Well, your metabolism changes as you get older.

Hrmph. Do not want.

Steph, I haven't been assiduously tracking, but the times I do, I'm definitely going over "diet" (1400 calories or less) but not, I think, over enough that I should be gaining weight like crazy!

Belly bloat is menstrual for me. *pokes* And maybe cheese. I really would weigh less if I broke up with cheese.

I think I am freaking out a wee bit more than I want to admit about getting over when the clock ticks over. Drat. I was pretty zen for the thirties too. Now I don't want it to be tomorrow cause OLDER.

meara, belly weight gain for me is all about the white carbs. Even if I'm eating in the "diet" range (1500 calories or less) if I'm eating sugar or potatoes or bread? Belly expands, regardless of calories ingested.

meara, if you are also tired and/or having a lot of hair loss, then you might consider getting your thyroid checked. Weight gain is a classic hypothyroid symptom.

Now I don't want it to be tomorrow cause OLDER.

Being 50 has been seriously kicking my ass. Just seeing that number and realizing it represent my age is painful. I have a mental image of what 50 means, and it doesn't match the inside of my head. Instead of letting that redefine what 50 means to me, my head is freaking out. I keep running the math of average life spans, realize where I stand in regards to that, and get obsessed about what my life could have been etc. etc. I'm supposed to have achieved *something* by now, but . . .

All of that, yes, Connie. How did I get to 40, why is't my life different or better or ... I don't know. Blergh. And really nothing is changed from a week ago or a year but that damn number sure feels bigger than it used to feel.

I think I am freaking out a wee bit more than I want to admit about getting over when the clock ticks over. Drat. I was pretty zen for the thirties too. Now I don't want it to be tomorrow cause OLDER.

You'll have blaze the path for me & tell me what it's like - I'll be joining you on Tuesday...I'm fluctuating between zen and WTF 40!?!? right along with you, babe.

All of that, yes, Connie. How did I get to 40, why is't my life different or better or ... I don't know. Blergh. And really nothing is changed from a week ago or a year but that damn number sure feels bigger than it used to feel.

Great. Big. DITTO.

Hah. I hear you on the getting older--I was reading corporette (which is like, my favorite blog these days, solely for the comments) about maternity leaves, and all the comments on 35 being a high risk pregnancy made me want to weep, knowing I'll be 34 in a couple months, and haven't even got a person I'd want to have kids with, much less the inclination to start. Stupid lack of magic youthifying serum!

meara, if you are also tired and/or having a lot of hair loss

Hmm. Possibly. I'm ALWAYS tired--it's been a thing all my life. And I felt like the weird hair loss of a while back had stopped (possibly due to stopping some drugs) but might've picked up again, so it's worth a thought. I'm mostly trying to brainstorm things to ask the doc to test for if/when I make an appointment. I"ma also get double-checked for The Dibeetus, since even though my last fasting blood sugar was fine, both my parents have it, and it's a definite consideration.

all the comments on 35 being a high risk pregnancy made me want to weep

Two totally different people at work (very much unintentionally) hurt me recently when they commented that I was "far too young" to have children. I had to smile wryly and inform them that they were making incorrect assumptions about my age given that I'd been in the high risk pregnancy category for more than a year.