put on 10 pounds in my 40s - help

[Anonymous]

PP here. Yes, where are the flattering pants for newly thicker-waisted people! I am 5'8 and 145(ish), roughly 35-30-40, but my belly (below my belly button) pokes out more now. I am still wearing my Express Editor pants that were kind of loose in 2007. #sad. Can others in this situation recommend? I have a Boden Richmond pair that are kind of OK. I cannot deal with all my skinny jeans right now.

[Anonymous]

To add to above, what is there that is not yet Eileen Fisher or J.Jill but is also not for people still with defined waists.

[Anonymous]

14:26 - that's basically what I do. I decide what foods are "worth it" and what aren't, and eat accordingly. Like chocolate. I love dark chocolate and am "meh" about most milk chocolate. I like chocolate cake but don't really like most other flavors. So I might skip the dessert if it's something I'm "meh" about. And i'm good about portion control. I'll order something kind of decadent at dinner, but I'll start with a salad and take half the food home for lunch the next day.

I also gained weight when I turned 40 - 13 lbs in 4 months, which is crazy for a person who is as active as I am. (I have worked out nearly every single day for the last 15 or so years.) I'm slowly losing it, but it's hard when you don't like to actually "diet", which I don't. My workout routine involves lifting weights 3x/week and cardio every day, which means I"m at least muscular and toned, if not exactly skinny per se.

[Anonymous]

This is OP - and it's comforting to know I'm not alone here. Comforting might not be the right word exactly - but I guess it sounds like everyone on this thread has a pretty healthy attitude about the whole thing, which I really appreciate!!

[Anonymous]

You are not alone! I am comforted too (I'm the 5'8" poster). So what do you do about pants? (not to derail but... tips appreciated)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not alone! I am comforted too (I'm the 5'8" poster). So what do you do about pants? (not to derail but... tips appreciated)

I'm much shorter than you so my pants needs will be different (also I work from home) - but I like those weird Everlane wide legged pants quite a bit. I've gotten some of their other pants, too. I actually like Everlane's (not quite) skinny jeans as well, even with this new "curvier" body of mine. Don't know if any of those will suit your work wardrobe needs, though!

[Anonymous]

Very helpful! I actually haven't bought from Everlane but will look into it. Thanks

[Anonymous]

i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

Thus helps no one who does not have an eating disorder.

[Anonymous]

I'm 45 and 5'1" back down to 116 on my way to 113-114. I finally bit the bullet and went to a dietitian. Not a nutritionist, a real dietitian who has a degree and doesn't believe in all the fad diets. The truth is that our metabolism slows down as we age and we just don't need that much food anymore. She showed me how to eat more, smaller meals and be very mindful of portion sizes and that has helped me lose the 10 lbs. I have to record everything I eat in MyFitnessPal and she analyzes my diet. She also put me on a relatively high calorie diet...1400 calories a day...so I didn't lose weight super quickly, but wasn't starving and discouraged all the time either. I eat pretty much whatever I want, but don't spend the calories on empty mindless stuff that I don't like, similar to what PP said. If I'm going to have to pick up a crappy sandwhich at work, I'd rather pick up a crappy vegetable soup and eat a feel nuts for protein. Instead an entire tiramisu, just a couple of bites. Also, having cheat days every once in a while takes away the drudgery. We have a 4 session agreement and I'm curious to know how to keep this up with out recording every single calorie I eat every day. I'm definitely not doing this for the rest of my life! If you can afford it OP and really want to lose the weight, I'd really recommend the dietian route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

Thus helps no one who does not have an eating disorder.

heh - this is op, and honestly it helps to the degree that i know i am not willing to be that abstemious, so makes me think i should try accepting myself at this new weight instead of fighting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 45 and 5'1" back down to 116 on my way to 113-114. I finally bit the bullet and went to a dietitian. Not a nutritionist, a real dietitian who has a degree and doesn't believe in all the fad diets. The truth is that our metabolism slows down as we age and we just don't need that much food anymore. She showed me how to eat more, smaller meals and be very mindful of portion sizes and that has helped me lose the 10 lbs. I have to record everything I eat in MyFitnessPal and she analyzes my diet. She also put me on a relatively high calorie diet...1400 calories a day...so I didn't lose weight super quickly, but wasn't starving and discouraged all the time either. I eat pretty much whatever I want, but don't spend the calories on empty mindless stuff that I don't like, similar to what PP said. If I'm going to have to pick up a crappy sandwhich at work, I'd rather pick up a crappy vegetable soup and eat a feel nuts for protein. Instead an entire tiramisu, just a couple of bites. Also, having cheat days every once in a while takes away the drudgery. We have a 4 session agreement and I'm curious to know how to keep this up with out recording every single calorie I eat every day. I'm definitely not doing this for the rest of my life! If you can afford it OP and really want to lose the weight, I'd really recommend the dietian route.

this is op - and now you're talking. that dietician sounds very helpful - and like she's helping you find sustainable ways of eating. how did you find her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

Thus helps no one who does not have an eating disorder.

heh - this is op, and honestly it helps to the degree that i know i am not willing to be that abstemious, so makes me think i should try accepting myself at this new weight instead of fighting it.

I definitely do not have an eating disorder. This is what it takes to weigh 134 at 5’3’’. My genes suck. And it kinds stinks for me. Jeez.

[Anonymous]

A little extra padding is your body's insurance policy as you age to get you through times of sickness. If you get cancer or another illness that causes you to drop a lot of weight, you have a better chance of surviving if you start at 130 and drop to 110. If you start at 110 and rapidly drop, you have nowhere to go but the grave.

[Anonymous]

Wait until you hit 50 it gets even harder.