40 Year Old Weight Gain

I'm guessing you've gradually gained weight over the last few years. That's normal. But if you haven't had a physical exam in last couple of years it's wise to do that.

The way to lose weight at 40 is the same as when you were 20 or 30. It's just harder to do. Eat less and exercise more. I'm 70. Over the years I went from 125 to 165. I've gained and lost several times. The same 20 lbs just by eating less. Then I gained 20 more lbs. 10 years ago and it was more difficult to lose it.

Three months ago I decided to get rid of that last 20 lbs. I'd gained on top of the first 20 lbs. and I lost them. Only this time I had to think every day, several times a day to not eat anything extra. Gone are the days of just being able to be aware without much conscious thought to eat less. Eating more was now an entrenched habit which required daily reminders to eat less. I'm working towards losing the next 20 lbs. And hoping to make eating less a habit once more.

I use luncheon sized plates and rarely have seconds. I allow myself 2 small snacks per day. I still eat sweets. I don't deprive myself of anything. I just consciously eat less.

I'm in my 50's and used to be 115 lbs just 3-4 years ago. I'm 124 lbs now, but I'm also concerned because I exercise and eat pretty much the same as I always have, yet I gain weight.

I just started eating low carb...not really a diet but I'm just cutting out carbs whenever I can. For example, if I have a sandwich, I eat it open faced (only one piece of bread), or I try to just have half a sandwich. I substitute carrots instead of chips, etc.

I'm walking with weights every day too on top of the exercise I usually do.
I've lost a few pounds already and it's only been 1.5 weeks since I've started.

The older you get, it's the small things that add up.

don't try a magic diet. they really don't work. make lifestyle changes that you can live with and still be happy. but yeah, that involves moving more and eating less.
sugar is a huge issue for most of us.
processed frankenfood is another.
my biggest bugaboo is late night snacking. oh how i love it, and oh how bad it is for you. your body NEEDS to fast for longer than your sleep cycle. let it do that.
find a type of exercise you LIKE and do lots of it. but make sure you're doing a variety of stuff. it's very, very unlikely that you will do so much weight-lifting that it will affect your numbers on the scale, but doing weights a couple of times a week will be wonderful for your bones, and keep your metabolism in 'burn' mode.
khairete
S.

Yeah... that tends to happen. It wasn't so noticeable for me until about 42 or 43. (I'm 45 now). Around then I just started keeping the 5 lbs that I previously gained and lost over and over again... No sudden weight change or gain. Just a gradual inability to easily lose anything I lazily allowed myself to indulge in and gain. Up until then, I could indulge and get lazy and then work out or be careful in my eating habits for a week or two, and it would drop right back off.

My solution (once you know there is no hormonal imbalance or thyroid problem---since you said you have gained 20 pounds rather quickly?)... is to eat an apple every day. Really. Eat an apple. Good stuff in them. Lots of things you don't think about (like quercetin sp?) plus fiber, and water, and it's filling. And normally, after I eat an apple, I don't crave junky stuff for a few hours.

Go to your dr and get a thorough work up with your blood, hormones, etc.

Any sudden weight gain should cause concern.

I'm over 40 and have been 10 yrs on HRT patch and stopped HRT cold turkey with no weight issues. I was about 115, petite sized 2 when I started and 115 petite size 2 now. I'm wearing some of the same petite jeans and clothes I've worn over 12 yrs!!

I eat in moderation... Drink LOTS of water daily and throughout the night. I don't cut out any favorite food, just use common sense about it.

My exercise could be better . My dr just cleared me to resume exercise after an ankle procedure in August. I've been moderately walking since I got an ok to walk and now I can step it up to my longer distance walking.

Just think smart and eat smart and exercise.

There is no reason to gain that fast. Talk to your dr and get to the root of the problem!
Good luck

I hit a brick wall with my metabolism at 40. That was the year I joined Weight Watchers to knock off the 20 extra pounds. Be very, very careful about any "diets" that require you to give up certain foods. You're doomed to fail. You need to make a lifestyle change at this age, not go on a diet, and change your portion sizes.

If you're not exercising, add that in, even if it's just getting in a 20-minute walk during your lunch break. I've found that is key for me. If I don't exercise, the weight comes back, even with smaller portion sizes and healthy food choices.

It might be wheat and sugar. Read the book, Why we get fat and what to do about it. I just finished reading it and am convinced that I need to go low carb. I never needed to worry about my diet (fairly healthy, but not perfect or strict) until 40, now I can't seem to drop a pound even when I restrict calories and exercise everyday. So, I'm doing low carb, gluten free cooking and eating mostly healthy meat, eggs and veggies and limited fruit. I don't feel hungry and am sticking to it for the most part. Anyway, you might check out the book. Several friends have read the book and lost a ton of weight and kept it off, so I know it is a good plan. One of our friends even got off of his Cholesterol lowering meds and has excellent blood work now.

