Getting older weight gain - what to do when you've done everything right?

This is my first time ever asking for weight loss advice. I haven't really ever needed it, I've always been healthy, but in recent years I've started to put on weight. I've been trying to manage this with healthy living, but my old ways don't cut it any more. I'm now moving into my 40s and my metabolism is slowing down. The problem is, when I research what I should do online, it mostly comes up with lifestyle "changes" that I've always done and not really offering me anything new to try, unless I go down some extreme weightloss rabbit hole, and I'm not looking for anything extreme.

And yes, I've recently had a health check and there's nothing medical causing it.

I want to lose a bit of weight to keep within a healthy weight range, but I want to do so sustainably, with maintainable lifestyle changes. I've always made my own food, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Hell, I even make my own bread and yoghurt.

Unless I meet a friend and go out for breakfast (once a month at most), I always have a small bowl of my homemade yoghurt with chia seeds, berries, a few walnuts and a little honey for breakfast. The bowl I have this in has a 1.5 cup capacity, and I don't have it completely full even once all toppings are added.

I used to take a bread roll for lunch, I've recently swapped the bread out for 2 ryvitas, not that this has made any difference. Toppings will be something like cheese and tomatoes, cottage cheese and avocado, ham and cheese, tuna.

I have a bigger meal for dinner because I do so with family. These meals are pretty healthy home cooked meals though, with lots of salads and veg. I can't always control what I eat here as we take turns cooking (and like I said, it's usually fairly healthy). I'm trying to take smaller portions though.

Aside from that, the only snack I might have in between is maybe an apple or other piece of fruit. I've never been someone who snacks between meals much.

As for drinks, I mostly drink water or tea (no milk/sugar). I will have a latte with half a sugar a few times a week (not every day).

On weekends I will have a meal or two out at a cafe, usually lunch. I never eat fast food. This is when I sometimes buy a pastry. I'm not keen to give it up because it really is the only sweet thing I have and I really enjoy it when I do, but suggest away if you really do think I need to cut back.

As for exercise, I walk to/from work (30 mins each way), I also go for brisk 10 mins walks a few times in the work day, I got to Pilates and long walks on the weekend and do 30 mins of yoga/stretch each night before bed. I use a standing desk at work.

Exercise is obviously the area where I can make improvements, but I struggle as I have a bad knee that I get physio for (who is not super helpful, but the only physio in town). I also live in a regional area that is too hot to exercise outside half the year, and even many of its gyms/sports clubs close up over the summer, which to me is a little bit pointless if you're trying to do it for exercise. Swimming would be a great option, but my nearest pool is nearly an hour drive each way which makes it really impractical. I'm going to try and squeeze in doing Pilates twice a week with one night after work, if I can get there in time, but advice here would help. Things I can do independently would be best, as they might not exist if I have to rely on others.

Generally, any advice for things I can work into my daily life that are reasonable and practical for someone who works full time would be appreciated.

Posted Jun 3, 2026, 11:51 AM UTC

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