Is there a secret to losing weight in your 40s?

[Kathyparr]

I'm 43, definitely peri-menopausal. I've been trying to lose weight since January and not lost 1lb. I've reduced my calorie intake to 1200-1400 calories per day and I go to the gym three times a week following a full body workout designed by the gym. I also play sport once a week. My job has changed and I don't move anywhere near as much as I used to.

I'm 5ft2 and would like to lose 1.5 stone but it's just not shifting. Any advice?

I am 5ft 3 and need to reduce calories to 1200 or less to lose around half a pound a week. I also use intermittent fasting to help now.

Over 40 is hard though.

5'2 and the same. I really only get results when I try and stay around the 1000 mark. It's very frustrating.

No secret, just calories in versus calories out.

I'm 47 and lost 2 stone eating less and moving more. I eat around 1500 calories a day and am 5ft 3in. I stopped making excuses for my weight gain and got on with eating less than I was.

God 1000 calories sounds awful! I was hoping the 1200-1400 would do it, that is what the my fitness pal app suggested. I thought that was more doable as it allowed the odd treat.

Intermittent fasting worked for me. I do 16-8.

For me, I have to go sugar free and low carb, count every last calorie,
measure, increase TDEE by steps, fidgeting etc. It's exhausting but I am insulin resistant.

Does anyone use a particular programme/app for intermittent fasting?

So, this is pretty normal for my age? I was wondering whether to see the go to get hormones and thyroid tested?

Intermittent fasting is the one. Personally 16:8 isn't brought for me for weight loss. I tend to do 20:4 on weekdays and a bit more relaxed at the weekend.

Worth getting tested...it could be Thyroid, PCOS, Diabetes, Cortisol etc but you'd be expected to have other symptoms.

I used the zero app for fasting.

Intermittent fasting plus weight training 5 times a week. Weight loss may be minimal because muscle weighs more than fat, but clothes fit more loosely.

Also helps to protect bones from osteoporosis.

Check out Caroline Girvan 💪

Me too! I will never diet again, fasting is easy and free and I can eat whatever I want in my eating window / lost 10lbs in 8 weeks last year and have kept it off

Fasting and a ketogenic diet! Get a keto cookbook with some wonderful recipes in. Download the nutracheck app and count your macros.

I don't think age had anything to do with me gaining weight. I just ate too much and lost weight when I stopped eating too much.

I use Noom. I lost two stone on it in 2021 over 6 months when I was 51. Thought I could maintain it myself without using the app ( wanted to save money ) and then realised that I'd gradually put the two stone back on again over the last few years.

Started a new Noom account a month ago and have lost 9 pounds so far. I've been averaging around 1000 calories a day which is actually a lot less than the app suggests.

I haven't done any additional exercise but will start ramping that up now. I usually do anything between 5000 or 15000 steps a day depending on what I'm up to. I did an indoor walking fitness video this morning to get my step count up and plan to do one every other day.

This time I'm going to keep the app live to keep the weight off long term.

The weight gain is definitely due to eating too much and a change of job meant I moved too little. However, I've been trying actively to make a change for three months and what used to work now doesn't. I can only put it down to age.

I'm weight training 3 times a week in the gym. Maybe I should up that?

I lost 3 stone at 51, age/thyroid/hormones had nothing to do with it, I just ate more than I burnt. I now move 2-3 hours a day and can eat around 2,200 calories a day before I start putting on weight, if I want to lose a bit I can usually lose 1.5-2lbs a week cutting down to 1400 calories a day. My TDEE is around 1650 and I exercise about another 750 A DAY to get to that loss.

Gym 3 times a week probably won't cut it if you want to stick to around 1400 calories a day - you need to move a lot more.

Yep - it’s awful!
In my 20’s I just layed off the booze and biscuits for a fortnight and back to size 10.
In my 30’s no booze, biscuits, cheese and exercised a bit and back to size 10.
Now at 48 its complete denial of anything nice to eat, constant exercise and I’m still chubby…

I also do 16/8 or more often 18/6. Don’t eat much sugar, minimal UPF and alcohol. Fairly physical job. Oh to be 20 again!

I did SlimmingWorld but I know it doesn't suit everybody. I was 49 at the time, I did actually find it easier to lose weight after going through menopause because I wasn't at the mercy of my hormones anymore. Previously I was ravenous for a few days before each period and ate all sorts of rubbish.

Fasting works for me. I don't eat between 6.30pm and 11am or thereabouts.

Very low carb, very low sugar, walk as much as you possibly can.

I'm 49, 5'1", full on peri, wfh, lost 12lbs since Christmas doing this.

Btw that 2st loss was when eating mainly carbs and eating much whatever I wanted within a calorie deficit. You don't have to do low carb. It all boils down to calories in vs calories out no matter how you do it. Not eating after 6pm helps me not snack in the evening so I eat fewer calories overall. There's no magic system where your body thinks the calories in your eating window are magically less than if you ate them over a longer period. It's simple maths.

It is LOADS easier with low carb/low sugar though as it stops the hunger pangs. I ate a piece of my mums lemon cake on Sunday then spent the next 6 hours absolutely ravenous for chocolate, more cake, ice-cream.

Don't do it to yourself!

I am finding slimming world quite easy to do as it’s the sort of stuff I eat anyway. I also like the weekly weigh in to keep me focussed. That said, my weight loss is proving slow but that is mainly down to user error!

Fasting (I do about 20 hours depending on when I eat, but I usually do OMAD).

I cut out all processed foods and seed oils. I eat a lot of animal fats, meat, vegetables, greek yogurt, nuts. I usually stick to low carb but I do have lentils (dahl) a few times a week, or I make falafel.

I’m 44 and have lost almost 11 stone over the last 4 years.

However, I always add the caveat that I was diagnosed with coeliac disease at 41. Which has made everything easier as I just can’t risk takeaways, I can’t gorge on greggs sausage rolls and donuts everyday like I used to and I don’t like all the added ingredients in gluten free food so I won’t touch them. which is why I say, “I don’t eat processed food, manmade carbs or sugar” with such ease. I just can’t/don’t want to eat the GF alternatives. Coeliac was the biggest blessing in disguise, I have no temptations in life and my craving is now juicy steak.