Post-Menopausal Weight Loss
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
I'm sitting here saying WOW over and over. You don't sound bitter!! I'd be angry and frantic!
eta: a colleague was similar. She ultimately demanded, and later was granted a hysterectomy. SHEESH!
Yes, it is a topic pretty much guaranteed to get me foaming at the mouth within minutes but I'm trying not to be a Debbie Downer today. I'm wondering at which point I become "old enough" in the eyes of doctors to decide that no, really, I don't want children anyway and no, really, I don't want to be menopausal my entire adult life thank you very much. And no, I DEFINITELY don't want 4-month-long-change-the-tampon-every-30-mins-pass-out-from-blood-loss to deal with either. I LIKE leaving the house. Leaving the house is good.
They have no idea what basically giving me cancer drugs forever is going to do to my body long-term, but they're more willing to risk damaging me permanently in some way than just... neutralising the problem because "will nobody think of the hypothetical children". The mind boggles. Every 3 months I demand again. Which makes, to date, about 40 demands for a hysterectomy including a signed waiver in the presence of a lawyer that I will not sue the hospital if I regret my decision later in life. Honestly you try and help people out.
I've had every test done and I'm "perfectly normal" which would be funny were it not tragic. "He's perfectly healthy apart from being dead" comes to mind. My paternal aunt, cousins, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother suffered the same, but to a lesser extent. Whatever it is, it's genetic, and been confusing doctors for over a century. You're welcome, medical science. Please take it out an examine it. With my blessing.
ANYWAY. BACK TO THE TOPIC. Didn't mean to derail, there. I'm just the youngest member of the "menopause club" on MFP
My diary is open if OP want to see what a high protein lowish cal diet looks like (excuse the large "remaining" number. From today onwards I've set my target cals to maintenance to easily see my deficit. I'm not dramatically under-eating)3 -
Like others I have had trouble losing weight. I am just fifty and in March started LCHF/Keto and that has change my life. I have dropped 17lbs. and I feel fabulous. I am never going back to the way I ate before. Everything is so much clearer to me now, and I know I should but I have not really started any exercising plan yet. but now that summer has hit I think I will start some swimming. You should really Google it and read up on it and see it might be a way of life for you. Good luck!2
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I thought being post menopausal was a good excuse for not losing weight, but since January I have been meticulously weighing and measuring my food, getting good exercise almost daily, and have lost 32 pounds. At 62, I figured it's now or never and now sounded much better. If you are losing even a pound every now and then that's going the right direction, keep it up!3
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Dear Ladies,
Is anyone else having trouble losing weight due to being post-menopausal. I think there is some kind of hormonal thing going on. I don't take any RX medicine. No matter how many changes I make and how much I exercise, I only lose about a pound about every couple of weeks to a month. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
YES! I'm right with you. I'm 54 and post-menopausal. Same exact sleep issues you mentioned in a later post.
I know my BMR/TDEE, I weigh measure, I'm doing at home weight/strength training (not heavy lifting), get 10,000 to 12,000 step a day and add cardio a couple of times a week. I eat between 1100 and 1400 calories a day and lose about 1 pound a month if I'm lucky! I do lower carb too.
I can't give up because there is no giving up. At least I'm not gaining, but losing is really hard for me post menopause! Before menopause I could take off 1-lb a week pretty easily, without trying as hard!
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MyReflections wrote: »I am 52 and if hot flashes would count as exercise I would be in great shape.
I don't take hormone replacements or drugs, but I found a natural cream that seems to work miracles with me. My husband calls it my happy cream :-). I am not sure if I am allowed to put a link in here, but I guess I am going to find out.
http://www.bhnformulas.com
I am fine with losing the weight slower, but I am not so fine with the rest of the changes (like hot flashes, or brittle fingernails and hair). My hot flashes have disappeared, since I am using the happy cream, now I have to do the rest and work on my weight.
I started taking bio identical hormones and they really help my sleep and have totally eliminated hot flashes. When I skip a dose, I notice it.
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MyReflections wrote: »I am 52 and if hot flashes would count as exercise I would be in great shape.
