How did you make peace with gaining weight as you age?

[Anonymous]

Intellectually, I know it's extremely common and even to be expected that you will gain weight as you age. I've posted about this before, how the # on the scale really effects me. I don't want to live like this but I also don't know how to be ok with it either. I mean, truly ok. Not just something I would tell other people because I know that's how you're supposed to feel but genuinely feel ok about it.

I'm 5'7 and 122 lbs. I want to be 120 because that's what I've been my entire adult life. But I am having an impossible time getting those 2 lbs. off. I realize how utterly absurd it is to mentally obsess about 2 lbs. I don't want to be this way but I can't make myself stop. The worst thing is that I have children and I would die if I thought any of them felt this way about themselves. I try to hide it as much as possible of course.

How did you convince yourself that it is acceptable to gain weight as you get older? Was it something you read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Intellectually, I know it's extremely common and even to be expected that you will gain weight as you age. I've posted about this before, how the # on the scale really effects me. I don't want to live like this but I also don't know how to be ok with it either. I mean, truly ok. Not just something I would tell other people because I know that's how you're supposed to feel but genuinely feel ok about it.

I'm 5'7 and 122 lbs. I want to be 120 because that's what I've been my entire adult life. But I am having an impossible time getting those 2 lbs. off. I realize how utterly absurd it is to mentally obsess about 2 lbs. I don't want to be this way but I can't make myself stop. The worst thing is that I have children and I would die if I thought any of them felt this way about themselves. I try to hide it as much as possible of course.

How did you convince yourself that it is acceptable to gain weight as you get older? Was it something you read?

OMG I hope you are a troll. I thought you were going to say you were 300 pounds! Seek help/therapy for your obvious eating disorder and I mean so sincerely. You are severely underweight.

[Anonymous]

I haven't and never will. I wish we could keep the bodies we had in our 20s without any work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Intellectually, I know it's extremely common and even to be expected that you will gain weight as you age. I've posted about this before, how the # on the scale really effects me. I don't want to live like this but I also don't know how to be ok with it either. I mean, truly ok. Not just something I would tell other people because I know that's how you're supposed to feel but genuinely feel ok about it.

I'm 5'7 and 122 lbs. I want to be 120 because that's what I've been my entire adult life. But I am having an impossible time getting those 2 lbs. off. I realize how utterly absurd it is to mentally obsess about 2 lbs. I don't want to be this way but I can't make myself stop. The worst thing is that I have children and I would die if I thought any of them felt this way about themselves. I try to hide it as much as possible of course.

How did you convince yourself that it is acceptable to gain weight as you get older? Was it something you read?

I think you are wrong that it is to be “expected.”

Diet and exercise will keep excess weight off.

You’re just not trying hard enough.

Get your ass to the gym. Run outside for now.

[Anonymous]

You are probably underweight, OP. Get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should probably start lining up cosmetic surgery now. Your face isn't going to like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Intellectually, I know it's extremely common and even to be expected that you will gain weight as you age. I've posted about this before, how the # on the scale really effects me. I don't want to live like this but I also don't know how to be ok with it either. I mean, truly ok. Not just something I would tell other people because I know that's how you're supposed to feel but genuinely feel ok about it.

I'm 5'7 and 122 lbs. I want to be 120 because that's what I've been my entire adult life. But I am having an impossible time getting those 2 lbs. off. I realize how utterly absurd it is to mentally obsess about 2 lbs. I don't want to be this way but I can't make myself stop. The worst thing is that I have children and I would die if I thought any of them felt this way about themselves. I try to hide it as much as possible of course.

How did you convince yourself that it is acceptable to gain weight as you get older? Was it something you read?

OMG I hope you are a troll. I thought you were going to say you were 300 pounds! Seek help/therapy for your obvious eating disorder and I mean so sincerely. You are severely underweight.

Not a troll. I said I know it is ridiculous to stress about 2 lbs. but I can't help it. I've tried therapy before but it didn't help. The therapists I tried would say things like "It's ok to have a cookie once in a while." Duh lady, I *know* that. I just can't *feel* that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you should probably start lining up cosmetic surgery now. Your face isn't going to like this.

New poster.

WTF kind of response is this?

[Anonymous]

You need therapy, OP. I am 5'8" and my healthy weight is 135-145. I'm currently 150, we're living through a pandemic, and I'm giving myself lots of grace. It's not worth the mental energy to obsess over 2 lbs. Your weight is not your identity.

[Anonymous]

People are giving the OP a hard time because she is already thin (way to be cruel and kick someone who is down and asking for help, by the way) but the fact is, I don't know any woman who genuinely loves and accepts her body. People will say they do but then it turns out there are always things they hate and want to change. Even objectively beautiful women, people who are famous for begin beautiful, will occasionally admit that they secretly hate aspects of their bodies.

I have never met someone who is sincerely at peace with how their body is changing in unattractive ways as they get older.

If there are any on here, share your secret, by all means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy, OP. I am 5'8" and my healthy weight is 135-145. I'm currently 150, we're living through a pandemic, and I'm giving myself lots of grace. It's not worth the mental energy to obsess over 2 lbs. Your weight is not your identity.

I did, I've tried with 4 different therapists. None of them have been able to help me. It's just lip service.

[Anonymous]

OP, it's even scarier to get even older then start shrinking. I would focus on lifting weights and watching portions and not focus on the scale.

For me, I just don't want to buy new clothes - ugh. Just want to easily fit in what I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy, OP. I am 5'8" and my healthy weight is 135-145. I'm currently 150, we're living through a pandemic, and I'm giving myself lots of grace. It's not worth the mental energy to obsess over 2 lbs. Your weight is not your identity.

PP again. I'm sorry, I missed that you have tried therapy. It sounds like it's about control. Sometimes as we lose control in some areas, we tighten our grip on the things we feel we can control. Your weight is just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Ask yourself why it matters so much to you. Why don't you stop getting on the scale altogether? No one else knows your weight, except maybe the doctor, and a few pounds difference wouldn't matter to them anyway. Being a good person matters. Loving your family and friends matters. Enjoying life matters. Two pounds don't matter. They just don't.

[Anonymous]

No easy answers, but I will commiserate. I am now 52 and have slowly gained 15lbs in the past 15 years. Every pound shows and I feel it in my buttocks and thighs rubbing together. I am still at a nornal BMI. Can't eat whatever I want or weight will go up, belly bloated and indigestion. Aging is hard.

One thing that makes me feel better is buying new clothes that fit my changed body. Also eating healthy and gentle exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Intellectually, I know it's extremely common and even to be expected that you will gain weight as you age. I've posted about this before, how the # on the scale really effects me. I don't want to live like this but I also don't know how to be ok with it either. I mean, truly ok. Not just something I would tell other people because I know that's how you're supposed to feel but genuinely feel ok about it.

I'm 5'7 and 122 lbs. I want to be 120 because that's what I've been my entire adult life. But I am having an impossible time getting those 2 lbs. off. I realize how utterly absurd it is to mentally obsess about 2 lbs. I don't want to be this way but I can't make myself stop. The worst thing is that I have children and I would die if I thought any of them felt this way about themselves. I try to hide it as much as possible of course.

How did you convince yourself that it is acceptable to gain weight as you get older? Was it something you read?

Honestly, I don't accept it so there's no need to convince myself of it. Staying lean as you age, extends your life.

I'm 54yrs old. 5'9, and 123lbs., and have had no trouble keeping my weight stable. I'm post menopausal, and am on HRT. I exercise daily (one hour), and eat sensibly. I also practice intermittent fasting, whereby I stop eating at around 7pm, and don't eat again till around 9am-10am the next day.