Ladies, at what age did you realize that you need to drastically reduce portion size?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 37 when I realized that continuing to eat the same portions was causing weight gain. I always ate a healthy diet, but after that I started to eat half as much to maintain my weight.

I don't always succeed, but I try...

When I think of the huge portions I wolfed down as an athletic teen... In my youth I would not have believed that at some point I would need to subsist on almost nothing. I guess my overweight mother who ate normal portions should have been a clue.

Why are you dumping on your mom? And really the question xould be posed to men too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this happen to everyone or just some people? And is it independent of activity?

I’m 42 and I didn’t know this was around the corner

I am also 42. It is not independent of activity. Make sure you lift weights and stay generally active (walks, hikes, doing errands on foot etc) and you will be fine. I maintain at about 2400 calories.

Maybe at 42. Maybe not at 45+.

+1
I’m 45. I’m petite and have never had any issues with weight until the last 6-8 months, in which I have gained nearly 20 lbs. That was with no changes in diet or physical activity. Bloodwork at annual checkup showed no concerns (in fact, my triglycerides and cholesterol were improved from the prior year), so my PCP’s comment was “welcome to peri”.
I’ve been under a lot of work and personal stress, too, so I am sure that doesn’t help. Trying to make changes now, but it already feels like an uphill battle.

Something changed. You don’t gain 20 lbs that quickly if nothing changed. You can’t blame that on menopause. You’re doing something differently even if you don’t realize it. Over several years, sure that might happen but over 6-8 months? That’s not normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this happen to everyone or just some people? And is it independent of activity?

I’m 42 and I didn’t know this was around the corner

No it doesn’t happen to everyone. 55 and still eat whatever I want. Haven’t gained a pound in decades. I work out a lot.

What age did u hit menopause?

[Anonymous]

53 start of menopause

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 37 when I realized that continuing to eat the same portions was causing weight gain. I always ate a healthy diet, but after that I started to eat half as much to maintain my weight.

I don't always succeed, but I try...

When I think of the huge portions I wolfed down as an athletic teen... In my youth I would not have believed that at some point I would need to subsist on almost nothing. I guess my overweight mother who ate normal portions should have been a clue.

Why is your comment directed only at women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44, and my 46yo sister and I have embraced what we call “Size 10 Livin’.” This is where you do exercise, you do try to eat healthfully, you do pay attention to your portion sizes…but you also live. You also enjoy yourself. You are healthy, but your goal is not to be “slim” or “skinny,” just strong and healthy, enjoying life.

Research suggests that staying thin in the first half of adulthood and then transitioning to "size 10 livin'" for the second half of adulthood may be the way to go. People who are slightly overweight in their older years tend to have better health/longevity than older people who are thin or obese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 37 when I realized that continuing to eat the same portions was causing weight gain. I always ate a healthy diet, but after that I started to eat half as much to maintain my weight.

I don't always succeed, but I try...

When I think of the huge portions I wolfed down as an athletic teen... In my youth I would not have believed that at some point I would need to subsist on almost nothing. I guess my overweight mother who ate normal portions should have been a clue.

Why is your comment directed only at women?

What a bizarre reply. Her comment is directed at 2 people-- herself and a person closely genetically related to herself. She's not directing her remarks at women generally but rather describing what's happening with the two women she knows best.

She's also not "picking on" her mother. She's saying that her mom was overweight even though it seemed like she didn't overeat, and now she herself is experiencing the same thing.

[Anonymous]

I realized I needed to cut down portions to lose weight and return to my old sizes at 49. Now I've lost it and am maintaining for now. We'll see what happens in my late 50's!