menopause & hormones

shakybabe

I'm looking for women going through an early menopause, peri-menopause or who have already been through it whilst trying to lose weight.

My monthly cycle has been getting lighter all year and this months never actually arrived (the cravings and cramps did, but no actual period).. I've been told weight gain is inevitable but after working so hard to get 2 stone off and still another stone (14 lbs) to go. well 18 lbs as I want to reach 9st 3 first!.... I don't want to pile it all back on again.

I know for women hormone is the biggest obstacle to weight lost particuarly Estrogen and Cortisol, I've been looking at Puriance for Women which claims to help balance these hormones to control your cravings (and I get really bad ones for chocolate and brandy & coke every month!) and so help you with your weight loss journey.

Has anyone tried it? It's a UK product so not sure if its available to US, here's the link

http://www.puriance.co.uk/how_works_women.html

It seems to contain chromium which I've heard mentioned as useful supplement on here before and Green Tea... which I have tried drinking but can't stand the taste of.. couldn't even get one drink of it down so had to throw the teabags away.

They have a money back guarantee, most people only seem to have lost a couple of stone on them but I've only got 18lb to go now anyway so anywhere near 14lb loss I'd be happy with. Are they worth a try or would it work out cheaper to buy the seperate supplements?

They seem the only ones to specifically target womens hormone issues and thought they might help me keep weight off after I've worked so hard, if it is an early menopause I'm going through. (I'm 42 and also Hypothyroid which probably slow metabolism further too)

Thanks

FitnessBarbie99

I am with you sister! I will be 52 in May. My periods are coming closer and closer together -- 20 to 24 days apart. Doc says they will start to spread out and skip next. So my guess is that my hormones aren't too bad right now, but of course, soon they might be.
I started on MFP and joined a gym on Nov. 21 this year. Mostly, I wanted to avoid any holiday weight gain as I refuse to gain another pound as I was already uncomfortable. Also, I want to be ready for when my hormones do start to bounce around.
I am doing a good bit of work on the weight machines at the gym -- 4 to 5 15 - 20 mins. sessions a week. And I don't fool around, I am really working hard.
I figure the extra muscle will help with any metabolic downshift that will occur next year.

According to Red Hot Momas class I went to ground flaxseed is a really great substance to consume.

Another article I read on how to alleviate symptoms said the most important thing is to ---

EXERCISE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED UPON IT.

kbanzhaf

Hi,

I lost all of my weight about five years after having a complete hysterectomy, and a couple after going off of all hormone supplements. I also take generic Synthroid as I have had low thyroid issues for probably about ten years too.

I lost weight when my doctor sent me to a dietician who made me change the way I eat as a way to avoid taking insulin.

It is VERY possible to lose weight even with both of these issues......and that's what they are....issues, NOT excuses.

Good luck!
Kaye

MzBug

Since you are already taking a thyroid hormone you might want to speak to your doctor or pharmacist before adding in something that is supposed to have an effect on hormones. Some over the counter supplements don't mix well with prescription drugs. Don't take the websites claims for truth....talk to a professional.

shakybabe

Thanks guys... its good to know its still possible to keep weight off even if I am gonna get an early menopause.. though I'm hoping its just cos I went a bit mad with the exercise the week before.. and hopefully January's will arrive!

The stuff in Puriance claims to help with the cravings that Estrogen and Cortisol causes and green tea to boost metabolism again after they slow it down I guess, it doesn't mention thyroid hormones. I wouldn't get them before xmas now anyway to start anyway and have review beginning of January for my thyroxine at doctors so I could ask.

I was just worried if this was early menopause coming that all the last 6 months hard work would have been for nothing and it wouldn't be possible to lose any more (and even gain it all back) if my hormones were going haywire!

It's interesting you lost weight after coming off hormone replacements? I always thought I'd have to take them when periods ended for rest of life?

