Doubts about weight loss during peri menopause

findingmi

Hi Everyone,
I’m 44 years old. I have been reading SO many discouraging things about attempting to lose weight during peri menopause. I wonder if anyone out there can share a story of success during this time? Thanks in advance and good luck to everyone!

Ddsb11

Have you read the post, Is It Over Yet? The Perimenopause Thread?

findingmi

Yes, thank you, I saw that. I didn’t go too deep, but I didn’t really find stories of people who triumphed despite the peri menopause challenges. I read quite a few personal accounts about symptoms and struggles of peri menopause. Not much about how it still worked out despite all that.

glassyo

It might be a touch more challenging but I lost a whole bunch of weight during peri menopause. It's all calories in/calories out. It's really not that big of a deal (imho).

Speakeasy76

Yep, lost those last few "stubborn" pounds (or so I thought) at a slow rate without feeling deprived at age 43. I had already lost about 35 lbs, though, 8 years prior, and had been working out/strength training regularly (and wasn't technically overweight).

I know there are people on here older than me and who had already gone through menopause and lost a significant amount of weight, so hopefully they will chime in, too.

springlering62

Lost 90, post menopause.

It’s simply calories in/calories out, and for me, a healthy dose of exercise.

I’ve learned there’s a choir of “you can’t”, where as “you can” is a solo act.

wunderkindking

I'm 43 and perimenopausal as heck.

I lose a consistent 5lbs a month and have for 6 months. Which is about the rate I'd expect. Would it be easier younger? dunno, didn't try then, but I'm not having too much trouble now. It's slowing down but in an expected and typical way re: having less weight to lose.

Oh and I should say that that 30? I only really need to lose 39 to be a healthy BMI. So that impacted my rate of weight loss as much as, if not more, than my hormonal situation. Ie: I was technically obese but I still couldn't pull of many pounds a week/month. My weight just wasn't high enough for faster loss.

spiriteagle99

I lost 35 lbs. when I was that age. Unfortunately, I went back to old eating habits and gained it back, and then some. I lost and regained 20 or so lbs. a couple of times over the next few years. When I was in my mid-50s, post-menopause, I lost 55 lbs. That time I continued to log my food and exercise, was more careful with my diet and increased my daily activity so have managed to keep it off for the past several years.

It's not age that's the problem with middle-aged women, or hormones, it's lack of activity and bad eating habits. Occasionally it's illness or certain medications that make it more difficult. A lot of middle age women have low thyroid and need medication, but once that is taken care of there is no reason you can't lose weight. With some auto-immune diseases it can be hard to exercise regularly or have a lot of energy, but losing weight can still be done.

33gail33

I did lose a large amount of weight early in perimenopause (age 43/44 - 37 lbs). I am now 55 and as I have aged I have found it more difficult to maintain and/or lose weight.

I believe one of the main things that make it more challenging as we age is sleep deprivation. A reduction in sleep quality has a negative effect on hormones that influence hunger, satiety and impulse control as well as energy levels - so if you are not sleeping well then that will have an impact. And it's hard to sleep well when your hormones are all over the place, and you are having hot flashes and night sweats. Also lower estrogen affects fat distribution and muscle mass, so it is possible we stop burning as many calories.

I don't say this to discourage you, there are loads of success stories on here and it definitely is doable! I say it to remind you to be kind to yourself in the process. I heard over and over that menopause should have no effect on weight loss, and that it should be just as easy for me, I was making excuses etc, and at times it really made me wonder what was wrong with me that it wasn't "easy" for me.

I really think that getting good sleep and keeping stress low is key (sometimes it's easier said than done.)

AnnPT77

There are lots of reasons why it's hard: Perimenopause, menopause, insulin resistance, health conditions that limit movement, health conditions like hypothyroidism among others that depress metabolism, bad genetics, poor parental influence, hating all exercise, hating all vegetables, family members who sabotage, critical or envious "friends", multi-level marketers pestering us to adopt their shakes and "coaching", muscle loss with aging, history of yo-yo dieting, too many treats in the break room at work, not knowing how to cook, not knowing how to exercise, . . . on and on and on.

Each of us chooses her focus. We can focus on why it's hard, or we can focus on how we can get around any *real* obstacles, and do it anyway. One of those is productive.

I can't speak to perimenopause. I didn't really have one: Chemotherapy put me in menopause pretty close to instantly at age 44, then I had to take anti-estrogen drugs for 7.5 years (creating a kind of hyper-menopause) to combat the fairly advanced stage cancer itself. Got diagnosed as hypothyroid after cancer treatment, also with arthritis, torn meniscus, other stuff too numerous to mention. Got really active athletically, stayed obese for another dozen years: Must have a slow metabolism, right?

Nah. Got serious at age 59, lost 50+ pounds in just less than a year (calorie counting), have stayed at a healthy weight for 5+ years since, now age 65.

Is it hard? Not as hard as I expected, for me. Made me kinda kick myself I hadn't done it many years before, because life is so much better as a healthy-weight, active woman. Easy every moment? What worthwhile thing is? Doable, for sure.

