In 40s and can't lose weight

[Anonymous]

Do you eat 1500 whether or not you exercise, or is that 1800 minus, say, 300 for a three mile run?

If it's the latter, I will say what worked for me. I am 44 and similar to you, over the course of the last 10 years, I have gradually gained about 15 pounds. What finally worked for me was dialing back my exercise and really focusing on diet for a few weeks. I think my problem had been that I would work out really hard and then eat back what I had burned.

But the last month I have been tracking everything I eat and focusing mostly on walking for my exercise. I am staying to a 1400 calorie a day average and have dropped 5 pounds in 4 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you eat 1500 whether or not you exercise, or is that 1800 minus, say, 300 for a three mile run?

If it's the latter, I will say what worked for me. I am 44 and similar to you, over the course of the last 10 years, I have gradually gained about 15 pounds. What finally worked for me was dialing back my exercise and really focusing on diet for a few weeks. I think my problem had been that I would work out really hard and then eat back what I had burned.

But the last month I have been tracking everything I eat and focusing mostly on walking for my exercise. I am staying to a 1400 calorie a day average and have dropped 5 pounds in 4 weeks.

Good for you. 1400 calories is really hard to stick to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 41 and about 10 pounds heavier than I want to be. I lift weights 3 times a week, walk around 15,000+ steps a day every day, and run 3ish miles a few times a week. I am 5'7" and 145 pounds. Realistically I would like to be 135. Ideally I would like to be 125. Is this even possible at my age? Do I just have to starve myself? I don't really drink (maybe 2 glasses of wine a week) and eat healthy (trying to increase protein). I had 3 large babies in my 30s but last kid was born 5 years ago. Should I just resign myself to being overweight?

Use a mirror rather than a scale to determine your ideal body.

5'7" 145 could be fat looking or muscular in shape looking, depending on the body composition. Look at the woman of a similar height in these pictures.

[Anonymous]

I think women trying to get down to [pre-marriage, pre-baby, in college, in my 20s] weight is a stupid endeavor.

Bodies change. Stay active, eat a balanced diet and focus on living your life. Stop getting on the scale.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with the above about not being focused on the number of the scale. Are your clothes not fitting? Are you toned? I don't quite understand why you feel like you need to lose weight. I'm also 5'7, but I'm 167 pounds and I have a lot of belly fat - I really do need to lose weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^that was my quip, but in all seriousness, what bothers you about 145? Is it the way your close fit? Is it fay accumulation in a certain spot? It may not be excessive related. This may be something you need invasive or non invasive procedures for.

Op - I was consistently 135 before having kids. Then I had 3 kids in 5 years. Have never gotten back down to 135. When I got married I was 125. So it’s sort of depressing to be 145 now.

You’re never getting to 135 without extreme measures. You had 3 kids. Your body’s natural set point being only 10 lbs above your normal pre baby weight is entirely normal. Our bodies change drastically after kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think women trying to get down to [pre-marriage, pre-baby, in college, in my 20s] weight is a stupid endeavor.

Bodies change. Stay active, eat a balanced diet and focus on living your life. Stop getting on the scale.

It's not good to make it an obsession (which I don't think OP is doing), but it's not stupid. Bodies do change, but increased weight after the age of 18 is associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, and being overweight and obese in itself is a higher risk factor.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10921610/
https://templeclinic.co.uk/insights/the-risks-of-hrt/

For reference, the bmi weight ranges are listed here:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

I do totally agree with your advice to "Stay active, eat a balanced diet and focus on living your life"!

OP, I'm your height, and when I was your age I got back to my HS weight in the 120s. If I remember correctly, I was eating about 1300 cals and working out lightly, and to maintain bumped up to 1600 (and a bit more with exercise). I think whichever diet you find the most satisfying is the best to follow, because you do have to cut calories to lose weight, no matter what. I actually find more carbs, lower fat, and lots of veggies the most satiating. I like to eat, and regained some weight, and then found barre classes ramped up my metabolism a bit enough to get to my preferred weight (about 135).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^that was my quip, but in all seriousness, what bothers you about 145? Is it the way your close fit? Is it fay accumulation in a certain spot? It may not be excessive related. This may be something you need invasive or non invasive procedures for.

