five pounds to lose. what's your secret?

[Anonymous]

I don't want to start one of these insane threads where everyone competes to show how much they exercise and how little they eat. Please - no pro-ana here!

Since turning 40, my metabolism seems to have slowed down - yay, joy, fun. Anyway, I've gone from maintaining, easily, a weight of 115 to - I stepped on the scale this morning - now weighing 121. I'm very short, and these five pounds really make me feel different - I just don't like it. But my usual way of taking off weight (mostly ignoring the fact that I need to, but just cutting out sweets and alcohol for a bit) doesn't seem to be working.

I walk a ton, don't eat meat and don't drink soda already. My diet is reasonably healthy, but I do eat a lot of cheese and bread.

What should I try next? I'd really like to get back to fitting into my old clothes/feeling like my body is my body again.

[Anonymous]

It's the cheese and the bread. My weaknesses too. There's your 5 pounds right there.

[Anonymous]

Change all of your bread to whole grains (make sure it's not multi-grain, but actual whole grain). They make you feel fuller and metabolize slower. White breads convert to blood sugar faster and cause you to feel hungry just like white rice.

[Anonymous]

Re-read your post OP. The answer is right there.

[Anonymous]

Do you drink wine or alcohol on the regular? As much as I hate to cut these things out, they are kind if wasted calories. It's an easy fix anyway.

[Anonymous]

I'm over 40, short and approx the same weight issue as you. More soup and celery, less cheese and bread. This is usually enough to kick me back down a few pounds after a week or two. I don't obsess over it, but I replace snacks with celery (which I love so it's no big deal) and for lunch I eat soups with a clear base like pho, udon, minestrone, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm over 40, short and approx the same weight issue as you. More soup and celery, less cheese and bread. This is usually enough to kick me back down a few pounds after a week or two. I don't obsess over it, but I replace snacks with celery (which I love so it's no big deal) and for lunch I eat soups with a clear base like pho, udon, minestrone, etc.

that's a good idea - and sounds very doable. thanks!

[Anonymous]

It's the cheese and bread! Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

I am 43, and have really cut down on the bread. Instead, I will cook a small portion of brown rice, or buy brown rice pasta. I also purchased one of those spiralizers, so I can use vegetables to make pasta or combine with a small amount of pasta. I have been able to maintain my 115 pound range by doing this. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP IM 45 and my mystery weight went away when I removed ALL WHEAT.

Signs were there for years that I dont tolerate pasta (legs poof up) or beer (get bloaedt and legs poof up) so I removed those years ago. But I suddenly put on like 5 poiunds I could not account for. I was eating very very little bread. As in, one slice a day, maybe 2. No cheese habit, low fat vegetarian low sodium diet.

AND I started working out like a fiend. ZIP.

Once I took out that little last trace of bread, BAM. I lost those mystery five pounds. Oh, and I stopped working out (just a timing thing, not because I thought it was a good idea)

So my carb sources are: Brown rice. Quinoa. Oatmeal (for breakfast). I dont eat alot of it, but since I dont eat any wheat I AM LESS HUNGRY FOR CARBS.

Dont miss the bread because my ass is smaller. YAY. I fit back into my clothes. Now I will resume working out.

[Anonymous]

I'm almost the same age and weight and felt bloated and gross. I gained 3-5 lbs and wanted to get rid of it. It's almost gone now. I stopped eating cereal and bread. I eat plain oatmeal in the morning with blueberries or strawberries. I don't get hungry mid morning anymore b/c of the oatmeal. For lunch, I have a salad and some tuna (no bread) or a piece of chicken. Sometimes I'll have a plain Greek yogurt. I ate nuts (almonds and walnuts) for a snack. For dinner, I'll have soup, another salad, lean meat. I've ditched sugar for the most part and the bloat went away within a week. I drink lots of water and 1-2 cups of plain tea (no sugar). My skin has cleared up too! Read The Hormone Cure. It's very interesting and it can help even out your hormones.

[Anonymous]

Im the PP who posted about eliminating wheat. I am just under 5'4 and it feels alot better to weigh 123 than almost 130.

My personal ideal is 118. I'll take 120, though. So only a few pounds to go. Not obsessing either. But I second the absence of mid morning hunger since I started eating oatmeal and fruit every morning!

[Anonymous]

OP, sadly it is the cheese and bread. My weakness as well!

Add in a couple of weight training sessions per week too.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks, all for the advice. This all sounds pretty doable, long-term.

I'll pick up one of those veggie slicer thingies that was recommended above - seems like a good way to increase the amount of veggies while having something that is like pasta. Anyway, worth a shot!

[Anonymous]

No cheese. No bread. No alcohol.

Drink water before meals.

Make a point of taking the stairs.