to the weight loss, i feel healthier too.

57, lost 3.5 stone in about 10 months. Did it by reducing portion size, cutting out fatty snacks, eating low fat and healthy food. The weight has come off slowly and steadily. Couldn't afford a slimming club but found the NHS online resources quite helpful:
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss-guide/Pages/losing-weight-getting-started.aspx
I have bad arthritis but after losing the first two stone I started to exercise more simply because I found it easier. However, I have to say that while exercise tones, improves your mood and strength and helps you burn up a few calories, the most important factor in actually losing weight is food choice.

I was 49 in September. In January 2017 I started a lifestyle change program at my gym. This year I lost 25lbs (1 stone 11 lbs). I took off some months from April to July as we moved house.
Here are the components:

1. Full physical at the GP to sign off that you are healthy enough for the program and have no underlying health issues.

2. Take initial weight and measurements. We also had blood tests and went through a machine that measures your body fat percentage (DEXA).

Sorry posted too early! Basically to lose weight at our age and stage you must overhaul your life and habits.

3. Enter absolutely everything you eat and drink on MyFitnessPal.

4. Only drink water - no tea,with milk. No alcohol, no soda.

5. Get a fitbit and walk a minimum of 10,000 steps per day.

6. Also exercise at least 45 minutes 3 times a week, cardio plus strength training.

7. I was eating 1200 calories a day. First week was only protein shakes, lean protein and berries (Stage 1) it's kind of a detox/reset to help you cut out all your bad habit foods. Next week add in veggies. So 1 protein shake a day and two meals of lean protein and veggies, such as salmon and asparagus, chicken breast and roasted veg. You should be getting a tablespoon of fat a day so I have peanut butter and half a banana in a chocolate shake. Or you can have a dressing in salad or cook in olive oil. I kept at this stage when I wanted to lose 1-2lbs a week. You can eat more if you exercise so add in another 200 calories or so. Also two healthy snacks a day. I had nuts or fruit, yogurt or a protein bar. I lost weight steadily and also inches. I went down 2 dress sizes from a 12 on my bottom half to an 8.

In October our youngest son age 11 was found to have a lump in his face near his ear. It took about 5 weeks but he was finally diagnosed with a very rare lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system). He had the tumor removed in early December and has an excellent prognosis and hopefully will not need chemo.

With all the stress, shock and fear I could not exercise or care about what I was eating. Now we are full of hope I am almost back to normal mentally but gained 10lb back and went from an 8 to a 10. Just shows what stress does to our minds and bodies.

I have been exercising again and plan to get back to the program next week and will strap on my fitbit.

We could start a new thread if you like and begin next week? Don't let anyone tell you you can't transform your body at our age. For my size my body fat composition was high, I think 38%? And my biological age was much older than the 40s it was shocking. Honestly if I can do it anyone can!

Your weight loss may be slower than when you were younger but you can still lose but most importantly improve your health, your strength, posture and knock off inches.

I lost about 4lbs the first week then 2-3lbs a week and gradually got down to about 1-2lbs a week. For every 10-14lb lost I went down a dress size. Felt so great and really energetic. You just have to accept that with age our metabolism slows so we have to eat differently and exercise more to stay the same size or lose weight.

I'm 53 and have always been very very slim. Over the last year I have noticed that I now have a layer of fat around my tum and I am definitely putting on weight more easily. I'm only a few pounds heavier than normal but this layer of fat is horrible and I can't shift it !!

I'm going to be 51 soon and totally relate to your OP.

A couple of years ago I could cut out biscuits, cake and other treats, eat less bread and have slightly smaller portions (All without going hungry) and notice a difference quite soon. Nowadays .....forget it!