Anonymous wrote:Am surprised no one has mentioned IF (intermittent fasting). I gained several pounds when I hit my early 40s and fasting from 8pm-lunch (other than coffee) was totally doable for me. Lost that weight plus a few pounds more. Now I’m 47 and I’ve put away my scale a few years back (getting too focused on sticking to a number) but suspect I’m back to my pre age 41 weight. I typically fast from 10pm to noon but I eat bread! White rice! Pasta! Dessert! Wine! Sometimes if I’m hungry in the AM I will eat a small breakfast. Other times I may eat a larger breakfast and then skip lunch. Basically I’m down to 2 meals a day plus an evening snack (and often glass of wine). I actually love salads so will often eat a huge salad with a pasta or rice and protein added as my dinner. To me that is very doable but you have to figure out what works for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 41. i've gained 10 pounds while eating the same, working out the same. it is so frustrating. ANd I can't lose it. ugh

track calories.
eat in a deficit.
it's pretty simple, not easy, because eating less and doing it consistently enough to make progress is hard, but it's also not impossible.
at 41 I finally lost the weight I "couldn't" lose for the last 6 yrs. I was finally honest with myself that even though I ate healthy I was simply eating too much.

Yes, my ob-gyn mentioned she lost weight easily once she was more attentive to portion sizes. I'm trying to retrain myself in that respect, and focus on healthy, whole foods. Starting to see a difference and really not painful at all. No fad diets necessary. Staying active is necessary. Do something every single day, even if it's just taking a 20 min walk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

Thus helps no one who does not have an eating disorder.

heh - this is op, and honestly it helps to the degree that i know i am not willing to be that abstemious, so makes me think i should try accepting myself at this new weight instead of fighting it.

I definitely do not have an eating disorder. This is what it takes to weigh 134 at 5’3’’. My genes suck. And it kinds stinks for me. Jeez.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 41. i've gained 10 pounds while eating the same, working out the same. it is so frustrating. ANd I can't lose it. ugh

track calories.
eat in a deficit.
it's pretty simple, not easy, because eating less and doing it consistently enough to make progress is hard, but it's also not impossible.
at 41 I finally lost the weight I "couldn't" lose for the last 6 yrs. I was finally honest with myself that even though I ate healthy I was simply eating too much.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 41. i've gained 10 pounds while eating the same, working out the same. it is so frustrating. ANd I can't lose it. ugh

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

Not OP, but I would much rather be fat than give up all sugar and wheat. Or dead.

Anonymous wrote:I was a size 8-10, carrying 154 lbs, (on a 5'10" frame), throughout most of my 40s. In my 30s I was a consistent size 6-8 in the 137-141 lb range. So like you OP, I had gained about 17 lbs. as I aged over two decades.

Now approaching 50 I am down to 133 lbs and wear a size 6. For me, daily weight training (and/or yoga as it uses the body's weight), AND hard cardio that ups the heart rate, (like running, cross training, dance, or step) are necessary. I generally limit my alcohol consumption to one or two glasses per week, eat bread only once or twice a week, and drink nine to ten tall glasses of water a day.

Anonymous wrote:i am 44. i have found that food is very tied to my weight and exercise is much less impactful.

at this age, i have to do the following in order to keep my weight down. it's very hard but for my body, the only way.

no added/processed sugar ever. only fruit.
no wheat products ever.
other starches are kept to absolute minimum (potatoes and rice maybe 3 times per week)
alcohol only rarely. basically, only when out and celebrating with others.
decrease portion size by a little bit. if you usually eat two sushi rolls, eat 1.5

hope that helps.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 45 and 5'1" back down to 116 on my way to 113-114. I finally bit the bullet and went to a dietitian. Not a nutritionist, a real dietitian who has a degree and doesn't believe in all the fad diets. The truth is that our metabolism slows down as we age and we just don't need that much food anymore. She showed me how to eat more, smaller meals and be very mindful of portion sizes and that has helped me lose the 10 lbs. I have to record everything I eat in MyFitnessPal and she analyzes my diet. She also put me on a relatively high calorie diet...1400 calories a day...so I didn't lose weight super quickly, but wasn't starving and discouraged all the time either. I eat pretty much whatever I want, but don't spend the calories on empty mindless stuff that I don't like, similar to what PP said. If I'm going to have to pick up a crappy sandwhich at work, I'd rather pick up a crappy vegetable soup and eat a feel nuts for protein. Instead an entire tiramisu, just a couple of bites. Also, having cheat days every once in a while takes away the drudgery. We have a 4 session agreement and I'm curious to know how to keep this up with out recording every single calorie I eat every day. I'm definitely not doing this for the rest of my life! If you can afford it OP and really want to lose the weight, I'd really recommend the dietian route.

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Yes, where are the flattering pants for newly thicker-waisted people! I am 5'8 and 145(ish), roughly 35-30-40, but my belly (below my belly button) pokes out more now. I am still wearing my Express Editor pants that were kind of loose in 2007. #sad. Can others in this situation recommend? I have a Boden Richmond pair that are kind of OK. I cannot deal with all my skinny jeans right now.