Weight gain after menopause.

Lyndie although I lost, and kept off, 2st after 70 I’m still fat.
Size 16, well over 11st and have shrunk to 4’10”.
My name is Elrel, some days my willpower deserts me and I’m an occasional chocoholic ...

Try another Slimming World class, that is not what my experience has been. You were unlucky.

I use Skinny Sprinkles to curb my sweet tooth. You can google it. They have a face book page. I cannot cope with white wine since I became menopausal and that helps with the weight. I now enjoy a vodka with diet lemonade. My mum was a size six until she hit menopause.

Hi I lost 2 stone by downloading my fitness pal on my phone you can track your weight and keep record of what you are eating and amy exercise. It suggests a daily calorie intake for the weight you want to loose.

I’ve been going to SW for the past year and have lost just short of 4 stone (I’m 67). The consultant leading the group can make or break it, so it may be worth you trying a different group.

I am 65 and five years ago I decided I needed to do something about my "shape"...I started eating a balanced healthy diet...reducing biscuits/bread/potatoes and always starting the day with a breakfast. It worked for me and I lost the 21 pounds I needed to lose. Notice I said reducing not cutting out. When my friends saw my results they all dashed off to slimming world and although they have lost the weight, they are slaves to it and worry about what they are eating. I carry on everyday as normal and don't even think about it. If you feel you don't want to eat potatoes, replace it with cauliflower!! A friend of mine to lose weight only ate what she could fit on a tea plate (not piled high!!). I tried this and it actually works and more often than not I do this. I also have a blow out at some point of the week...so all nicely balanced!! Haven't put the 21 pounds back on. Of course our metabolism rates and our general health are all different, so trial and error, but you will get there.

Wow! So many lovely replies! I haven't checked this for a day! Will take everything you all say on board, Thank you. Scribbles - I did have a thyroid test a couple of years ago but it might be worth asking for another. I think making a kind of food diary might be a good thing and I'll look for a fitness app too. I'm not obsessed with being really skinny again, I would be over the moon to get back to a 12/14. I'd also quite like to be able to look in the mirror again without going........OH GOD! Also I refuse to give up wine completely!! Some needs to invent low calorie vino!

Has anyone tried the 5:2 diet?

Hi HelenTracy,

A couple of years ago I was really fed up with my shape and size. I've done both SW and WW in the past and both worked for me until I stopped going to meetings, moved house, etc.

I did a lot of research into Fasting diets - namely 5:2 - and went ahead and bought the book and the recipe book. I dropped a couple of dress sizes in 6 weeks and the first couple of weeks were awfully difficult... but there's a really great Facebook group for support and ideas to help you stick to it.

I'm still a happy 12/14 and base my weight gains on how I feel and how my clothes fit. The health benefits of fasting are well-documented too and it helped me avoid over-indulging during the Christmas season that year - though I still thoroughly enjoyed my festive food and drink!

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it is a very good way to tone up and feel good about yourself. I now eat more sensibly and fast occasionally, more for the detox effect once a month or so.

Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

humptydumpty - it worked for me, although the first couple of weeks are hell. There's loads of help and advice on how to do it (and stick to it!!) I used to fast on days where I was busy so I didn't think about food all the time. I had a very light brunch and then usually some sort of ready meal or stir-fry in the evening.
The best thing is that once your 2 days are done, you can eat what you like the other 5 days. IMO, it requires discipline and organisation in the beginning, but you can achieve so much in a short space of time, so it's well worth a try!
I'll be happy to send you links to the books I still use if you like? HTH

I too have tried every diet out there. Usually I managed to lose weight and then regained some or all of what had been lost. However, more recently I have had success with the 5:2 diet. Knowing that I can eat that cake or have a glass of wine tomorrow works for me. At least for the moment!

I did WW on line a couple of years ago and went from a 16 to 12. It suited me as there was no need to attend meetings. I've crept back up to a 14 now and really neeed to address this, so I'm reading all your posts with interest. Somebody said you have to choose between your face or figure as you get older, but a

Just like Inisnowen says - like it or not it's what you eat and drink that tells the true story at our age! If you're really serious about weight loss start by cutting out and not cutting down on the wine. And after that huge commitment that tells your system that your serious about losing weight you just have to knuckle down to the 5 veg, 3 fruit and a protein regime each day. Try and eat a good size bowl of porridge oats for breakfast which will help you from snacking on a muffin or a couple of biscuits with mid morning coffee. We haven't lived this long without knowing in our heart of hearts that we are what we eat!

