Over 40 and can't lose the weight

[Anonymous]

I've been slim all my life until the last few years. Now I'm 5'3" and 162 pounds. Yikes! Mostly i the mid section.

I've increased fruit/veggies, cut back on stuff like pasta. Cut down (not out) alcohol. I've increased workouts. I do 3 days/week and have one of those under the desk fit elipticals at work (just for movement and burning some calories). I have only dropped a couple of pounds.

In the past, when I was younger, that would result in weight loss. Not now. Any advice? I've considered that I need to cut more calories and maybe upping my workout intensity? Due to work, activities, etc., I'm not really able to get to the gym or go for runs of any distance other than 3 days/week. Sometimes, I can squeeze in a 4th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been slim all my life until the last few years. Now I'm 5'3" and 162 pounds. Yikes! Mostly i the mid section.

I've increased fruit/veggies, cut back on stuff like pasta. Cut down (not out) alcohol. I've increased workouts. I do 3 days/week and have one of those under the desk fit elipticals at work (just for movement and burning some calories). I have only dropped a couple of pounds.

In the past, when I was younger, that would result in weight loss. Not now. Any advice? I've considered that I need to cut more calories and maybe upping my workout intensity? Due to work, activities, etc., I'm not really able to get to the gym or go for runs of any distance other than 3 days/week. Sometimes, I can squeeze in a 4th.

I don't understand OP - you HAVE lost weight. Great job! The slower you lose weight, the more likely you are to keep it off. Small changes are good changes, and slow and steady is what you want - a couple of pounds is great!

Keep doing what you're doing, and don't get so hung up on the scale - don't weigh yourself often. Learn to appreciate the small changes for what they're worth on their own. Keep it up!

[Anonymous]

OP - Im 44 and have the same issue. My thoughts are:
- After 40 you have to change the way you eat. Your food requirements drop a lot and you cant eat the amount you did
- Exercising is good but do it for things like flexibility and mood enhancement. You are unlikely to be able to do the amount of exercise it takes to see meaningful weight loss
- Those days when you could eat for a couple of days and then be good for a couple of days are gone. I now find that if i overeat on day it takes TWO WEEKS for it to go.
- Accept that there will be some weight creep. Life is simply too miserable if you try and maintain your 30s weight
- Control portion sizes, cut back processed carbs, dont drink calories
- It is all worth it because putting on weight in your forties has a material impact on your quality of life.

[Anonymous]

Use my fitness pal to track meals and calories. Get a Fitbit. You can get in extra exercise by taking the steps, take a 10 minute break and walk, etc.

[Anonymous]

I hear you OP. I've been trying to lose weight since end of February and have lost a whopping 3 pounds so far. And those 3 pounds were extremely hard fought - I've cut out bread, pasta, all refined carbs basically, anything with sugar other than occasional fruit, and artificial sweetener. I haven't given up wine yet since there's only so much austerity I can take for the sake of weight loss. It's pretty grim.

[Anonymous]

What are you actually eating? I think it's important to figure out how much you're taking in and how many calories you're consuming.

[Anonymous]

This is why I freak out about 5 lbs. I worry that I'll keep saying it's just 5 lbs, then another 5 lbs, until it's 40 lbs. But agree that the lbs don't come off once you turn 40. I've lost 3 after 2 weeks of serious dieting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been slim all my life until the last few years. Now I'm 5'3" and 162 pounds. Yikes! Mostly i the mid section.

I've increased fruit/veggies, cut back on stuff like pasta. Cut down (not out) alcohol. I've increased workouts. I do 3 days/week and have one of those under the desk fit elipticals at work (just for movement and burning some calories). I have only dropped a couple of pounds.

In the past, when I was younger, that would result in weight loss. Not now. Any advice? I've considered that I need to cut more calories and maybe upping my workout intensity? Due to work, activities, etc., I'm not really able to get to the gym or go for runs of any distance other than 3 days/week. Sometimes, I can squeeze in a 4th.

