PeriMenopause and slower weight loss

tyresank

Well I have been eating well now for 6 wks. My sodium is higher than I would like but I am trying to work on that, as it seems many of the protein shakes and such have at least 340mg of sodium but I have reduced it greatly. I am now up to 14-16 glasses of water per day, and never less than 9 in day. Actually some days I just cannot seem to get all 16 down, so I made a rule that worse case 9 glasses. I los my 1st 9 lbs in 7 days, then the next 3.5 the following week, then proceeded to show a 2lb gain and have been back and forth with that for a few weeks to finally show as of yesterday a total of 14.6. So is not bad on average at all, but at only .5 for the last two weeks a bit disapointing. I am on 1300 cals per day to achieve 2lbs per week. I presume I need to look at the total amount fo the 6 wks which is 2lbs and not just the last 2.5 wks of .5 or less. I only hope that going into the next weeks that things pick up from .5lbs per week because so often in the evenings I am still hungrey, I want to see some better results if I have to suffer. My nutritionsit has advised staying on 1300 period, not to even think about the added calories from any workout..:laugh: :ohwell:

Whilst I was inactive this past year, I have now worked up to 5 times a week walking 3 miles and often 6 days, with some weight training as well for 15-20mins 3-5 times a week. Maybe my body feaked out and just does not understand the major change.

I am 53, 5'9" and I have a feeling my age and peri-menopause may be at fault, in the old days I really could loose 2 lbs a week every week without too much issue, so I guess the next month will be my test.

Anyone esle out there having any issues with the AGE factor?

muitobem

I'm sorry, but your nutritionist telling you not to eat back your exercise calories is wrong...When I started eating mine back, either a small portion of them or most of them, I began losing weight again...
Then when I hit a plateau, I started zig zagging my calories(eating a different amount of calories everyday but still eating the same amount of calories for the whole week) I started losing again...
Yes, it's a bit harder when we get older to lose...but we have to actually shake things up a bit because ours as well as anyone elses body gets used to the same old routine...so about every six weeks, I change things up...
From the way I eat, to the way I exercise......
I"m almost 50 yrs of age.......

fitnessmonthly

I have been having the same problem for 2-3 years it is so difficult, my husband 2 years older than me agile with the same weight for 15 years.
I try eating low carb,low sugar,low sodium nothing seems to be budging this weight,maybe liposuction is the only way. To tell you the truth I tell all the young women natural estrogen in the body is so good which gives good skin ,keeps you agile weightloss is easy. Of course everyone knows supplemention with estrogens one runs a risk of cancer. So all we have to do is keep a very very close eye on calorie intake and keep exercising. I think the book "Younger next year" clearly explains it.

rrrbecca11

I am 54, post menopause, and I eat most of my exercise calories back every day. I did have some trouble keeping my desired weight while I was going through the main part of menopause, but it has leveled out nicely now. I have my intake set at 2000 calories a day and usually have an extra 250 or so to play with. I drink at least 12 glasses of water a day. Also, you mentioned sodium. I have mine set at 1500 and rarely go even a little over that. That might be one of your problems right there.

bcattoes

Honestly, all that sound just crazy to me. Forcing down water, protein shakes when your exercise is a little strength training and walking, not eating back exercise calories??? I would suggest drinking normal amounts of water (6-8 glasses a day, more if you are thirsty) dropping the amount of sodium you eat, eating real fresh food instead of protein shakes or premade meals and eating back enough of your exercise calories so that you are never hungry.

I'm 50 so I know all too well that perimenopause does cause a natural slowing of the metabolism and makes weight loss a little harder. But sensible eating and regular exercise is still the best way IMO.

rrrbecca11

eating real fresh food instead of protein shakes or premade meals and eating back enough of your exercise calories so that you are never hungry.

Hear, hear!! I'm religious about whole foods only. NO protein shakes, nothing processed. No junk food. Rarely eat anyone's cooking but my own. Kick that crap to the curb.

LisaC1026

bump for later

shakybabe

back up.... you lost 1 st 9 lbs in 7 DAYS???? . and you consider that slow?????

It took me 4 months to lose 9 lbs... that's slow!!!