I don't take hormone replacements or drugs, but I found a natural cream that seems to work miracles with me. My husband calls it my happy cream :-). I am not sure if I am allowed to put a link in here, but I guess I am going to find out.
http://www.bhnformulas.com
I am fine with losing the weight slower, but I am not so fine with the rest of the changes (like hot flashes, or brittle fingernails and hair). My hot flashes have disappeared, since I am using the happy cream, now I have to do the rest and work on my weight.
I started taking bio identical hormones and they really help my sleep and have totally eliminated hot flashes. When I skip a dose, I notice it.
Are you using both progesterone and estradiol?0 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »MyReflections wrote: »I am 52 and if hot flashes would count as exercise I would be in great shape.
I don't take hormone replacements or drugs, but I found a natural cream that seems to work miracles with me. My husband calls it my happy cream :-). I am not sure if I am allowed to put a link in here, but I guess I am going to find out.
http://www.bhnformulas.com
I am fine with losing the weight slower, but I am not so fine with the rest of the changes (like hot flashes, or brittle fingernails and hair). My hot flashes have disappeared, since I am using the happy cream, now I have to do the rest and work on my weight.
I started taking bio identical hormones and they really help my sleep and have totally eliminated hot flashes. When I skip a dose, I notice it.
Are you using both progesterone and estradiol?Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »MyReflections wrote: »I am 52 and if hot flashes would count as exercise I would be in great shape.
I don't take hormone replacements or drugs, but I found a natural cream that seems to work miracles with me. My husband calls it my happy cream :-). I am not sure if I am allowed to put a link in here, but I guess I am going to find out.
http://www.bhnformulas.com
I am fine with losing the weight slower, but I am not so fine with the rest of the changes (like hot flashes, or brittle fingernails and hair). My hot flashes have disappeared, since I am using the happy cream, now I have to do the rest and work on my weight.
I started taking bio identical hormones and they really help my sleep and have totally eliminated hot flashes. When I skip a dose, I notice it.
Are you using both progesterone and estradiol?
It's something called "bi-est" and progesterone. I also take a small amount of testosterone. My body, several years after menopause, basically was producing zero hormones, which I know is "normal" but I decided to go for it. The most noticeable effects are no hot flashes, better sleep and better sex drive/more comfortable sex. I don't take a full dose because 1. I don't want to get periods again and 2. Too much testosterone makes me break out.
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »MyReflections wrote: »I am 52 and if hot flashes would count as exercise I would be in great shape.
I don't take hormone replacements or drugs, but I found a natural cream that seems to work miracles with me. My husband calls it my happy cream :-). I am not sure if I am allowed to put a link in here, but I guess I am going to find out.
http://www.bhnformulas.com
I am fine with losing the weight slower, but I am not so fine with the rest of the changes (like hot flashes, or brittle fingernails and hair). My hot flashes have disappeared, since I am using the happy cream, now I have to do the rest and work on my weight.
I started taking bio identical hormones and they really help my sleep and have totally eliminated hot flashes. When I skip a dose, I notice it.
Are you using both progesterone and estradiol?Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »MyReflections wrote: »I am 52 and if hot flashes would count as exercise I would be in great shape.
I don't take hormone replacements or drugs, but I found a natural cream that seems to work miracles with me. My husband calls it my happy cream :-). I am not sure if I am allowed to put a link in here, but I guess I am going to find out.
http://www.bhnformulas.com
I am fine with losing the weight slower, but I am not so fine with the rest of the changes (like hot flashes, or brittle fingernails and hair). My hot flashes have disappeared, since I am using the happy cream, now I have to do the rest and work on my weight.
I started taking bio identical hormones and they really help my sleep and have totally eliminated hot flashes. When I skip a dose, I notice it.
Are you using both progesterone and estradiol?
It's something called "bi-est" and progesterone. I also take a small amount of testosterone. My body, several years after menopause, basically was producing zero hormones, which I know is "normal" but I decided to go for it. The most noticeable effects are no hot flashes, better sleep and better sex drive/more comfortable sex. I don't take a full dose because 1. I don't want to get periods again and 2. Too much testosterone makes me break out.
I've used progesterone off and on over the years, but never testosterone. Mine did test low.0 -
The testosterone one has immediate effects - within an hour or two you know you've taken it (and it's supposed to help with retaining muscle mass though I have no way of knowing if that's happening). I use an under the tongue gummy-sort of thing. It's by prescription.
