Is it possible to lose weight simply by eating less?

[DumbledoresGirl]

I am a novice here. I have always been slim and not needed to watch what I eat. I have never had to lose weight before. Now, I find I am heavier than I have ever been before (apart from when pregnant) and I want to get rid of at least half a stone, maybe a bit more.

Dh keeps on at me to exercise but I am not an exercise person. So I want to know: can I lose weight simply by cutting out some fatty/indulgent foods and generally eating a bit less? I hope the answer will be yes!

LaBoheme, I think it might make a difference what age you are. This is the theory I am wondering about anyway, because for decades I have been able to eat what I like and have not put on weight, but recently, that seems to have changed and the weight is slowly going on and nt coming off again. I have a horrible feeling this is middle aged spread. Of course, I can do something about it (not everyone in their 40s is putting on weight) but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is the end of my days of eating what I like and that from here on in, I am going to have to be careful.

HMC, no I don't drink at all, so that is one thing I don't have to worry about! But while the likes of you are quaffing wine in the evening, I have been guzzling chocolate, so that is the first habit I have dropped now to see if I can get the weight off.

yes DG - age definitely has something to do with it. I find it harder to shift the weight now than I did 10 years ago. I also find it nearby impossible to shift weight when I'm on any sort of hormones (so the pill or HRT).

Dh is now quite fit in his 40s (plays sport once or twice a week for a good hour) and although his eating habits aren't brilliant, they aren't dreadful and he never loses any of his weight.

So do we resign ourselves to being, well, "podgy" describes me best at the moment? I wouldn't mind sticking with the fat I have now if I could be guaranteed not to get any fatter (I realise my slim 20s are long gone!) Dh, OTOH, says no, get the weight off and I can see what he means: we have to keep striving for perfection even though we might not actually attain it.

I think in your 40s you're at a threshold. Look around at some men and women in their 50s. Some are very very large and unfit. They are starting to get pains in their back, arthritic knees and soon will be spending most of the day in a chair. Others are planning their trek to Brazil for their 60th. I'd rather be in the latter than former category.

Me too Xenia. But they are not mutually exclusive. My parents are in their 70s and, until my mother had a major stroke last year, were both unbelievably fit and active: they no longer go skiing, but they still do walking holidays (mountain walking) and cycling holidays, and participate in other exercise too. However, all my life, my mother has been I suppose a size 14 to 16, so bigger than I am now.

My father has always complimented me on my ability to have four children and not put on weight (unspoken idea that having children meant my mother put on weight). I am just wondering now if I am going the same route as my mother, or whether this is something I can actually affect.

I hate this! If you live for over 40 years eating what you like, it is a bit off-putting to think that you will have to change your habits.

Not so much eat less as eat better.That is,eat healthy foods and just have smaller portions of naughty foods then you can lose weight although exercise is def a help and important.

It does work I am another who is very put out that I can't keep eating whatever I like and be a size 10 which i did til late thirties.Am now 42 and a size 14 which crept up really.I have cut out all rubbish from my diet very strict and have lost half a stone in only 3 weeks.Exercise is only walking

Actually I remember someone saying that in your 40's something happend to your metabolism (it slowed down) and you have to do twice more the exsersise to burn off the calories... a depressing thought. The one thing about having a baby for me that changed irreperably (sp) was my hips - they just will never be as snakelike after they "opened" as it were and it's SO frustrating. Why do all the celebrity Mums avoid this hip thing?!!

excersise

exercise - i am an idiot today

DG - I'm the other side of 40 too and despite my usual exercise routine - in fact I'm running further than I ever have - I have managed to gain a bit around the middle.

I do think that your metabolism starts to slow at this age and whilst you will lose weight if you eat less, the exercise will definitely help to keep your metabolic rate up.

As far as stuff to avoid, my main problem is wine, cheese and bread. If I avoid these I feel a whole lot better. Keep a food diary for a few days. It helps to think about what you're eating, when you are snacking, if at all and what on.

And use a smaller plate.

Certainly the calories an old person needs to eat is fewer but often that's because they take less exercise. I'm not sure what really happens in your 40s other than people eat more than they need, aren't trying to attract a partner and their life is family meals and meals out rather than clubbing to 4am. A lot of us use excuses for weight gain but if you take my concentration camp test or get yourself suspended by the Thames like that chap for 60 days you would lose weight. Mind you he was at risk of death.

We have never as a nation been as overweight as we are now in 2007, huge difference even in the last 20 years.

OK, I am taking myself in hand, but will do so via food and not exercise. I do think it must be an age thing though. Even before the weight gain, I was getting bulges around the hips as if my body was sliding south! You see loads of older women like that: probably a size or 2 bigger on the lower half than they are on the top. But here starts the campaign to limit that in me!

I am quite good about not snacking. What snacks I do have I have already cut out this week and it is not a great sacrifice. I reckon that if I cut out the chocolate every night, I am entitled to a chocolate evening (moderate one!) once a week. Does everyone agree?