Its usually not recommended to lose more than 2 lbs a week to be 'healthy'... I can't see how someone can lost 1st 9lbs in 7 days and it be healthy or 'slow'?

tyresank

Thanks for the input. Anyone that is 250+ typically will lose a lot the 1st week and it may be 9 lbs but mostly water weight, so that really has nothing to do with my main issue, the last 3.5 wks the weight is .5 per wk. Water well I like to drink and do so all day long, and it best it is water instead of diet cokes which I prefer, so typically I drink 4 bottles of water which just happens to around 12 glasses of water sometimes more if I am working out more... I am not forcing it down some days I just want more than others.

I did not mention that I had a gastric bypass 7 yrs ago, and it is very hard for me to get the amount of protein I need per my doctor's instructions if I do not have one protein shake per day which I do and it is 30 grams of protein. Trying to have 60-80g per day is very difficult for me if I do not use one shake to help me along. I gained 40 lbs over the last 16 mths and am working hard to get them off!!

If anyone know an easier way to get that much protein let me know... I eat plenty of fish, chicken, and have bison once per week, but still hard to get the needed protein. I eat plenty of fresh veggies both lunch and dinner and rarely and processed foods with exception to my one shake with Whey protein or when on the go I have to use a pre-prepaired one.

I think I have been nervous about eating back my calories for fear of weight gain, but I will take your advise and give that a try, maybe not all of them, but 1/2.

Thanks again

PS I have no idea about BLOG language or text shorthand, so I have not idea what BUMP is suppose to mean... Someone give me the definition...

MzBug

For those of us that are perimenopausal if you stay on track for a few months you will start to notice trends. Your hormones do affect your loss rate, but over time seem to average out. At the beginning of any life style change (diet or exercise) you will have a great drop. It will lessen, and sometimes stop altogether. Your body is a complex organism and doesn't always seem to make sense in how it chooses to function. Don't give up, it just takes time.

Bump = saving the topic under "my topics" to read later

tyresank

MzBug, Thanks for the input, I think you are right...
thanks for the defiintiion to BUMP... so clueless was I...

Hearts_2015

interesting ideas... be back to read a bit more.. :flowerforyou:

lynnsc

I like menozac, it helped my perimenopausal symptoms and improved my insomnia. I found out about it at http://hotflashremedyreview.org

lizziebeth1028

Hi there TYRESANK,

I just sent you a invitation to a Perimenopause/menopause group on MFP. You can connect with a lot of other women in the same situation as you. I know myself...I'm in perimenopause now, my metabolism slowed down a lot and I got thick around the middle. It was so frustrating because I've always been at a healthy weight and have worked out since I was 19 years old. It was like one day I woke up and was all squishy and flabby....yuck! It takes a more hard work and discipline now....but I was able to drop a few and pounds some inches. I'm mainly here for maintenance, but if I lost 5 more pounds it would be awesome:)

Hang in there!

vpsmith14

Oh man, you need to eat back those exercise calories. At least most of them. Listen to what people are saying here who have actually put it into practice. I am 50 and workout 6 days a week intensely burning between 500 to 800 calories according to my HRM and I eat back nearly everyone. Not always, but most of the time and it is keeping me losing. Zigzagging is important too.

TheHerbGarden

Hi all,
I am 42 and perimenopausal with periods coming and going as and when they feel like it etc, etc... I was offered HRT by my doctor but have refused as I would like to manage this natural process that every woman has to go through with exercise and natural diet. I found a recipe for a loaf cake to help with menopause symptoms and provides a lot of essential vitamins and minerals. It is in a book called Eat To Beat Menopause by Linda Kearns ISBN 0-00-714514-4. It may not work for everyone as we are all different but i'm giving it a go. Its full of good stuff so can't do any harm. It is high in calories but 95% fat free. If anyone wants the recipe contact me :happy: .
I am on 1200 calls a day and manage to fit a slice (506cals) cut in two and divided between breakfast and lunch. I add tons of salad with it for lunch. Ingreadients include soya flour, whole wheat flour, almonds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, oats, linseeds, stem ginger, ground nutmeg/cinnamon and ginger,soya milk and malt extract.
I want to finally get rid of this excess weight before the menopause starts proper. :flowerforyou: