40s gain- so frustrating

[Anonymous]

I am 5-1 and an extra 5 pounds is so noticeable on me. It's all in the belly. I gained 15 pounds in my late 40s and it took me a year to get it off. I have always been athletic and love to exercise but for the first time in my life I had to watch calories.

[Anonymous]

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.

This is super depressing. Oat milk is your big daily indulgence?

I’m 55 and definitively not slim like I used to be. I’m within normal BMI but my shape has changed with menopause. I’d rather look like I used to, but life is short. Oat milk doesn’t cut it for me, in terms of pleasure.

One thing that has helped me quite a lot is intermittent fasting. As a routine, I eat two small meals within a quite compressed period of time. I find I’m less hungry than I might expect. I drink coffee with cream and sugar, however, so I’m not fasting in a strict sense.

I still have a drink most days, usually gin.

I don’t eat sweets as a rule. The more sweets I have, the more I crave. It’s easier for me to abstain. I avoid other trigger foods that make me crave more. Tater tots are my downfall

This is routine for me, but obviously I step outside it sometimes. I don’t feel deprived and I enjoy what I eat and drink.

[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.

This is super depressing. Oat milk is your big daily indulgence?

I’m 55 and definitively not slim like I used to be. I’m within normal BMI but my shape has changed with menopause. I’d rather look like I used to, but life is short. Oat milk doesn’t cut it for me, in terms of pleasure.

One thing that has helped me quite a lot is intermittent fasting. As a routine, I eat two small meals within a quite compressed period of time. I find I’m less hungry than I might expect. I drink coffee with cream and sugar, however, so I’m not fasting in a strict sense.

I still have a drink most days, usually gin.

I don’t eat sweets as a rule. The more sweets I have, the more I crave. It’s easier for me to abstain. I avoid other trigger foods that make me crave more. Tater tots are my downfall

This is routine for me, but obviously I step outside it sometimes. I don’t feel deprived and I enjoy what I eat and drink.

There’s no way this is accurate. Notice how the people who can’t lose weight share their diets and say they eat the same thing every day? How do they never have a slice of birthday cake, go to a happy hour, attend a Christmas party, etc? What does the poster eat on vacation….do she travel with oat milk? The fact they claim they eat the exact same thing and never deviate from it makes me highly suspicious! They are likely over indulging when they go off their diet plan and venture from home. It’s very hard to live in the US and never go out to eat.

[Anonymous]

It must be American diet or chemicals that prevents me from losing the last 10 lbs. no way, I have to exercise more or eat even less when daily my body aches and I’m hungry 20 hrs a day. I’m sure people in other countries who have no belly and older than 40 do not think of eating high protein diet, counting calories, and workout excessively.

It seems very unsustainable to have to be hungry 18-20 hrs a day and have to lift and run minimum 20 miles a week to have a six pack or below 15% body fat.

[Anonymous]

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.

This is super depressing. Oat milk is your big daily indulgence?

I’m 55 and definitively not slim like I used to be. I’m within normal BMI but my shape has changed with menopause. I’d rather look like I used to, but life is short. Oat milk doesn’t cut it for me, in terms of pleasure.

One thing that has helped me quite a lot is intermittent fasting. As a routine, I eat two small meals within a quite compressed period of time. I find I’m less hungry than I might expect. I drink coffee with cream and sugar, however, so I’m not fasting in a strict sense.

I still have a drink most days, usually gin.

I don’t eat sweets as a rule. The more sweets I have, the more I crave. It’s easier for me to abstain. I avoid other trigger foods that make me crave more. Tater tots are my downfall

This is routine for me, but obviously I step outside it sometimes. I don’t feel deprived and I enjoy what I eat and drink.

There’s no way this is accurate. Notice how the people who can’t lose weight share their diets and say they eat the same thing every day? How do they never have a slice of birthday cake, go to a happy hour, attend a Christmas party, etc? What does the poster eat on vacation….do she travel with oat milk? The fact they claim they eat the exact same thing and never deviate from it makes me highly suspicious! They are likely over indulging when they go off their diet plan and venture from home. It’s very hard to live in the US and never go out to eat.

New poster here.
Are you kidding? I never eat out. I love to cook. I bought my house mainly for the fabulous kitchen. I prefer my own food to overpriced bland food at overly-hyped restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Agree cook your own food. I am far healthier and the pounds stay off.

My bank account is much larger too with no eating out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


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.
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No kidding.

[Anonymous]

I cut way back on pasta, rice, bread. those things are now very occasional treats. It works for me-- I am keeping those last 5-10 pounds off. Also cut my sweet treats in half.

So I cut nothing out. Just way back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bodies aren’t meant to stay the same size through our entire life. They’re just not. We used to accept this as a fact of life.

Agree. When in human history was a middle age woman supposed to be the size of an adolescent? I just don’t understand.

[Anonymous]

NP. For people who say lift heavy weights, how heavy are we talking about??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Seriously? Wow. I use 15lb free weights at home and thought I was doing pretty good. 🤣

[Anonymous]

I have turned my extra pounds into muscular curves through more swimming and more weights. I am no longer 105 and cute as a button, but at 120 i am more "luscious" according to my boyfriend. I rather revel in that. (I am 5 ft. 1 inch)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 5-1 and an extra 5 pounds is so noticeable on me. It's all in the belly. I gained 15 pounds in my late 40s and it took me a year to get it off. I have always been athletic and love to exercise but for the first time in my life I had to watch calories.

Totally. I am 4’11” and 5 lbs are a huge to me. It’s horrible. I have to cut way back on food to lose weight.