Keep it up OP. It'll drop off eventually. I'm your height and I lost 8lbs since turning 40 last summer. Down to 122lbs. For me, approaching 40 was when I made permanent diet changes. And what helped me is I set fitness goals- I trained for and ran the cherry blossom 10 miler this past April. And I've started biking to work and participated th DC area bike rides. I can only squeeze in lunch time workouts 3days/week and early one weekend morning. Good luck! Where there's a will, there's a way.

[Anonymous]

Your workouts may not be intense enough. Eliminate simple carbs to the extent possible.

[Anonymous]

I'm right there with you, OP. Same exact height/weight!

Similar history, too -- I'm 43 and it's only been a problem these past two years.

I'm realizing that for me it's all about the food. It doesn't matter how often I exercise and at what intensity (shorter high intensity vs. longer low intensity / cardio vs. weight training.) That's all great for my heart, mind and overall health. But to lose weight . . . it's all about the food. It seems I can't possibly exercise enough to lose lbs. at this age. Unlike in my 30s . . . .

So I'm trying to get my head around making a serious and permanent change in my eating habits. I've tweaked around the edges, but I'm struggling with the fact that I'm really going to have to dial it back to lose the weight (and then maintain the weight loss.)

It's a whole new game in our 40s. Unfortunately.

Keep checking in, especially with progress and success stories. Support helps!

[Anonymous]

I used to eat out all the time, especially at lunch. After 40, I cut way back on that and brought healthy food from home. I also dialed it way back on portion sizes. For example, I replaced the bagel I'd use to eat in my 30s with a mini bagel in my 40s.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. This is so frustrating! I don't eat out. I don't pig out. But the weight sticks to me like glue.

I drank wine and ate a big (though normal restaurant) lunch over the weekend. I gained 4 pounds!!!

Today I've eaten a hard boiled egg and some brussels sprouts. And tonight I'll have baked chicken and a steamed veggie. That's it. If I lose ONE pound by the morning I will be shocked. But this is my body now. (Oh, and I've exercised too!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. This is so frustrating! I don't eat out. I don't pig out. But the weight sticks to me like glue.

I drank wine and ate a big (though normal restaurant) lunch over the weekend. I gained 4 pounds!!!

Today I've eaten a hard boiled egg and some brussels sprouts. And tonight I'll have baked chicken and a steamed veggie. That's it. If I lose ONE pound by the morning I will be shocked. But this is my body now. (Oh, and I've exercised too!)

You did not gain 4lbs - that's physically impossible.

Stop weighing yourself this often (max every 2 weeks - if ever) - learn to recognize how your body feels and don't worry about the scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. This is so frustrating! I don't eat out. I don't pig out. But the weight sticks to me like glue.

I drank wine and ate a big (though normal restaurant) lunch over the weekend. I gained 4 pounds!!!

Today I've eaten a hard boiled egg and some brussels sprouts. And tonight I'll have baked chicken and a steamed veggie. That's it. If I lose ONE pound by the morning I will be shocked. But this is my body now. (Oh, and I've exercised too!)

You did not gain 4lbs - that's physically impossible.

Stop weighing yourself this often (max every 2 weeks - if ever) - learn to recognize how your body feels and don't worry about the scale.

I last looked at the scale on Friday. I didn't look at the scale on Monday because I knew my weight would be up. Did not expect 4 pounds though on Tues morning. That's bad.

I have to weigh myself when I'm dieting to see what my progress is. I plateau very easily and it takes more to get the momentum going again.

I have a significant amount to lose (at least 30 pounds). And I don't want to take years to lose it. Trying to figure out what more I can reasonably cut out.

I can not afford to gain anymore.

[Anonymous]

The don't weigh yourself everyday thing doesn't work for everyone. I like the feedback and I put it in an excel chart that shows the general movement down. I don't get bummed if it goes up on a day or two. It keeps me motivated.

4 lbs is not possible over a weekend. Some of that is water weight and some is maybe constipation. Think about it - 4 lbs is a 2 lb steak, 1 lb baked potato, and 4 glasses of wine. No way all of that goes to weight gain. Most of the wine is peed out.