A few years ago I became allergic to milk and everything made with milk and gave up all dairy foods and gradually lost weight. I went from 12 stone to 10 and a half but now I have found a cheese alternative and having been starved of cheese for so long am binging on it, and of course the weight is going up again!

My advice is cut out all dairy if you can. There are dairy free spreads and milk(I like Hemp, which my grand daughter tells me is related to Cannabis!) but don't fall for Tesco's "free from" cheese, like I have.

....whoops it went before I was ready. Face or figure... I'm aiming for somewhere in the middle.

Hi Dianic thanks for the feedback on 5:2, the links would be great!

I did the Atkins diet in my early fifties and dropped from size 14 to size 10. I have continued to reduce the bread and potatoes from my diet weekdays and indulge at weekends occassionally and have kept most of the weight off, (still size 10 clothes) My husband wanted me to stop the diet when he did, but my daughter told him I eat more on the diet than I did before which was true. I have tried other diets in the past, but this was the one that worked for me. As previously mentioned write down what you eat, and when you eat it. You may not be eating enough and the body is storing fat

If you don’t eat enough then you won’t lose weight. Your body goes into starvation mode. Look up the GL Diet my friend has just lost 3 stone and counting after struggling for years on other silly diets

I was slim when young and the weight gradually crept up on me as I became middle-aged. I've succeeded in getting down to 9st 9lbs (from nearly 11 stone) by eating smaller portions and not treating myself too often.
It's a bit miserable - fruit and All Bran for breakfast with Yakult, no sugar; salad for lunch - don't be over generous with the mayonnaise; fruit and All Bran again for tea with a nice low-cholesterol yogurt. Lashings of tea with fully skimmed milk, no sugar.
I try to take a brisk 10 minute walk each day. It's helped but progress has been very slow. If I fall off the wagon by not resisting a cream cake I don't beat myself up about - I might miss the next meal to make up for it. I try not to make food the main focus of my day.
As I'm widowed I don't have to please anyone else or watch them eat more and feel envious. If I'm out and am asked, "Is that enough?" as they look askance at my small portion I insist that it is indeed and don't let them persuade you otherwise. Willpower is the order of the day - if I can lose weight so can you. Good luck.

Has anyone any ideas about how to lose weight from your bust? I am a size 12/14 bottom half but a size 22 top to fit my bust in. I was always bigger on the top half even when I was a size 10 as a twenty something ! If I diet I lose weight from my face first making me look quite gaunt and ill then from my bottom and legs - my bust seems to have a life of its own and stubborn refuses to shrink! A friend had her bust surgically reduced but it did leave scars - not sure if I want to do that!

I'm 61 and went up two sizes after the menopause.
I felt unhealthy and frumpy as I couldn't wear the clothes I like.
Tried several diets nothing seemed to work well and I found them hard to stick to.
I then cut out excess sugar - sweets, chocolate, desserts, cake and sugary drinks etc. The weight started to go slowly and I have adjusted to the new way of eating. Ate a dessert when with my DGD and now find it too sweet! Hope you find a way that suits you.

I hate group slimming diets- all that posing and guilt and you're paying for it too! If I want to lose weight quickly to get into a dress for a wedding etc. I do the juicing diet for a few weeks ( check out Jason Vale online). They are easy to make and freeze to store. It's hard at first to deprive yourself of real food but you are encouraged by the weight loss and often miss it when it's over. While dieting, I also don't have any thing in the house to tempt me- crisps/chocs/cakes etc. I put bread straight in the freezer and take out the odd slice for toast. Luckily, I love all fruit and veg and don't drink alcohol. I'm waiting for a knee replacement so can't do much physically so the weight does go back on if not careful.

I decided to lose weight 5 years ago when I was approaching 60 as the weight had crept on and DH joined me. We used an App called My Fitness Pal to log all we ate and the exercise we took. We both lost 2 stones in 4 months and have managed to keep most of the weight off. We have two dogs so that helps but the main thing we learned was to keep portion sizes down. I think it's a case of finding the way that works for you.

Just a thought .... Have you have your thyroid levels checked? As for a weight loss diet, I would up the protein & reduce the fat and carbs. Good Luck.

My mother always used to say "keep your figure or lose your looks". She was right! Yep I'm slim but it shows in my face and is not a good look from the neck up!

Elrel. I just think we can be too hard on ourselves. I am sure you look lovely!