Good Morning, I sympathize with you but if it will make you feel any better this is a typical problem. As far as diet goes it will help immensely if you do the following things: 1) Avoid excess sodium and do this by reading labels, avoiding processed and salty foods and keeping sodium under 2,300 mg or less; 2) avoid sugar, juices with added sugar, choose fresh fruit over juice; 3) gradually start increasing fiber to about 25 grams per day; 4) as we get older our metabolism slows so try increasing it by adding cardiovascular and resistance exercise to your lifestyle and 5) you just can t eat as many calories as you used to. For every 100 calorie habit per day that you can cut out you will save 10 pounds per year, or in the case of aging, not gain that typical 5-10 lbs. Weight loss is achieved and maintained through a combination of calorie deficit and calorie expenditure - so cut out 500 calories per day to lose about 1 pound per week and begin an exercise program along with the above suggestions and your weight problems should be taken care of. I maintain an infographic Pinterest Board with a Fitness Board that you may find print outs of exercises that target the problem areas us women have. You may find it by typing in Pinterest/kathyshattler in a url format. I wish you the best of luck. Regards, Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN