Anyone over 50 here?

Hi, y'all! (yes, I'm from the South!) Anyway, I just turned 55. I'm petite and have NEVER had a weight problem. Normal weight about 115. That is, until about a year ago. My weight started creeping up and now I'm at 126. It's really frustrating when people say "oh, you don't need to lose weight. You're small" Well, when you move up a size in clothing and don't see any end in sight, it's time to get it under control! My problem is, I have never denied myself anything I wanted to eat. Now that I need to, I am having a struggle with myself. The more I try to control what/how much I eat, the more out of control and obsessed with food I get.  I stay hungry, and have a bad habit of drinking a glass of chocolate milk at night, and usually with a scoop of ice cream in it! I look forward to it all day. I had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago. Had terrible hot flashes, and out of desperation, I took Estrogen for about 2 years, then stopped. Still have occasional hot flashes, and strangely enough, my out of control hunger seems to be related to those times.

Anyway, I just wondered if there are any other ladies out there who are going through this. I'm feeling rather frustrated at myself since I want to lose this extra 10 lbs, but even when I do all the right things, it won't come off! Some days I just think, "oh the heck with it. I'll just eat what I want and get fat". But I really don't want to.  I need help!

Hello there!

Your story sounds a lot like mine in that we are about the same height and weight.  I have had good luck following the South Beach Diet Plan.  I have had weight creeping up on me for the last five years (I am 55, also).  For the last several years, I have been struggling to keep my weight down.  This past winter I gained probably about 5 pounds, which as you know, on someone 5'2" is quite a lot.  The problem was that I was evidently putting on the weight rather evenly, so that I could still fit into most of my clothes. (with the help of some shapewear!)  This past spring, I had had it, (well, actually, it was because my son was getting married, and I was looking for a dress, and everything looked awful on me) and was appalled at the scale.  I just decided that I would slavishly follow the South Beach diet and see where it led.  It took a while for me to see results, but I have lost about 7 lbs on in (slowly, slowly).  I have come to the conclusion that after menopause I really have to be careful about what I am eating.  I am trying to be careful about sugar and simple carbohydrates, like refined flour.  The best part of the South Beach diet was that I was not suffering (starving).  It puts the emphasis on lean protein and vegetables, of which you can eat your fill.  Lower fat (preferred) cheese for snacks.  After the first 2 weeks, you add fruit.  I was a little worried that this was not going to work for me, since I was not starving, but it did.  I have turned into a real salad lover.  I am sort of wondering what I am going to do when the weather turns cold and I want something warmer to eat.

By the way, in reference to your out of control hunger after your hysterectomy,  I did have the same experience going through menopause.  I had an especially big craving for sweets. 

Good Luck.  Don't let that menopause get you!

Hi, Patty!

I see you tried South Beach. I'm actually going to try Fat Loss 4 Idiots(I know, horrible name) because it is a calorie shifting plan, where you eat certain types of foods on alternating days. Most people lose 8-10 lbs in 11 days. Since that's about all I want to lose, I thought it might get me there, and then I could try to maintain. You are right that at this time in my life, I find that what didn't stay on my waist/hips even 1 year ago, is staying now! It's not funny, but it is; I actually looked in the mirror one morning and announced to my husband: "my hips seem to be coming around to the front!" Why, not that long ago, if I did want to lose a couple of lbs, all I  had to do was cut back for a day or two and that was it. Oh well, things do change, and I guess it's best to learn to adapt.

My daughter got married this summer, so I know how it is to try on all those dresses and not have them fit right. I ended up with a one-piece that looks like a two-piece(which, of course, I'll never wear again!)

Thanks for the encouragement. Each day is a new day!

Hello Emmyjay and Patty, sounds like I've met myself already in the two of you. I am 52 and had started to gain weight in places that I never had places before! That's a real self-esteem destoyer for me to be sure! I used to be able to go without meals, never hungry, never a problem. These days I am hungry (or think I am hungry) all the time. My doctor told me that low estrogen due to menopause can be the root of that constant hunger and he encouaged me to have five small meals instead of three main meals. So, with my husband's encouragement I decided to do something I'd never done before, just simply count calories and eat healthy foods. No gimmicks, no plans, no points, no propaganda.

Turns out it has been the perfect solution to both my health and my weight because if I am going to count calories in the foods I eat I have to think about food all the time which means my estrogen driven preoccupation is now my key to success.

So, now, I am eating more healthy foods, I'm free to think about the next meal while I am eating this one without feeling guilty and I'm loosing weight and inches. My total weight loss goal was only 9 pounds and I have already lost more than half of that. I was always an active walker, so I just extended the time and picked up the pace a bit. Already my clothes feel better and my muscle tone is becoming more defined again.

Like most women I have the closet of clothes that can accommodate the "fat" me and the "trim" me. I am encouraged to think that soon I will be back in my "trim" me clothes again - a real self-esteem booster to be sure. And my athletic husband loves that I am enjoying getting back in the shape I was before.

Nine pounds may not seem like a lot until you look at nine pounds of ground beef in the store, then the reality sinks in. Half way there and going strong!