Op - I was consistently 135 before having kids. Then I had 3 kids in 5 years. Have never gotten back down to 135. When I got married I was 125. So it’s sort of depressing to be 145 now.

You’re never getting to 135 without extreme measures. You had 3 kids. Your body’s natural set point being only 10 lbs above your normal pre baby weight is entirely normal. Our bodies change drastically after kids.

Op - yea I think in order to do it I have to do serious running. My sister also has had kids but she is a marathon runner. She averages 40+ miles a week running when she isn’t training. Does 2-3 marathons a year. She is about 135.

[Anonymous]

Running makes me eat more to refuel. It never makes me lose weight.

[Anonymous]

Strict carnivore plus strength training will get you there in 30 days

[Anonymous]

Lift more, eat more than 50% of your daily calories in protein- use my fitness pal to track your macros- try something like 60% protein, 20% fat, and 20% carbs. For me, even if I eat 1200 calories a day , if it’s mostly carbs and fat, not only do I struggle to lose weight but I am famished. Make your diet mostly plain Greek yogurt with (small amounts) of fruit in it, turkey and lite cheese in a low carb wrap, whey protein shakes, vegetables. And do more strength training, focus on inches and not pounds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^that was my quip, but in all seriousness, what bothers you about 145? Is it the way your close fit? Is it fay accumulation in a certain spot? It may not be excessive related. This may be something you need invasive or non invasive procedures for.

Op - I was consistently 135 before having kids. Then I had 3 kids in 5 years. Have never gotten back down to 135. When I got married I was 125. So it’s sort of depressing to be 145 now.

You’re never getting to 135 without extreme measures. You had 3 kids. Your body’s natural set point being only 10 lbs above your normal pre baby weight is entirely normal. Our bodies change drastically after kids.

Op - yea I think in order to do it I have to do serious running. My sister also has had kids but she is a marathon runner. She averages 40+ miles a week running when she isn’t training. Does 2-3 marathons a year. She is about 135.

I never lost weight when I was running marathons. I had to eat so much to fuel properly or I would just be starving and crash. What got me to your goal weight was cutting out all refined sugar, processed foods, eating as many fruits, vegetables and lean meats as humanly possible, and sticking to a balanced workout schedule. I am older than you, same height, kids, and was 147 before I changed my diet. I currently weight 129 and feel better than I ever have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Running makes me eat more to refuel. It never makes me lose weight.

well if you didn't eat more it would work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Running makes me eat more to refuel. It never makes me lose weight.

well if you didn't eat more it would work

i

You can’t run enough to lose weight without eating enough to be able to run that much is the rub

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was in your exact boat, except a couple of years older (47). But I, similar to you, was 123 pounds at my wedding 20+ years ago and in the low- to mid-130s through my 30s. After the birth of my third child in my early 40s, I had trouble losing the baby weight, and then COVID lockdown didn't help.

I started GLP-1 on January 4 when I was 145 pounds, also at 5'7. I understand that I was not overweight, but I was heavier than I wanted to be. None of my pants fit. My belly was hanging over my belt. I just felt bad about myself.

I have lost 17 pounds and feel wonderful. Everything fits me again. I just came back from a vacation and it was the first time in years where I didn't feel self-conscious in my bathing suit. I can almost see abs! DH keeps telling me I look unbelievable. I am so happy I did this.

The GLP-1 (tirzepatide) made it so that I didn't think about food all the time and felt much less hungry. Eating filled me up quickly and the feeling of fullness lasted many hours. So it allowed me to have a calorie deficit without suffering.

I'd like to lose a couple of more pounds and then I don't know what my path will be. I am loathe to stop this medication and possibly return to being hungry all the time and trying to fight my cravings. But maybe, now returned to my happy weight, my motivation will be enough to keep me here. If not, I'm fine with continuing the drug.

Did you get the meds through an online provider? I’m in this same boat but a few lbs heavier and wondering about the best approach. Lifting heavy weights, reducing portions and eating healthy foods haven’t moved the scale more than 3-4 lbs.