Hi. I am a fit 44 year old lady who eats healthily and exercises but I find as I exercise I put weight on and don't lose any. I have lost some inches but I am worried that the scale is going up as I exercise. Last year I put nearly a stone on through exercise and lost it through using protein shakes and sadly illness.
I would be grateful for help. I would like to make some friends here and in my area, Epsom, so we can help each other.
Hi Anne. I don't think you've got an awful lot to be concerned about. The fact that you're losing inches suggests that your body is changing shape, in that it's losing fat and gaining muscle.
You're doing the right thing in taking measurements, as they help highlight situations such as this.
Thanks. I think support is helpful and please stay in touch. I think it's frustrating as we look to the scales and were brought up to and are being told BMI is pretty redundant if, like me, you're an athletic build.
I'm a healthy BMI but my weight is fluctuating and going up due to perimenopausal symptoms including hormonal changes.
Hi Anne go with what the tape measure is telling you xxxx my son is a rugby player and is solid muscle yet still gets told he is fat because of a number on the scale. It also doesn't work for people who are tall!
I am also in peri menopause and my weight has been all over the place.
We can do this! The good news is that muscle uses more testing calories than fat so it should start to go the other way on the scales too. In the meantime track non scale victories x
Hi,. Thanks for your very comforting reply. I'm happy I'm not alone. Please message me 
Hi and welcome, Anne
It sounds as though it's not the exercise that's making you gain weight, but you're probably inadvertently eating more, as you feel hungrier. That has been offset by going very low calorie, which, as soon as you start eating 'normally' again, causes you to gain weight.
Maybe you need to find a happy medium with your food and exercise?
I'd like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we hope will be a good place for you to connect with members, who are also just starting out. If you just post a few words to introduce yourself and respond to others there, you'll soon break the ice. Here's the link
healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
Wishing you all the best
Thanks. I may join. To be honest I haven't been eating more. I have been staying between 1,200 and 1.500 a day in accordance with some nutritional advice I've been given from a trainer but I know hormones etc have a lot to do with this and any other ladies in this situation please advise.
Are you very tiny, because that sounds very low to me? Eating too little can stall weight loss, just the same as eating too much. Log onto our Daily Diary and see how your menus compare with others. Maybe a tiny amount of tweaking could make a big difference?
I'm a size twelve but not actually moving consistently in the day as I've been ill with Depression.
I try for an hour of walking a day.
I average about 1500-1,700 calories a day.
I hope this isn't too personal, but are you on anti depressants, because side effects can be weight gain?
Cortisol, due to stress, can cause weight gain.
How tall are you?
Mixing up your exercise can make a difference, lowering carbs can help, but at healthy BMI, you won't get an allowance from the NHS BMI calculator.
I amThe last anti depressant contributed to weight gain but this one doesn't have that reputation.
5ft 8.
I would suggest that you don't drop your cals, but change what you're eating, to reduce carbs, moderate protein and increase natural fats for satiety.
Have you seen out Daily Diary? Follow the link to the Newbie Club and you'll find all the info you'll need to navigate the forum
You might just want to double check your cal intake by using the NHS BMI calculator. 1200 seems like it might be pretty low even without all the exercise you're doing.
True. I try for about 1,500-1,700 a day and walk for about an hour a day but I know I would do better moving more in the day. Please get in touch and motivate me
Exercise does certainly help though eating the correct number of calories is a bigger contributor to weight loss. When I started back in Jan., the first thing I did was run the NHS BMI calculator which gave me a specific calorie range to stick to. It worked for me.
The calorie range provided, takes into account your age, sex, height and current level of activity. In other words, it's very much tailored, specifically for you.
Hello Anne46
I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time. Hormones and emotions can be all over the place at this time of life as well as coping with your depression.
Weight wise you do right to tackle things before it becomes a bigger issue. I agree with Moreless, and right now, I think good nutrition is more important for you than the number on the scales.
I have changed both what I eat and how I eat to cope with the menopause. I read an excellent book by Miriam Stoppard on the menopause that I recommend. Very briefly, I eat less carbohydrates (choose wholemeal versions), more fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables for maximum vitamin boost, more natural fat such as butter, cream and yogurt, for satiety and vitamin absorption, and try to get a good overall balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates. I also eat earlier in the day with a substantial lunch.
For more day to day support and encouragement join the Daily Diary and come onto the forum to chat to us on the What's Happening thread (our general chat post) . For exercise motivation there are several fun challenges running which are in the Pinned Posts on the Home page.
Best wishes
Anna
Fantastic. Thanks.
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