We only have so much emotional energy, as a currency to spend. Focus on why it's hard, maybe give up . . . or focus on how to do it, and commit to that. Those are the choices, pretty much.

If you look at some of the long-running threads over in the "Success Stories" area, you'll find many women who've lost weight, increased fitness, and more, either peri-menopausally, or post-menopause. It isn't doom, for sure.

musicfan68

I lost 50 lbs at around that age, over a couple of years. I don't think perimenopause has much to do with losing weight or not.

lemurcat2

I lost 90 lbs when I was 44-45. It wasn't any harder than I recall it being the only other time I lost weight (and kept it off for some time), in my early 30s. I'm losing again now (some lbs I regained during covid plus I want to get to a lower weight), and so far the weight loss part seems same as it was (I'm 51). I have been going up and down some, but that's because I haven't really been that committed and blow it off for a week or so when things come up. Not sure what that is, and am working on it, but the weight seems to come off just as it always has when I do what I did in 2014-15.

Strudders67

I'm in my early 50s and lost 47lbs simply by eating a little less than I was burning.

I reached my goal weight a year ago, and then unintentionally lost more when lockdown happened because I was out walking more (got furloughed, so not at work) and because I wasn't in the office where there always used to be an endless supply of snacks to eat. It was easier this time round because I'd found MFP, was tracking what I ate and wasn't kidding myself about my food intake.

jrh_this_better_work

I'm 51 and in the throes of perimenopause. About 7 years ago, I lost nearly 80 pounds using MFP! Sadly, through my own lack of discipline, I gained nearly 40 of that back. I'm back down 20 pounds since September 2020. It's slow going but that's because I'm choosing that journey. The hormone fluctuations during this period in my life do seem to show up more drastically (5lbs water weight on the scale when my period would normally appear when it used to be significantly less). Other than that, I'm relying on the science of CICO (mostly managed by eating less with a little exercise thrown in) and trusting that it works at any time in one's life.

vanmep

I lost 40 pounds during that period of my life. That being said, I have 10 pounds left to lose and I'm blaming menopause for the fact that I can't seem to do it - wouldn't want to blame the fact that I like my snacks, nope not doing that

missysippy930

I lost half my body weight at age 60. It was no harder than when I lost weight in my 20’s. I believed the myth for years and didn’t try. Everyone is different, but there are a lot of people, women and men, who have lost weight over 40 here. This is one myth that I wish I never heard. So much wasted time for me.

barefootbridgey

I'm younger than most on here, but peri-menopausal regardless. I'm almost 39 and have been dong this whole perimenopause thing for 2 years-ish. My mom was early also, so i should not be surprised....that being said....

I've lost about 35 lbs in the last year and I don't really notice it being any different than when I lost weight in my 20s. I have been lifting weights for the past 2 months, and I do think thtat has helped immensely, and as somebody else posted above, I do notice that my weight fluctuates a LOT more than it did when I was younger. I can tell it's hormonal because my acne and my weight are on similar patterns. It goes back down. I weight and track pretty regularly (sometimes daily) and while i know that makes some people nuts, I have found it to be a helpful way to keep all of the spikes and ridiculous fluctionations in check. If I can see that the general "line" is trending downward, I feel free to disregard the crazy outliers.

DEVikingsMom

I lost all my weight (about 30 lbs) during perimenopause. And at almost 52, I'm still (STILL!) stuck in peri.

I've mentioned this before in several threads so you may have already read it ... but ... my theory based on my myself & my perimenopausal friends is that we all eat more than what we think (pre-covid, a ton of eating out & lots of wine) and move less than we used to. None of us walk our kids to school anymore, chase after toddlers, play ball after school, etc etc. Instead of splashing at the pool with the kids, we sit & eat. Almost all of us have desk jobs.

I lost weight consistently once I honestly & accurately tracked my food AND my movement.

That being said, it wasn't easy (is it ever lol) & the monthly weight fluctuations can be crazy. I still use a daily weight tracker that helps keep me on track by smoothing out the crazies.

wunderkindking

The real advantage I've found to weight fluctuation is that I pretty consistently can tell when my period will start, based on what the scale is doing.

That's maybe backward for most but given how irregular things are right now, that's useful!

kshama2001

When I was younger I had active jobs and walked more. For me it is harder to lose weight when my activity is less. Nothing to do with age or hormones.

Pipsqueak1965

I lost around a stone then and have kept it off. So it's not impossible at all.

cupcakesandproteinshakes

Nothing changes about cals in cals out during perimenopause. I’ve lost and gained during it. I think these are just stories that get in the way of just getting on with what you need to do. It’s the same as the ‘my metabolism is slow’ story. Just not true for the majority of people

charmmeth

I have just posted ths in another thread, but here is my experience to add to that of others:

I am another of the ones who has achieved a very respectable loss (12kg, which is 2 stone; 28lbs) since May last year. I am in my late 50s. I lost about the same amount 2014-15 (pre-menopause), but put it back on again, helped by an acid reflux medication and by not keeping an eye on things in peri-menopause, during which my hunger sky-rocketed. However, I was still in my smaller clothes so it was in different places (for me especally my lower stomach area).

