I CANNOT LOSE WEIGHT! WHAT'S GOING ON????

[ThespianTendencies]

Morning! I am so frustrated. My weight has remained stable for decades - always hovering around the 8.12lbs to 9 stone mark, which at 5'3" I'm happy with. However, since hitting menopause (I'm 54) I have gained half a stone and it will not budge! I cannot go to the gym now obviously, but am walking at least 6kms a day, sometimes racking up 15k steps . I have recently dropped to 2 meals a day as I am far less active than normal, generally speaking. My 2 meals are breakfast and dinner. I've contemplated fasting but I cannot cope with it as I am ravenous at breakfast time . I have a definite belly roll now which I have never had before! Is this just a menopausal middle that I have to get used to?

You can still do fasting, but start your eating window at breakfast time. You could try 16:8 at first.

Are you tracking your calorie intake?

It is possible to overeat even on 2 meals a day!

Also, do you drink alcohol or fizzy drinks? Do you take sugar and milk in your hot drinks? Do you have snacks (even "healthy" ones?)

if you only have breakfast & dinner, what do you eat in between?

a woman's body needs less calories after menopause so it looks like you are eating more than you need. write down every calorie you take in for week or so. include drinks.

exercise is great, but will be using up surprisingly little calories. half annhour running will be 300-400 calories only.

I had exactly the same issue when I hit 50. I was developing fat across my belly that wouldn’t shift.
For me, the only things that have worked are to give up alcohol completely and to take up ParkRun. I run 5k twice a week now.

I’m steady at 10st and am 5’8”

Giving up alcohol completely...

Omg giving up alcohol, not ready for that

I have to admit, I’ve been having a g&slimline T every Friday since home schooling began, and I’ve put on 4lb, all on my waist.

That’s despite adding extra two10 mile cycle rides to my week. It’s definitely alcohol that is the problem for me.

I have not altered my drinking habits at all!! Drinking less probably because I am not going out socialising. It makes no sense, I thin it is a lack of movement. I am usually so active and now I cannot replicate that.

Hey , dont be too hard on yourself. Losing weight is hard at the best of times , but even more so with a lockdown . Concentrate on getting fitter and reducing overall stress levels hun . Xx

@Mintjulia if you are having just one gin and slimline tonic, that’s what, under 60 calories? And 0-8 grams of carbs depending on the tonic. If that’s all the alcohol you’re having p/week, alcohol is unlikely to be the cause of your weight gain.

I think a lot of people have suffered from lack of NEAT since lockdown began.

What is NEAT?!

You are still well within your healthy weight range.

Also my theory- which I have lots of anecdotal evidence for- is that it's better to have something to loose than nothing. If you get sick and don't have anything in reserve your body will struggle to heal.

Just skipping a meal won't always work.
You are better off making sure everything you eat is 1/3 fruit or veg. Either dish up the 1/3 first or dish up your normal portion then replace(preferable largely the carb portion) a 1/3 with fruit or veg.

@ThespianTendencies it stands for Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12468415/

justforthecake thank you very good advice.