40s gain- so frustrating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell us what you daily eating habits are like? My instinct is to watch your carbs and wine intake.

Sure, thanks. I'm already pretty strict and on an anti-inflammatory diet for other health reasons so diet is mostly wild fish, lots of greens, beans, vegan stuff, fermented stuff for gut health. No dairy except kefir. Have grass fed beef a couple times a month because I tend toward anemia. Have dessert once a week, and a vodka gimlet 1-2 times a week. (No wine because makes me pretty sick.) A treat for me would be some pretzels (white carbs!!) dipped in dairy-free cream cheese, or some fruit with a tbs. of nut butter. My big daily indulgence is oat milk in my tea (also don't drink coffee) so maybe my portion of that has grown too large, as it high calorie? I do watch portions like a hawk and I track all my food in an app. Have for years. It's all just frustrating to feel like yikes, I have to cut back more.

People live like this? This is the most depressing thing I have read all day.

Seriously. I’d take the 5 pounds than obsessively track every morsel for years. Wow. You aren’t even overweight. Did you used to be overweight by a lot and just can’t let go of the logging/tracking/restrictions?

[Anonymous]

It never really goes completely away. I have been doing triathlons since college and I am now 56 with 2 teens. I gained 25 pounds in my 40s (??how??) and I have only gotten rid of 10 of them. I eat for health and train every day. Mother nature wins again.

I have made my peace with the extra weight. It's not even a goal anymore. I am muscular, and my bp and cholesterol are great. It's Saturday morning and I just finished my 13 mile run with my teens at my side. That is what is important.

[Anonymous]

I engaged a nutritionist and have regular appointments. Some of the best money I’ve ever spent on myself.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you are consistently getting strength training. You are going to need it as you get further into your 40s and then in menopause.

The problem with people saying 5 lbs is fine, is that it doesn’t just stop there. It’s 5 lbs now and then it will just continue. You really do need to track what you eat, your cardio, and your strength training as you get older.

As far as cardio, you may need to change up your routine. I don’t know if you added what you do to work out, but maybe add a daily 45 minute morning walk. Or, a few days a week add another 30 minutes of cycling, etc. You may want to engage a personal trainer to help.

[Anonymous]

Definitely add strength training. I am short and can eat do much more with more muscle on me. But I also track my calories and incorporate cardio. I am 42 and five foot 1. Just cut down a bit to 112 to see if I could get more muscle definition. For me, these kinds of goals are fun and I don’t go hungry, just have to be aware and track. Everyone is different in terms of what they want and how much they want to devote time to it. But like PP above said, if you don’t want to gain weight in older years you do have to work out and pay attention to calories.

[Anonymous]

Read Next Level by Dr. Stacy Sims. You are likely in perimenopause, and the changes in estrogen are changing how you metabolize food. Cutting back isn't the answer. It's adding more protein and healthy fats. More lifting heavy weights and HIIT-type cardio.

There are also a few folks on instagram that specialize in peri- and menopausal women and their nutrition/exercise needs. @kappagator is one.

[Anonymous]

low rise jeans are back in, more the reason to lose it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:low rise jeans are back in, more the reason to lose it

you can take your low rise jeans, and cold shoulder tops....and go back to 2010

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No height would take you from looking good to looking stocky with just five pounds.

NP. As someone who is 5'0", I disagree. It makes a huge difference at this height.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No height would take you from looking good to looking stocky with just five pounds.

NP. As someone who is 5'0", I disagree. It makes a huge difference at this height.

same, even at 5"5 given my body shape 5 pounds makes sa significant different. Because i am apple shape and take all in my belly, 5 more pounds = muffin top and cant close my pants, suddenly makes me look much heavier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No height would take you from looking good to looking stocky with just five pounds.

NP. As someone who is 5'0", I disagree. It makes a huge difference at this height.

same, even at 5"5 given my body shape 5 pounds makes sa significant different. Because i am apple shape and take all in my belly, 5 more pounds = muffin top and cant close my pants, suddenly makes me look much heavier

It is at least 1 dress size when you're short.

[Anonymous]

So I read that when you're 19 you're likely burning an extra 500 calories that you're not consuming and at 50 you're not burning them but consuming them. And it takes time to get from 19-50.

Look at your calorie intake, cap it, increase your exercise and that 5 lbs will be off in 2-4 wks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell us what you daily eating habits are like? My instinct is to watch your carbs and wine intake.

Sure, thanks. I'm already pretty strict and on an anti-inflammatory diet for other health reasons so diet is mostly wild fish, lots of greens, beans, vegan stuff, fermented stuff for gut health. No dairy except kefir. Have grass fed beef a couple times a month because I tend toward anemia. Have dessert once a week, and a vodka gimlet 1-2 times a week. (No wine because makes me pretty sick.) A treat for me would be some pretzels (white carbs!!) dipped in dairy-free cream cheese, or some fruit with a tbs. of nut butter. My big daily indulgence is oat milk in my tea (also don't drink coffee) so maybe my portion of that has grown too large, as it high calorie? I do watch portions like a hawk and I track all my food in an app. Have for years. It's all just frustrating to feel like yikes, I have to cut back more.

People live like this? This is the most depressing thing I have read all day.

+1

Being thin and beautiful take work

I think this is a dangerous attitude. If you just pay attention to portion size and don’t really snack or drink alcohol, it’s fine. You can eat all the food groups. You just can’t be hitting happy hour a few times a week or snacking between every meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strength training is what will move the needle, not depriving yourself further with your already limited diet. In early 50's, put on weight in mid-to-late 40s, and it would not budge until I slowed down a bit on the cardio and added serious weight lifting to my exercise routine. You've already cut carbs to a major extent, so you need more muscle.

What size weights did you use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strength training is what will move the needle, not depriving yourself further with your already limited diet. In early 50's, put on weight in mid-to-late 40s, and it would not budge until I slowed down a bit on the cardio and added serious weight lifting to my exercise routine. You've already cut carbs to a major extent, so you need more muscle.

What size weights did you use?

I’m 50 and do heavy weights. Deadlifts at 200lbs, squats at 150lbs etc. I still do a couple of HIIT classes a week but mainly concentrate on heavy weights. I am 130lbs at 5’7. I don’t look bulky at all - it is hard to build serious muscle in your 40s