Perimenopausal and CANNOT shift any weight

[joanofaardvark]

I'm 65.5kg age 48. Pre COVID I was 53kg and my lightest in my 40s was 50 kg but I was a bit too think then.

I cannot lose a single pound of weight and it is depressing me. I work full time and do all the cooking and meal prep. I usually calorie count and have dropped my calories to max. 1200, try to keep it closer to 1000. Have not lost a thing.

I do not eat chocolate, biscuits, crisps, snacks, fizzy drinks. I have no sugar in hot drinks. Since new year I have had no alcohol.

I fill half my plate with veg or salad then 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs. No dressings, no calorific sauces, nothing fried.

I hate myself, I hate the way I look, none of my clothes fit except the elasticated waist work trousers, a pair of jeans I just put a hole in and joggers. I won't buy any more clothes to look like a blob in so that is all I wear.

I have very little time for exercise between work and looking after the kids/household. Waling and running on the treadmill is it. I tied lifting basic weights but have no idea what I'm doing.

Please please can I have some tips for how to shift the fat? Prior to trying to lose weight I ate and drank whatever I wanted, putting on about 1/2 kilo a month (it's all added up). I have drastically changed my habits but see no different in weight.

Help!

In your shoes I’d make sure I was eating more protein, at least 30g per meal and high protein snacks, if you snack and I’d increase calories to be honest. 1000 is not enough and you’re putting your body into starvation mode.

You don’t say how long you’ve been on 1000 calories for but if it’s anything more than 3 months, your metabolism may be out. Google reverse dieting and increase calories to get your metabolism back to where it should be.

Control your cortisol levels. If you aren’t a long term runner, running will increase cortisol. Aim for as many steps a day as you can. Strength training is highly recommended but you need good form. YouTube may help.

If you can afford a personal trainer that may be most beneficial as they can take all aspects of your lifestyle into account and give you accurate nutrition and show you how to strength train properly.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I've been faithful to this for a month (time off for Xmas) but was pretty faithful (except alcohol) 2 months before that.
I've never really known the impact of 'starvation mode' or impact of cortisol. I got down to 50kg by basically having a mental health breakdown when I felt so sick I barely ate. Then maintained by eating little more than one meal a day 'OMAD'. I definitely wasn't affected by starvation mode or increased cortisol then but as I'm not ill I now feel hungry/sick/dizzy if I drop my calories below 1000 or space my eating out too much.