Weight Gain

[barender]

When I was young I was always slim and weighed around 8.5 - 9 stone. Middle age approached and inevitably, due to less exercise I suppose and the 'middle age' spread factor, I put on about a stone (all around the midriff!) It never bothered me, but I do get depressed about not being a size 10-12 around the middle. However, I accepted it for a long time and just got on with it. But, a few weeks ago, I thought, well let's see if I can lose a bit. I have never had a bad diet - lots of fruit and veg, salads and hardly any fat, so I cut down on alcohol, cut out my mid-morning banana, have salads without loads of mayo or salad cream and now I find that I have actually PUT ON WEIGHT! Any ideas anyone?

[hectic]

What can happen when you cut down on all fatty foods is that your body starts to store up as much fat as possible for energy as you will not be getting the reccommended amount per day.  The best way to try and lose weight is to eat your normal foods and stick to the reccommended amount of daily calories and fat and try regular exercise like swimming and walking.  A lot of people tend to think that just eating foods with no fat in them will help them lose weight but they couldn't be more wrong! 

[woofgang]

At the moment, the hot weather is making people retain fluid which is heavy. Increase your water intake and try to reduce your salt a bit to balance your fluids

[woofgang]

PS you dont't give your age and gender but perimenopause and menopause can make you gain weight on thin air, especially around the midriff!

[barender]

hectic - I kind'a knew that but thanks for reminding me it probably needs more exercise! Having never been on a proper diet in my life, I have no idea how many daily calories you're supposed to have, nor much of an idea about how many calories are in what I eat! Perhaps you could enlighten me?

woofgang - I have been drinking about 8 glasses of water a day for years and never use salt (except what may occur naturally in food), but thanks for the thought. As for the menopause, I'm 58 and don't think I've ever been through it! Never had any symptoms at all. I was sterilised ( not hysterectomy!) in 1991 and never really had a period again. I know a lot of you will say I'm lucky on that one.

However, thank you both for your contributions. I think I need to do some midriff exercises, tho tried it before and it didn't really make any difference!

[hectic]

Hi again, this website should give you a good idea what to be doing, good luck

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/calorie_inta ke.htm

[jellyyellie]

don't sut out your midmorning banana, that won't make you loose any wait. Mayo and salad cream sometimes have TONS of fat in them, so watch that. There are a few interesting diest out there that you might want to try.
1. Eat a bowl of HEALTHFUL cereal for two meals a day and then eat a sensible third meal.
2. Eat whatever you want for breakfast, eat a large, but sensible, lunch, and for dinner have clear liquids (i.e. soup)
3. Eat an apple before each meal
You should talk to your doctor or see a nutritionist. They can set you up on a diet that's exactly right for you and your wait loss goals.
Good luck!

[barender]

jellyyellie - thanks for your input. I thought bananas were supposed to be v fattening, but I've been eating one mid morning for ages as a quick energy boost after my breakfast (which is a few spoonfuls of oats with soya milk and a teaspoon of honey - which I might try having for lunch as well, after your suggestion.)

I think you may be right about eating more earlier on in the day - I've heard that you shouldn't eat after 6pm if you want to loose weight - have you heard that? (Only trouble is that you get hungry by 11pm and feel hungry when you go to bed.)

Does eating an apple before a meal help then? I've also heard that drinking grapefruit juice has the same effect.

hectic - I'm going to check out your website later when I get another minute - thanks for that.

[butter1]

Hi Barender, the best diet for me is Weight Watchers... I've been on it for 3 weeks now and lost 1/2 a stone.  You can eat what you want (within moderation) and I find the point system very good.  Of course I have been doing exercise as well.  I have a rowing machine which I go on for 6-10 mins a night, 100 skips (skipping rope) a night and 20-40 sit ups.  Of course I started off with less then that and slowly built it up.  Good luck hun!

[barender]

hectic - the website is v useful. Thanks a lot.

butter1 - a friend of mine did the Weight Watchers diet and she lost weight quite noticeably too, so I might give that a whirl. Unfortunately, I live in a small flat, where I wouldn't have room to skip and have a rowing machine (tho' I'd like to do it but don't want to show myself up at a local gym). Sit-ups I'll give another go.  Thanks to you all.