This time around, I found losing to normal bmi and just below a very similar experience from last time. However, losing to goal has been a lot harder, and although I touched my goal weight of 75kg just after Christmas, I regained 2kg during January which I am now losing again. I am still not there (and fortunately having a break a regain does seem to have increased my ability to lose now). My own experience has been that I have needed to log more carefully and think more about my macros this time than last time.

Looking at my weight loss graph from last time, compared to to this time, I can also see that I found it a lot easier to get below 75kg then than I am finding it this time. What I am currently not shifting at all is the bulge around my lower midriff. Maybe that will go, maybe not. On the plus side, I am miles fitter this time around and have much more muscle.

Machka9

findingmi wrote: »

Hi Everyone,
I’m 44 years old. I have been reading SO many discouraging things about attempting to lose weight during peri menopause. I wonder if anyone out there can share a story of success during this time? Thanks in advance and good luck to everyone!

Lost 25 kg when I was 48/49 during perimenopause.

Speakeasy76

If you have ANY doubts about being able to lose weight as you get older, check out this lady. I don't use the word "inspiration" loosely, but to me, she is one.

https://www.trainwithjoanofficial.com/

Littlebitofsparkle74

So glad I have found others who have peri menopause, I'm struggling with weight loss but I really need to get on top of this , my moods are as up and down as weight ,today I've decided to up my calories ,but still have a deficit as I feel I'm setting myself up for failure ever day then when I go over them I give up, I'm looking into upping my protein to see if that helps with the ravenous cravings I've been getting and to try and be a bit kinder to myself.
My joints hurt and its a real effort to move and go out for walks, although I always feel better for actually doing it, anyone else?
Anyone take any supplements/ vitamins that have helped?
Sorry I'm going on without any actual purpose , Good luck everyone we can do this

rheddmobile

Littlebitofsparkle74 wrote: »

So glad I have found others who have peri menopause, I'm struggling with weight loss but I really need to get on top of this , my moods are as up and down as weight ,today I've decided to up my calories ,but still have a deficit as I feel I'm setting myself up for failure ever day then when I go over them I give up, I'm looking into upping my protein to see if that helps with the ravenous cravings I've been getting and to try and be a bit kinder to myself.
My joints hurt and its a real effort to move and go out for walks, although I always feel better for actually doing it, anyone else?
Anyone take any supplements/ vitamins that have helped?
Sorry I'm going on without any actual purpose , Good luck everyone we can do this

One recommendation is to get your iron levels checked. I was dangerously anemic during peri and it didn’t help my activity levels at all!

springlering62

Eight years ago I was on a walker for a couple of weeks and then on a cane because of an illness that counts severe joint swelling and pain as the main symptom. It wasn’t the first time I’d had it, so there’s residual damage to this day.

The weight certainly didn’t help, either.

You either have to decide, I’m beating this joint pain, or it’s beating me. You can basically choose to be vibrant and active and stay young, or become your (mine, anyway) mother.

When it became too painful to stand up in the morning, I started stretching. It was simple and short at first, maybe ten minutes, but I loved it so much and it was clearly making a difference that it started running 30-40 minutes. It wasn’t so boring because I did long holds on the floor for the second half, and that became pet-pet time for our collection of dachshunds at the time. (Having a few between your legs puts that much more oomph into a wide legged forward fold.)

After a stretch, I could bound down the stairs, no pain.

It was shortly after I began stretching that I really took yoga seriously, and began going two or three times a week. Now I do a vinyasa or Universal style flow class every day. I can sincerely say, nothing will keep you young like yoga, and you can start at any age and any “athletic ability” (believe me, I have zero zip nada of that).

Don’t give in to your joints. Overcome them.

AnnPT77

rheddmobile wrote: »

Littlebitofsparkle74 wrote: »

So glad I have found others who have peri menopause, I'm struggling with weight loss but I really need to get on top of this , my moods are as up and down as weight ,today I've decided to up my calories ,but still have a deficit as I feel I'm setting myself up for failure ever day then when I go over them I give up, I'm looking into upping my protein to see if that helps with the ravenous cravings I've been getting and to try and be a bit kinder to myself.
My joints hurt and its a real effort to move and go out for walks, although I always feel better for actually doing it, anyone else?
Anyone take any supplements/ vitamins that have helped?
Sorry I'm going on without any actual purpose , Good luck everyone we can do this

One recommendation is to get your iron levels checked. I was dangerously anemic during peri and it didn’t help my activity levels at all!

Also add thyroid check. Joint stiffness, discomfort were among my first symtoms, and it's easily treated.

Seconding Springlering's stretching/yoga suggestion, too: Helped me even before my hypothyroidism was resolved.

Littlebitofsparkle74

Thankyou both I did get myself out for a long walk today and generally felt more motivated, I won't let my joint pain win over and Will definitely take your advice on stretching and exercising, Thankyou for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it 😊

Pipsqueak1965

I lost around a stone at about 50. Now I'm 56 and have maintained that loss - it's a myth about metabolism slowing. We just mostly get lazy and greedy.