Just turned 42 - is it really possible to lose weight.

[Italianmoma1983]

Hi there,

I’m 98 kilos (almost 16 stones) for 5 feet 7. I’m an over eater, a binger. I’m a mum of 2 teenagers, working full time. I have tried slimming world then jumped onto 800 calories diet, then 5:2, then 16:8...I’m all over the place, all I can think of is food. I meal plan but I have 2 fussy kids who hate vegetables so I’m not always eating the right thing to make like easy as I’m out of the house all day long.
My problem is that I’m anxious, I beat myself up because I’m huge so I eat more, you the circle of hate. I don’t know what to eat, I’m all over the place.

There are several ongoing weight loss support threads here - have a look and join one which is closest to what you need?

That’s the thing - what would be the best thing for me ? I’m at loss.

If you are not sure what to eat, join the 7lbs/3kg loss a month, I’m on it and many posters share their daily food.
Most of us do 16:8 which works quite well.

The best thing though is the support, that could help with your anxiety.

I struggled to shift weight for years then gave up sugar and it's dropped off. Im mid 40's. Nothing else worked but I've been able to stick to this. First month was tricky but after that I've not given it much thought and I've been amazed at how easy it's been.

Thank you 7/worfs - I will join this group to start with !

Slpit- could you please tell me more about your journey ? Have you stop all sugars ? No even dark chocolate ? I have been toying with the idea too

I have lost 3 stone since June by following the 16:8. I've found this the easiest 'diet' I have ever tried, it feels almost effortless. I see you've already tried this - any idea why it didn't fit in with your lifestyle? How did your 2 fussy kids impact you sticking to that way of eating?

I would recommend a low carb diet - could you post a typical day's food and people could suggest where you could make changes? Weight loss is hard, especially if comfort eating is a problem. I struggled with my weight for 20 years (since I was a young teen), so I do sympathise.

@8Iris8 I didn’t stick to it, just excuses really but it seems the way to go or completely stop sugar like silpt did ! I have struggled with my weight for the last 10 years. I have suffered with depression, I’m not depressed anymore but any bout of normal anxiety and I binge eat, sweets mainly. Thank you for posting !

I have been obese, and I am now a healthy weight so yes, it is absolutely, definitely possible to lose weight. If I can do it, anyone can. It’s also easy when you accept responsibility for your choices.

The key think I had to understand and accept before I could lose weight was that obesity is a choice. I chose to overeat. I chose to snack on crap. I chose to go to McDonald’s on they way home from work before eating another dinner at home. I chose to scoff bars of chocolate in the car. I chose to do no exercise.

I also chose to change my behaviour. The first couple of weeks were tough, and I definitely found that the best way to stop eating cheese, crisp, chocolate and biscuits was to not have them in the house at all, but I found that I could get into good habits as well as bad ones and the weight started to drop off. 5:2 plus 10k steps a day worked for me. I still hate going to the gym, but it like going to work : you just have to do it. Walking and cycling I enjoy very much.

@AgeLikeWine well done on turning things around for yourself. You are right, it’s a choice. I no longer have excuses for my weight.

I forgot to say I really found reading 'The Obesity Code' By Jason Fung very helpful. It made me understand why something like the 16:8 way of eating is good for our bodies in general and especially for losing weight, and I think this has helped me stick to it :)

In a nutshell (and he explains it much better than me!), it is not a simple case of excess calories causing us to gain weight, but rather the effects of insulin resistance which is caused by our constant grazing lifestyle that is the real problem. This can be reversed really easily though, and 42 is still relatively young these days. So if you can turn things around now, you will reap the benefits for may years to come!

Go for it, OP. The first few pounds will come off fairly quickly, and after a couple of weeks you will notice a real difference in the way your clothes fit. I found that incredibly motivating, and from that point on I stepped up the exercise, felt better about myself, and I was on my way to a healthy weight.

You can do this!

I will look up the obesity code - thank you Agelikewine

I turned 40 at the beginning of the year and weighed the same as you (same height), after seeing it on Facebook I signed up to our path which is an online mentoring/nutrition advice/weight loss support. I've lost 2 stone so far and taken up running - for the first time ever I ran 5k (parkrun) without stoping yesterday.

I've still got a lot more to loose, but the amount I've lost has definitely made a difference and I want to keep going.

(If anyone wants a referral code, mine is www.ourpath.co.uk/invite/naomit38, but I'd still recommend it without this - but we may as well both save some money if anyone is interested!)

