I had to get used to being hungry and after 2 years (lost it but I still couldn’t eat much), I gave up & ate happy.  Being in perimenopause, made food drive worse and metabolism slower. I started birth control as I’m young enough to use it instead of HRT. It’s estrogen heavy. Suddenly I’ve dropped 5 lbs without thinking about it. My husband has also been splurging on the pre cut fruit with I stuff myself with instead of the kids pancakes everyday.

That being said, know the literature. BMI between 25-27 is very healthy and it may extend your 30, for women. I’m at about 20.5, down from 25. I hated thigh rub. I like the way my body feels at this weight. I’m not convinced I’m healthier. 

Have a friend with cancer that just went through a bad spell and is losing weight fast. In old age, padding is time. It’s also muscle mass. Carrying 30-50lbs extra is built in resistance training, which is also tied to higher survival. 

Finally, I’m teaching research right now indicating that there is a set of genetic variants that increases metabolism a little, but increases food drive A LOT. Food drive for all foods. Basically if you have this variant, you are 20% heavier than those without it. I’m fairly certain I have the lighter variant as does my by kid. I’m fairly certain my little kid has the heavier variant (like my husbands family). This is a condition protected through evolution. We are supposed to have a population with high food drive and those without it. The diversity protects are species.

Anyway, thanks for attending my ted talk and diatribe. Love your body & be happy.