That metabolism slows with age is a truism.
From what I’ve read and heard from health sources (and I have a lot of those, since, by now, I have a lot of doctors; I’m a bit of a professional patient), part of that has to do with muscle mass, part with less activity, but a huge part with the aging of metabolic processes. It comes as our body starts to wear out.
I eat less than I did when I was 6 or 8. At 8, I could easily eat a 1 lb. steak, or two large breasts of chicken, or half my Halloween candy in one sitting. Now, I typically eat 18 oz. of home-cooked meat PER WEEK, and past an occasional bite of chocolate or something, just don’t eat sweets much anymore. And I exercise more than ever (which was nearly 0 for decades).
But, I’m disabled, and that limits my activities, it’s true. Also, I take medications that are modestly encouraging of weight gain.
I struggle a whole bunch with losing and keeping weight off. Been at it since I got sick, 6+ years.
I’ve achieved modest success, but it’s a grave insult to suggest that it isn’t through herculean struggle. I have muted criticism for the beached whale types, but not a lot for someone with a BMI in the low 30s.
“Another sign of mental illness.”
Stay positive. Don’t insult.
Don’t get so high and might!
Encourage any effort on diet or exercise. And assure people that even if they don’t achieve a waist size of 32 (or 34, or 36 or more), something is better than nothing. Also, encourage better diets - real food vs. crap, nutritious, balanced meals prepared at home, where you sit down and take the time to eat a proper meal. For folks not exercising, encourage they start with 10 minutes. Even 5! After I got home from the hospital, my doctor gave me strict orders no more than 10 minutes per day, a few das a week.
“Encourage any effort on diet or exercise. “
I do so consistently and regularly.
But I refuse to enable the delusion that people are helpless in this matter.
Sure, like you many are burdened with issues that make it harder.
Not impossible.
10s of millions in this country of abundance do it every day.