Yes I've stopped all sugar, I do still eat fruit and carbs. I did find a 90% dark chocolate but it was pretty much inedible. I avoid all natural sugars and sugar replacements too (maple syrup, honey etc) as I wanted to lose the taste for it. I won't lie the first month was tough, after that's it's been much easier and the weight has dropped off, literally, lost loads that I've been unable to shift fir years.

What I wasn't anticipating was that over all I'm far less hungry than before. After a few weeks of being sugar free I'm naturally eating less, eating more nuts, fruit and veg. I don't do mayo, cereals, and check the sugar content of everything. It's an eye opener how much so far is in basic stuff. I do eat bread. I've given up sugar in my coffee.

Tbh I hadn't really appreciated how much sugar I was eating day to day or that I had just become completely addicted to it. I feel so much better!

Can you start doing exercise like going for a 30minute walk? Then upping the time and introducing other exercise? Maybe try keep providing veg for the kids after 3-4 times they will realise that's whats on offer. Worked with mine. Stick to the meal plans. It's hard and easy to say do this do that but find something that works. I tried Huel shakes and they helped but not everyone's cup of tea.

Age 45 I dropped 5 stone over the course of about a year. It has mostly stayed off. I lost focus in 2018 and a stone came back. I've taken it back off over the last 6 months and am aiming on another half stone now.

What I did:
Cut down on drinking alcohol (and no lager whatsoever, which I used to enjoy).
Cut out all added sugar, including sugary products like ketchup.
Cut out refined carbs.
Cut down on carbs generally, except for fruit and veg.
Adopted the 16:8 eating style.
Logged every single calorie I ate and drank. This is probably the best tool to keep me on track and I still do it. If I go off the rails it is easier to see where and keeps me focused on what I need to be doing.
Exercise for an hour a day most days a week. (30 mins intense plus 15 mins warm up and 15 mins cool down and stretch).

I've found doing keto really easy, high fat, low carb. Can still do my shopping in Lidl and its not expensive, no groups or weigh ins, just follow keto groups on Instagram for inspiration and I've lost 18lbs since 20th October, oh and walking

Thank you so much for all your posts, they are helping me on taking a direction !

Reading this with interest because this year I've found fitness for the first time in many years. Sadly it hasn't translated into any weight loss; indeed my weight is still inching up. I am late 40s though.

For those like @8Iris8 who found success with the 16:8, was this combined with low calorie or anything else? It sounds too good to be true!

Hi @F33lguilty I kick started things by two weeks doing the Fast800 diet, but since then I don't really restrict what I eat or drink calorie-wise inside the 8 hour eating window. Although I do try and only eat one carb meal a day, but don't always manage that!

I have found since starting this way of eating I want less sugary things, so I have the occasional piece of chocolate but rarely fancy anything more than that. I read the Michael Mosley 'Fast800' book and the The Obesity Code book I mentioned upthread and these really helped me get into the right mindset :)

OP you can do it.

I was 2 months from turning 40 and I decided I had to make a change. In those 2 months I lost 25 pounds and my total weight loss is 50 pounds.

I did Keto and now I generally eat low carb, high protein. I do exercise 5 times a week though so I think that helps.

I used to constantly berate myself too. The moment I stopped that I felt I could see wood for the trees.

@sausageandchips007 gosh yes the constant berating ! And unable to follow a direction ! I have started 16:8 in Sunday and I count calories too - low carbs ! I’m going to start the couch to 5k - so grateful for all of you taking the time to post and help !

I am 51 and have lost just short of 4 stone since February. It is bloody hard but I have used MFP to monitor my calories. I am hungry and think about food all the time.
Mainly cut out crisps, biscuits all sweet treats and much less starcy stuff like bread rice and potato. more F and V.

I lost 5 stone in my 50s, so far I've kept it off for nearly a year.
The key to me was exercising more, I got into swimming, lots of walking and did things like squats, pushups and working out with weights at home. It made me feel like a strong healthy person who didn't want to binge on loads of crap (though I do still have my moments).
I don't follow a specific diet, just try and eat my 5 a day, eat smaller portions of mainly 'healthy' food.
Oh yes, and I agree with Agelikewine, it was a choice for me as well. I don't have food addictions or emotional issues, I just needed to stop eating so much and live a healthier lifestyle.

I've lost 2 stone since January with WW and running so that's what worked for me, but I'd say your best approach would be to pick a plan that you think might work for you and absolutely commit to it for a month. Don't weigh yourself until the end of the month. Keep a diary of how you're doing. If you go off plan, be honest with yourself why. Exercise if you can fit it in, any exercise is better than none!

At the end of the month, if you've not lost weight or found it too hard to stick to then it's not the plan for you so try another, but just promise yourself that you'll commit to it for a month at a time so it feels more manageable...

Good luck! You can do it!!