Healthy weight (just) but very large waist, please help!

[trickyex]

Hello
I think I must have menopausal weight gain as I haven't changed my eating habits and am pretty active. I swim several miles a week, walk 10K steps a day and have started using the gym (weight machines).

Yet I have gained 6-7kg over the past year so pretty much a stone and most is on my tummy. I measured my waist today and its just over 36inches/92cm. I am 165cm tall/5ft5. Argh! None of my clothes fit and my bras hurt as they are too tight.

I know this isn't healthy but am unsure what to do about it.
I have a history of anorexia so am very reluctant to do intermittant fasting or even dieting but I do need to trim my middle. I also have high cholesterol and my glucose levels are not great (heading towards high diabetes).

I eat well, no processed foods, a bit of booze but am careful not to go over a few units a week.

Please offer up any suggestions on what I can do. Am going to speak to my GP but I dont hold out much hope...
I would try Mounjaro but my BMI is under 27.

TIA

God I have a big belly too, hate it. Everywhere else is slim. I have pcos so don't know if that's a factor

Have you tried completely cutting out snacking?

All my weight goes to my tummy. Cutting out rubbish hasn't been enough since I turned 40 but cutting out all snacks works. I eat 2/3 meals a day and absolutely nothing in between.

Resistance training rather than cardio. Or keep cardio but make resistance training/weight training the priority.

You need to start to lift weights I’ve found. And really build muscle. Seems to do something to the weight gain.

Sauna too.

Caroline Girvan Iron Series on YouTube. She has a wonderfully supportive FB group too.

I do not snack at all but still have a large gut

Also look at Zoe way of eating. If you have ED from past I would not recommend program as it’s a bit too points driven and people become obsessive hitting scores but you can learn lots about eating to reduce cholesterol too and seems to help with weight also. They have a good YouTube channel.

Thanks for the comments so far, I actually had a cry earlier when I tried on a top I bought last year and its way too small.
Am deffo going to focus on weight training and do use the sauna at my gym,
I have looked at Caroline Girvan but was a bit daunted, will have another look.
Am trying not to obsess about my eating habits as its easy to get caught up in obsession for me so other routes it will have to be.
I am also going to try to walk more as I think that helps a bit.

Will also check out Zoe. Thanks