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I take only progesterone in cream form. My husband calls it my happy cream. The difference is dramatic. I can instantly tell if I don't use it.1
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The testosterone one has immediate effects - within an hour or two you know you've taken it (and it's supposed to help with retaining muscle mass though I have no way of knowing if that's happening). I use an under the tongue gummy-sort of thing. It's by prescription.
I reviewed my most recent blood work, and my testosterone was definitely low. The note from the doc said we should consider supplementing. You said it has immediate effects. What sorts?
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Immediate in terms of energy and sex drive. I had no sex drive (sorry TMI) prior and very low energy and it kicks right in with the testosterone. They say it helps with retaining muscle mass as well. I can't really say - I've lifted weights my whole life and even though now I go on and off I tend to always retain some - that may be the testosterone, just not sure. I don't take it consistently every day but I'm trying to now - I think going on and off the way I was may have been why it made me break out - now that I'm more regular with it that hasn't happened - so crossing fingers. I think I'm on half the recommended dose - the full dose must be like rocket fuel!1
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@jmrsfaz -- I think that in your place, I'd be looking for a second opinion about the hysterectomy. Maybe a new doctor. And yeah, it doesn't sound as if conception would be an option when you're bleeding forever.
>> I seem to lose when I eat between 1300-1500 calories a day which is doable due to my diet changes. Nutrisystem really helps too. It has those slow digesting carbs which keep the hunger away.
You've got your formula.
For those slow-digesting carbs and food less expensive than Nutrisystem, check out cookbooks for low-glycemic diets, such as diabetic diets (loads of free recipes at the American Diabetes Association website) and Sugar Busters. You can go a long way just by going with whole grains rather than white carbs.
I've found good recipes on the blog here, too.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/category/eat/recipes/
And in the discussion threads.
I can't recall where I found a sweet potato and cauliflower curry I tried last week. It was right tasty. And, though I added chicken to the recipe and used more (oily) curry paste than the recipe said, only 130 calories per cup.0 -
callemiramar wrote: »I'll be 60 this year, and no issue with dropping pounds. The secret? OK, I'll share it with you: I'm realistic. I know I didn't gain all this weight (it took years of uncontrolled eating/drinking). I calculated my BMR and TDEE, and do TDEE-15% and I'm dropping 1-2 pounds a week. This has to be recalculated after every 10 pounds lost. My current calorie intake is about 1700-1800/day. The only exercise I've been doing is walking, once I get under 200 lbs I'll start with lifting (increase muscle mass so skin doesn't sag and increases metabolism so I can eat more).Eating at 1200 or less calories a day and exercising like crazy does 2 things. First, it makes you body think it's starving so it holds on to every fat cell it can (slow weight loss) and the weight you loose will be water, muscle, and fat. Second, it doesn't teach you to eat in the real world (enjoying life, friends, parties) and when you give up (tired of denying yourself pleasure) you gain all you have lost and then some. By the way, the "metabolism is slower after menopause" is a load of crap! Most (not all) people start slowing down their activities after the age of 50 (or so). They buy into the notion "I'm older, I'm supposed to do less", hence the slower metabolism. I still work full time and don't take any medicine. If you want to calculate your TDEE, go to scoobysworkshop.com and click on MENU then select TOOLS then CALORIES BURNED CALCULATOR, fill in the blanks. For the activity level, be real. If you exercise (any activity that has you moving) 1/2 hour daily (or 1 hour 3x week) you're moderate. The last piece of advice I can give you is this: take pictures (start and every 10-20 pounds lost) and measure every 2-4 weeks. Even if you don't see movement on the scale, your body can be changing in definition/shape. Best wishes for your goals!