Well, I could tell you to cut calories, live in the gym, stop eating carbs, take up running, or just plain stop eating but all of it kinda sucks and probably will only budge the scale 2 pounds anyway! Welcome to your forties!! This is the beginning of carrying a bit more weight and learning to embrace it too! Back when I was in my 30's, I weighed no more than 115-120 all the time. Now I am anywhere between 145-150 but I eat whatever I want and I'm happy that way. I am also healthy....no medical problems or dilemmas associated with the gain in weight so that is a plus! I am so tired of fighting with the hormonal weight gain that I've decided to embrace it for awhile. It is working. I am nowhere near obese and I totally still have it going on in the body department. I went from a Kate Moss to a Beyoncé. Tell me where the problem really is with that, right?

Part of it is in fact the changing of hormones.. At 40, your Estrogen has probably dropped, and therefore, you may be beginning the change. That said, when your Estrogen drops, that can also equate to your being Progesterone dominant (for now) until you stop ovulating... Anyway, Progesterone can make us become more insulin resistance and therefore, that belly fat that wasn't there before, is now very apparent. Additionally, if in fact your Estrogen level has dropped off a bit, consider this.. Estrogen is what controls one's cortisol level (the stress hormone) and when Estrogen is low, Cortisol can run amuck, which also means..... Cortisol is up... it becomes harder to lose weight..

BEFORE you try and lose the excess weight.. Work with your cycle.. by that I mean. DON'T try and put a new diet plan in place right before your period (assuming you have one) because during that time,your Progesterone is up, which means cravings are as well.... Try to implement something right after your period, I find this time frame to be a much easier place in which to start.. If you start right after your period, then leading up to the next one, it may be easier to ward off cravings..
At 49, what's been working for me is to try and get more exercise, drink lots of water.. DON'T have tempting foods in the house... and get more fiber.. I also attend OA..
Try and nip the extra 20lbs in the bud while you are still only 40.. I definitely believe it becomes more difficult as you go through the change.. at least, that has been my experience...
there are free websites such as myfitnesspal or sparkspeople.. both have really good programs on there...

I wish you all the best

I've learned, since my metabolism slowed down when I was 39, to eat less carbohydrates, and eat more high-fiber foods when I feel hungry. Additional healthy fats and small additions of protein also help (nuts are fabulous for this reason). I've also, since developing diabetes in spite of good eating habits, learned that several small meals a day (no or low carbs) keep my blood sugar even and in bounds.

One of the most compelling current theories of weight gain is that when we take in a large meal, or a snack with sugar and refined starches, our body reads the increase in sugar in our bloodstream and sends out a big hit of insulin. The more carbs, the more insulin. Which drives those calories into our cells to be stored as fat. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and fewer carbs allows our bodies to digest and use more of those calories without storing them for future use. And "future use" translates into additional exercise and workouts for many of us.

Anyhow, using this low-carb, small-meal approach has helped me lose and keep off over 30 pounds, and keep my blood sugar under good control for over 10 years now. Works for me, and I'm never hungry.

I wish you success in finding what works for you.

Cut your calories. Keep a food diary. You would be surprised how it adds up.

Same thing happened to me. I lost it by cutting all bad carbs.

You need to do weight-bearing routines. The muscles will make you heavier on a scale, but you will look more fit.

sew your mouth shut. Just kidding. It is harder the older we get :-( You will have to count calories, work out at a gym etc. Try the app myfitnesspal maybe there's lots of stuff out there.

good luck

That exact same thing happened to me! 115 to 135 - exactly. All I can say is stop buying the fattening foods you are snacking on and the foods you eat at mealtime. That is what I did. It took about a year to lose it b/c I don't exercise and I wasn't very diligent with my diet. Once I started seeing the weight drop off, those fattening foods did not look yummy anymore. And they still don't :)

I totally get where you are coming from. I never had to worry about my weight prior to turning 40. Be careful, you may get bashed for 'only being 135lbs.'

Good luck!

Try the "Perfect 10" diet. It is really difficult after turning 40-I think one doctor I saw years ago said it best, "After 40 there isn't anything in any quantity that you can eat without gaining weight and you have to workout like a beast 6 days a week." Good luck.

Swim 30 min every other day.
This is the only way I can lose weight...
I wish the pool were 20 miles closer to home.

First, make an appointment for a full checkup and bloodwork, to rule out any issues like thyroid problems, diabetes, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, etc.

Chances are that your problem is simply being 40. Your needs are different now than they were when you were 30, or 20. How much sleep you need, your activity levels, the type and frequency of your nutritional intake, etc. You'll need to evaluate your lifestyle and make changes where necessary.

Hi! Nearing 47...and going through the same thing.....
The advice below is great...i will try it as well....
A dietician i went to this summer also told me to separate meat protein and carbs...and no fruit with meals...no complex carbs after 5....

good luck.
Jilly