MzBug

My "peri" symptoms started in my late 30's....I am now 48 and STILL in it. Due to other issues and family history my doc doesn't want me to take any "feminine help" supplements as she calls them. Eatting better 90% of the time has helped a lot with the cravings, if I leave the junk alone and TRY to eat lower carb when they kick, it seems that they pass quicker or just a little of the item takes care of the craving. I try to leave some room in my diary for those couple weeks to accommodate them. I just kind of got used to the "hit and miss" cycles the last couple years, and always have products on hand. That is the biggest irritation...sometimes there isn't any warning...no cravings, no mood swings, no flushing, no sensitivity, no cramps...just "HI THERE!". Not much I can do about it, so I just learned to "roll" with it.

I have lost weight even being in peri. Some days go better than others...but it is possible to lose the weight. It may not be going as quick as I would like....but it is going.

shakybabe

well this month I had the choc cravings so I was expecting them.. I had read our metabolism is naturally higher that time of the month so thought if I got a good workout in every day, once the water dropped I might lose another 3-4lbs besides the water.. however it kind of backfired on me,, they never actually came even though I had the cramps sat, sun which would have been the first two days when the cramps are usually bad and its heaviest, but by Tuesday the water had dropped off so I figured it must not be coming this month.

I wondered if I'd overdone the exercise so planned to not exercise 'PMT week' next month to see if it came as normal, as it was on time in November. They have been on time but have been getting lighter throughout this year and not lasting as long... so I wondered if it was peri-menopause, before they didn't arrive this month.

Suzannejl

I hear you too! One month I was afraid I was PG, but oh no just very very late! I started MFP back in March and have lost around 18#'s. My biggest thing was to quit drinking pop(especially mt. dew) and sugar in my tea. I found Lipton's Kiet Green Tea Citrus in the 16.9 fl oz (or 500ml) bottle to be very tasty and a great substitute, especially when I get a sweet tooth. Brewing green tea is tricky to get it just right. I was told to let the boiling water sit for just a few minutes before pouring it into the tea pot, then add the tea bag(I use one for the whole pot), I only steep mine for 3-5 min and out it goes! Very tasty, but I definitely find loose leaf tea tastes soo much better than bagged tea. Jasimine green tea is quite nice, I found some in China town once.

I found when I was exercising a lot, my periods were more regular. In July we were in a nasty nasty car wreck and my shoulder is pending surgery so I have been just maintaining. But I am happy that I haven't gone up! These past few weeks with christmas cookies and brunches have been soooo hard, and I've been bad, so I trying to be much better about logging in and tracking everything I eat or do!

Like they said it's doable. Remember fat weighs less than muscle! Good luck.

shakybabe

sorry to hear about your car crash. I hope your shoulder gets better soon.

I had been managing exercise regularly and they did used to be regular but I went a bit overboard this week trying to burn about 1,000cals a day doing 2-3 workouts in a day.. I figured if my metabolism was naturally higher I'd burn loads! .. but I didn't lose any extra.. only the extra water I put on... so not sure why it didn't work and they didn't arrive.

We don't celebrate thanksgiving here thankfully (for my diet!) so I only have xmas day to cope with huge amount of calories. Luckily I get some new games xmas day so can get started on a new routine Boxing day and hopefully I can lose some more after xmas!

Suzannejl

Thanks, it could have been so much worse! Thankful for our blessings.


Heard about this on the news the other day: two day a week zero carbs, was found to be better than just plain low carb or low cal.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2071903/Strict-diet-days-better-calorie-counting-week.html

Haven't been able to give up carbs for a whole day yet though cuz I keep stealing christmas cookies, and of course TOM is here today! LOL

shakybabe

Carbs are in most veggies too aren't they? how are you meant to avoid them completely even if you only have veg and meat or fish for dinner?

My cravings are driving me nuts!.. third week of them now.. my actual period arrived last night, a week late! ... so woke up with choc cravings for breakfast when I'd just managed to eat healthily for one day and thought they had gone off!.. that's three weeks of cravings and cramps before they actually started.. I can't do this every month.. never gonna lose weight with 3 weeks of choc cravings every month!

So gonna have to find something that works for the cravings, so I'm thinking of trying this Puriance, it has to be worth a go.. if I don't get through as much chocolate next month... lol! .. other wise this last 18lbs is never gonna come off!