how are perimenopausal women finding creative ways to lose weight?

shaunna898

claireychn074

I log everything I eat and cut calories by c200 each day 🤷‍♂️ it’s not exciting. It’s not creative. It’s not a hack. But it works.

glassyo

I was going to say I ate less than I burned when I went through perimenopause but I thought it might sound snarky :)

AnnPT77

Personally, I don't think it's different in menopause. I'm saying that as someone who lost 50ish pounds 9+ years ago, in menopause (at 59-60) - while severely hypothyroid if that matters (I think it doesn't, when properly medicated) - now still at a healthy weight.

The only differences are from aging, and those aren't huge. The basic process is still the same at any age or stage.

The few differences: As we age, we tend to become gradually and subtly less active, and to lose muscle mass unless we're working pretty smartly to keep/improve it. Both of those things are reversible, by taking actions under our control: More activity (daily life stuff or exercise or both), and strength exercise. We're also somewhat more likely to metabolize certain nutrients less efficiently, including protein as well as some micronutrients, making good overall nutrition even more important . . . which it ideally always would've been, but wasn't, for many of us. Some nutrients, including protein, are better absorbed in later years if we spread them through the day instead of focusing them mostly in one meal.

So, the way to lose weight in menopause is to eat the right number of calories, not try to lose weight crazy-fast, get some manageably challenging exercise (especially strength exercise), and work on getting good overall nutrition, especially but not exclusively ample good-quality protein.

That's unsurprising, even boring, and not particularly creative . . . but I think it's true.

Also, we don't need to perfect it all at once. Gradual changes in habits will deliver results, and that approach can be more achievable.

There are no hacks or "weird tricks". Despite that, a whole raft of marketers and influencers will try to convince us that it's oh-so-very-complicated, so special, that we need their menopause-busting advice in order to succeed. That's nonsense, but if we figure that out, those people are out of business. Until then, they'll be trying to sell us on their workout plan, diet, supplements, self-help books, and more. Bleah.

Don't fall for it. The boring old health-promoting basics work: Appropriate calories, mostly nutrient dense foods (plus a few treats for joy), fun (or at least tolerable/practical) exercise, and activity in daily life.

It is true that some women will find menopause symptoms more manageable with HRT. I don't do that (can't, because of a personal history of estrogen-fed cancer). But that's a question to discuss with your doctor.

Best wishes - the rewards are worth the effort.

Alatariel75

Channelling my perimenopause enhanced rage into physical activity.

Fitgoal90

I have a few clothes that I wore at my smallest as motivation. Once I can wear them again, I will feel good and want to work to stay there.