no if you are eating in a deficit your body does not think its starving and hold onto fat,this is not relevant when it comes to weight loss. if you are in a true deficit you will lose fat. some lose it slower but you wont store it. fat is stored when you eat in a surplus1 -
also for those not losing weight or its going slow,. some of us lose it slow.Im in peri menopause and its taken me almost 4 years just to lose 45lbs. make sure you input your info into MFP, and eat up to that calorie goal. weigh everything to make sure you are accurate in your calorie counting and that the entries in MFP are accurate(a lot of them are off). weighing gives you an exact amount,packaging for foods can be off my up to 20%,even 2 pieces of fruit the same size can vary in weight which will be a difference in calories.measuring cups for solids and semi solids are not going to be accurate either(trust me this was a real eye opener for me). also NEVER net under 1200 calories(unless under the care of a dr) either.you wont get the nutrition you need if you eat less. MFP is set to eat at least some of your exercise calories back as well. if you do the TDEE method(mfp uses the NEAT method) then of course your exercise is counted so you dont eat those calories back.if you have less than 50lbs to lose .5-1 lb a week loss is fine,over 75lbs to lose is like 1-1.5 a week. and anything over 100 you can safely lose 1.5-2 lbs a week. which of course you may not lose that much every week.some weeks you may not see a loss and some you may gain. weight fluctuates day to day also.the slower you lose it the better. its a lifestyle and not a race.0
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I am 55 years old...I also am post menopausal. I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. I just started on here two weeks ago and I lost 7 pounds so far. I am not on any hormones. There is a high risk of cancer in my family so I am not taking Estrogen. Once I got past the night sweats my body seems to be responding well. I can't eat what I use to eat and that is why I have changed my diet. 0
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It's very inspiring reading everyone's stories! I believe weight loss/metabolism is absolutely individualized. You have to find what's best for your body. It's wonderful to read all the different cases to get new ideas to help.
I'm 44 and I also went into menopause early (42). Worst symptoms I've experienced are hot flashes and insomnia and in January I visited my doctor because for the first time in my life I became depressed. She put me on Welbutrin and I started to feel like my old self again. That was when I decided to get back on the proverbial horse and lose weight but most importantly get healthy. I needed to lose 100+ pounds and I started out with 1500 calories a day and walking 10,000 steps in January. That worked well for about a month and a half then my loss nearly stopped. I upped my calories to 1,700 and that did the trick until about 4 weeks ago and I completely halted. So I decided a few days ago to raise my calories to 2,000 for a week then drop back down and see if that helps. It's been 3 days and I've already lost 1 pound - finally!!! I'm thinking after the week is up, I'll be going back to 1,700 calories and every 3 days 2,000 calories to try and balance my metabolism. My job keeps me fairly active. Most days I have no problem meeting my 10,000 step goal. I usually average 15,000 on a work day. To date, I've lost 34 pounds.
I wish you all the best on your journey.
Please feel free to add me!1 -
@jmrsfaz -- I think that in your place, I'd be looking for a second opinion about the hysterectomy. Maybe a new doctor. And yeah, it doesn't sound as if conception would be an option when you're bleeding forever.
Wait, was this meant to be @ me instead? Never mind second opinion, I've seen more than 20 OBGYN over the course of a decade. I've seen all of the top ones in the UK and at this point I'm making my way through the dregs.
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@jmrsfaz -- I think that in your place, I'd be looking for a second opinion about the hysterectomy. Maybe a new doctor. And yeah, it doesn't sound as if conception would be an option when you're bleeding forever.
>> I seem to lose when I eat between 1300-1500 calories a day which is doable due to my diet changes. Nutrisystem really helps too. It has those slow digesting carbs which keep the hunger away.
You've got your formula. For those slow-digesting carbs and food less expensive than Nutrisystem, check out cookbooks for low-glycemic diets, such as diabetic diets (loads of free recipes at the American Diabetes Association website) and Sugar Busters. You can go a long way just by going with whole grains rather than white carbs.
I've found good recipes on the blog here, too.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/category/eat/recipes/
And in the discussion threads.
I can't recall where I found a sweet potato and cauliflower curry I tried last week. It was right tasty. And, though I added chicken to the recipe and used more (oily) curry paste than the recipe said, only 130 calories per cup.
And the South Beach Diet, if you're looking for something formal...0 -
DylsGrandma wrote: »I am 55 years old...I also am post menopausal. I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. I just started on here two weeks ago and I lost 7 pounds so far. I am not on any hormones. There is a high risk of cancer in my family so I am not taking Estrogen. Once I got past the night sweats my body seems to be responding well. I can't eat what I use to eat and that is why I have changed my diet.
Wonderful! How much are you hoping to lose?0
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