I think my main problem is puddings. I make puddings for my children, but I love something sweet to finish a meal. Also, sometimes, the pudding doesn't get eaten and I end up eating far more than my share to clear the dishes.

Noddy, what sort of food regime have you adopted? Half a stone in 3 weeks sounds like it must have been quite strict?

Don't want to sound like a bore, but I LOVE the Rosemary Conley class I joined - as well as getting the advice and incentive to eat healthily (and that's all it is, really) the class involves a 45 min exercise session which is suitable to all abilities. Have even learned to love the exercise bit.... seems much more sensible than diet clubs where you sit around talking about food.

DG - just want to empathise. I'm 43 and have always been a size 8. My metabolism has definitely changed though since I was about 42. I've never dieted and used to notice if i was very busy and not eating properly I could lose about half a stone in a few days. The weight literally dropped off me.
Now my weight is creeping up and even if I'm busy and eating less it doesn't go down. On the other hand I love exercise and I think the key is to find one you really enjoy. For me this is running. Love it and is really good if you like setting goals and achieving them and/or you like being outdoors.
I really agree with Xenia that one has to exercise for the long term benefits i.e I want to be a fit and active pensioner as I have young children now.
I think there is also a biological reason as we are probably in the pre menopause days. Your hormones encourage the body to put down weight - I think it's to protect your bones as the risk of oesteoporosis is greater post menopause. I don't believe we should give in to it but perhaps reassess what are long term goals are.
Also, depressing as it is, post 40 there are very few people that will be looking at us for our bodies. I think we need to think in terms of overall health rather than the cosmetics (says she sipping her first glass of red of the evening ).

But dh looks at me for my body! And I look at me and find it hard not to see the body I had when I was in my 20s (not that it was great then, but it was at least slimmer!)

I really need help about the pudding thing. I have just eaten dinner and I am dying for an ice cream or something. Is there anything I could have that would satisfy the need for sweetness?

Oh and the healthy eating thing (was thinking about this just now eating dinner). It would be a lot easier if I did not have fussy children. I could happily eat salads and grilled chicken and fish etc, but my children won't. Dinner today was one of their (and dh's) favourites (yet I really dislike it): pizza. Now of course I can limit how much I have (I had 3 slices of thin crust) and eat salad with it (I always do) but I would still rather not be eating pizza at all. Do I try to change their habits? (but children need different things to adults) or do I eat separately? (something I have always disapproved of).

Why not have a baked potato when they are having pizza. Pre cook in microwave and then finish in oven while the pizza is cooking. Could top with nice filling and salad so no extra hassle.
BTW not suggesting for a minute giving in to middle age. Just saying that we have to temper it with realism.

Four good ideas

1. If you feel hungry, have a glass of water

2. Drink no calories - so no latte, no fizzy pop, no squash, no booze

3. Eat a veg starter/the veg on the plate first - fill up 1st on high fibre low cal stuff. So have a plate of salad before dinner - rather like the French.

4. Eat more slowly. You can lose weight just by eating a mouthful, then putting the fork down on the table/plate whilst you chew/savour, pick up fork, next mouthful, put fork down. Tedious but effective.

Pinkveto - excellent ideas. My top tip is always to drink a glass of water before every meal - which I must start doing!

I am a pretty good water drinker, ie don't have a taste for many other drinks

And very good point about eating slowly. I am a very fast eater and I am sure that means I eat more than I should. I had to walk away from the table today to stop myself picking up another piece of pizza which was left because everyone else eats slower than me.

Still struggling with wanting to nip back into the kitchen for an ice cream! Perhaps I will go and get another glass of water instead...

Oh yes, second that - do you own massive modern plates - mine are a square foot! Serve your meal on a side plate and go for seconds.

And walk - everywhere.

And the sweet thing after dinner. Have you tried buying something that is individually wrapped so at least a whole bar isnt open? Or actually buying something that you dont like that much? My recent success was Harrogate toffee - sweet but not moreish, so just one after dinner did. Unlike the bar of fruit and nut.....

Well, yesterday evening I had a huge craving for something sweet after dinner but I resisted it and found out it is true that if you just resist it, the craving goes away. I ate about 6:30 and stayed up until 11:30 and, once the craving had gone, did not feel hungry or need to eat at all in that time. So I feel good that I can beat this thing with will-power.

However, feel less good this morning when I ate my usual 2 pain au chocolat for Sunday breakfast and then ate the equivalent of another half of one by finishing up ds3's scraps I was indeed brought up to finish my plate - my parents were brought up in the war and transferred their culture of eating every last scrap onto me. Dh has often criticised me for it as I find it very hard to leave anything and will overeat in restaurants rather than send back food on the plate.

Also feel bad today because none of my summer skirts fit me and I am squashed into some shorts today.

But anyway, some useful points here, thanks.

DG, Skinny Cow Lollies or Soleros should help with the ice cream cravings.