What am I doing wrong?

[Plankingplanks]

I have always been slim. The week after giving birth to my middle child I was the heaviest I've ever been at 11st 4lb.

Last October I was 9st 6lb which has always been my natural weight without trying, however lack of exercise and excessive drinking over the winter saw me reach 10st 11lb a few months ago. I've since cut back on my alcohol and have been weighing in every few days to keep and eye on it. I've also started cycling a lot more and I'm currently doing approx 60 miles a week of mountain biking - something I've not done before.

I just cannot lose weight. I literally don't think I can cut anything more out. A typical day I do this:

0700 ish No breakfast but a cup of coffee with semi skimmed milk and 1 sugar,

1300 ish Lunch- green vegetables with about 10g of butter melted on them.

1730 ish Dinner- a salad with some protein (chicken/ a pork chop/fish.
I also use a much smaller plate than the rest of my family to make sure that my portions are not out of control.

I may then have a rich tea biscuit at around 2200.

In addition to all of this I drink plenty of water and about 4 mugs of tea a day with semi skimmed milk but no sugar. I also sometimes have an ices skinny latte (92kcal)

This is exactly the same diet I always used to follow for about 15 years when my weight was maintained.

On days I go cycling I will also have 40g of bran flakes with sultanas in them - I need this for energy.

My diet hasn't changed, I'm exercising more than I have for years and I'm stuck at a stone heavier. I am 44 so may be perimenopausal.

Anyone any ideas? my BMI (for what it's worth) is 23 so I know I'm not overweight but none of my clothes fit and I feel generally quite miserable about it.

@TangoShoes my youngest is 13!!

Welcome to peri-menopause.

You are definitely not eating enough. You need to eat well otherwise your body will work overtime to retain any nutrients and you won't lose any weight and your body's vital processes (I.e your periods) will shut down. Also, you'll be gaining muscle with the exercise you're doing which will cause weight gain but in a good way as you'll have a lower body fat percentage and will be overall healthier. Please eat properly though, I really can't stress that enough.

I would suggest doing strength training to build muscle and eating more protein and non starchy veg and healthy fats. The muscle will increase your metabolic rate and allow you to eat more.

Your diet does seem quite limited and I think your metabolism has probably adjusted to it.

I sympathise it is hard to loose weight in perimenopause but I am managing it by mainly focussing on building muscle, cutting out upf and eating lots of protein, veg and healthy fats.

I'd go and get your thyroid checked - I have autoimmune thyroiditis and sometimes can't lose weight whether eating at a sensible deficit, or more extreme. Tends to mean my levels are out. Hope you find an answer 💐

Yes but did you actually have any weight to lose if you were anorexic?

Gosh this is so harsh! I feel your pain!

Im eating healthy and a similar amount of calories to you and I’m just stuck!

im tempted to quit to the food and purely use Huel

One thing is for sure weight loss is much more complex than we are led to believe!

I know lots of women in this age bracket have reported success with weight lifting

Thanks @TangoShoes @Quitelikeit i have contacted my GP and asked for a thyroid function test and a menopause blood test. They are calling me back today to discuss. I've looked up the symptoms of hypothyroidism and it could be that. It could also be a B12 deficiency, as I've had that before, and used to have injections but they stopped doing them in covid.

Recovery from EDs takes years and years. You're not cured just because you've put on 3 stone. So yes, yes I did have weight to lose. At some points I was living off 800 calories a day with a BMI bordering on overweight.

@Plankingplanks I feel your pain. I also restrict my calories significantly and can't lose anything. I had tests done and it showed low ferritin, low vit D and low folate. Some of that could impact thyroid function so I'm hopeful as those levels improve it might help but there wasn't an obvious reason. So I'm still pretty stuck.