Hi ive just joined....looking forward to where this takes me... ive got coeliac disease, fibromyalgia, health anxiety, fatty liver and gallstones to name a few.. but most importantly I need to lose 2 stone, I dont feel I eat too much, I eat what I think is a healthy diet, Ive cut bread down to twice week and potatoes the same, no crisp cakes or chocolate etc but still no weightless so getting me down a bit now... hoping to learn a lot from being here x

Hello , just joined 😁 good to meet you all .

— not guessed, not roughly estimated, but actually added it up?😱 Most women never do. And when they finally do, the number surprises them. After 50, due to the combination of declining hormones (especially oestrogen) and increased cortisol, creates a higher protein need to combat muscle catabolism (breakdown of muscle). Have you noticed that since menopause you’ve found your arm muscles become slacker, your tricep muscles (bingo wings) get flabbier? Your body now needs more protein because your muscles, bones, metabolism, skin, hormones, and energy all depend on it. The protein you got away with in your 30s and 40s may not be enough now. This is where the protein gap starts. Many women begin the day with toast, oats, fruit, or coffee — and only get around 4 to 8 grams of protein, when their bodies need closer to 25 to 35 grams in the morning. Lunch might be a ‘healthy’ salad or soup, but without a real protein source, it won't give your body enough support. Then most of the day's protein gets pushed into dinner, and your body misses key chances to repair, rebuild, and stay strong. The result can feel like fatigue, muscle loss, a slower metabolism, cravings, and stubborn weight gain. And so many women blame age. But often, it's a protein gap. So, not only do we need to look at why our exercise is no longer working for us to build lean mass, but we also have to look at protein needs, because if we have a reduction in our stimulus and responses, then we have to look at how do we change these two to actually create an anabolic (building up) stimulus. Not addressing this leads to an increase deep visceral belly fat. How much protein is enough? If you're living a relatively sedentary lifestyle (and I urge you not to be sedentary!), aim for slightly less than 0.8g x lb of body weight approx. For overweight women, protein needs should ideally be calculated based on ideal body weight. If you're living a more active lifestyle, your protein needs will be higher.