Any Menopause weight loss success stories?

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I had a hysterectomy I have Hypothyroidism and PCOS and have lost 119 pounds with about 56 more to go I don't eliminate anything but I have everything in moderation. Probably if I eliminated some not so good things like sweets I would lose faster but I also have excercise to thank as well. I am also 41 so I had all the odds stacked against me. All you need is patience and hard work and dedication and portion control if you would like to add me that would be nice.Good luck.

Wow, 119 pounds is tremendous:drinker: Thanks so much for replying!!!

krickeyuu

Yep, 21 lbs and several sizes down. Calories in < Calories out=weight loss. I eat what I want, just less that I was before. I drink what I want, just less that I did before. I exercise 30-45 minutes every day. Belly fat is the last to come off. I am still working on that through lifting weights. Open diary.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I had success post-menopause by cutting out most processed foods, keeping my carbs fairly low and walking everday. I've now added some strength training as well.

Good luck to you in your journey.

Wow...this sounds like the EXACT recipe for success for me, thanks for posting!

mforsis

The good news is I don't get the water weight increase each month (5 - 10 lb) . The bad news is metabolism is slower so it is harder to lose the weight. That should be good news for younger women as it gives them another reason learn to eat healthy and stay their healthy weight younger.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

Yep, 21 lbs and several sizes down. Calories in < Calories out=weight loss. I eat what I want, just less that I was before. I drink what I want, just less that I did before. I exercise 30-45 minutes every day. Belly fat is the last to come off. I am still working on that through lifting weights. Open diary.

Thanks for posting!!! My ugly belly fat and flab is the first to come off...BUT ONLY if and when I cut back on stuff and work-out daily--it does seem to be harder for me these days, harder mentally especially too :ohwell:

lkc2854

I went through menopause at the age of 41 and weighed 212 pounds at the time at 5'5".

When I retired from the post office 4 years ago at the age of *almost* 55 and quit smoking, my weight went up to 238. I started working out 4 days a week -- 2 days cardio and strength training and 2 days water aerobics. I began focusing on protein and whole grains, cutting out all refined carbs (flour, sugar, etc.), reduced my fat intake and replaced the sodas with water.

In 11 months, I went from 238 pounds to 137 pounds and have kept it off for over 2 years now. I'm just amazed at the amount of calories I can eat and still maintain my weight. But I'm told that the consistent exercise causes my body to burn calories more efficiently.

I just turned 59 and feel better than I did when I was in my 30's.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I went through menopause at the age of 41 and weighed 212 pounds at the time at 5'5".

When I retired from the post office 4 years ago at the age of *almost* 55 and quit smoking, my weight went up to 238. I started working out 4 days a week -- 2 days cardio and strength training and 2 days water aerobics. I began focusing on protein and whole grains, cutting out all refined carbs (flour, sugar, etc.), reduced my fat intake and replaced the sodas with water.

In 11 months, I went from 238 pounds to 137 pounds and have kept it off for over 2 years now. I'm just amazed at the amount of calories I can eat and still maintain my weight. But I'm told that the consistent exercise causes my body to burn calories more efficiently.

I just turned 59 and feel better than I did when I was in my 30's.

What???!!!???? WOW...you're my shero, thank you so much for posting this super encouraging reply!!!!

:drinker:

ktrn0312

Bump

dym123

I'm starting to have pre-menopausal systems, they started about a year ago and then stopped, then last week the hot flashes came back with a vengeance. It looks like I'm already doing what other women have done, working out and eating right and strength training. Hoping that's enough to keep my metabolism up so that I prepared when the real thing hits.

JNALTBK

Hi ... Im 67 years old and about 15 years post-menopausal. Have been struggling with my weight and yo-yo dieting most of my adult life and have used every excuse in the book for not being able to either lose weight, or keep it off once I lost it. I don't think that being post-menopausal is an excuse for staying overweight. But I don't think I can lose weight as quickly as I did when I was younger. I find that keeping my carbs low, getting lots of good lean protein, veggies, and some fruit, along with keeping more active than I find comes naturally really helps. It's taken me 2 years to lose 31 lbs and I still have about that much to go, and I'm o.k. if it takes another two years to achieve that. I found that anytime I've lost weight quickly, it went back on just as quickly so now I'm taking the "scenic route" instead of the "freeway", and refusing to give up even if there are setbacks from time to time. As long as I keep plugging away, the scale will slowy move in the right direction and I've learned to like myself where I am, but at the same time look forward to reaching my goal. Don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck!!

LinFlemmer331

Bump

lemonhead66

Bump

Tootce01

Bump

CarlieeBear

Lifting also helps with metabolism. Thanks for the reminder that I'm also helping my bones :-) I'm not menopausal yet, but think I'm getting close :-( My last two periods were a couple weeks apart, which I think is probably peri-menopause related.

Also...the fact that there are skinny older ladies is evidence that you can lose after menopause...they lost/didn't gain=I can lose

The boring old count-calories-and-maintain-the-right-deficit drill works for me. Strength training is really important in menopause, because older women lose bone mass really easily. Don't be afraid to lift slow and heavy because it has been found to improve bone density as well as strength. There's no point in being a thin but helpless old woman with fragile bones. We need to lift weights so that we can enjoy the quality of life that we'd prefer.

It's harder as we get older because our metabolisms are slower. We don't burn as much for exercise and we can't eat as much, either. The margin for error is thin, and it's really easy to underestimate our food calories and overestimate our exercise calories.

A food scale helps keep me honest. This calorie counter: http://www.everydayhealth.com/food-fitness/calories-burned helps me find the right number for my exercise calories.

CarlieeBear

...difficulty with "short arms" in the bathroom,...

Sadly, I know exactly what you mean here....thanks to you, I realized that I no longer have that problem! Now there's an interesting NSV for you! :-)

Appletree5

I came out the menopause at 39 - everything finished, and slowly but surely - consistantly put on weight, not because of the menopause- but because of what I ate. At 50 I got a wake up call about my weight, and started dieting Nov 12 and to date have lost 44 lbs.

Sabine_Stroehm

I came out the menopause at 39 - everything finished, and slowly but surely - consistantly put on weight, not because of the menopause- but because of what I ate. At 50 I got a wake up call about my weight, and started dieting Nov 12 and to date have lost 44 lbs.

Perhaps it was a combination of what you ate and menopause...

healthywtb

I am 53 and have been in menopause for several years now due to a partial hysterectomy. I have been logging in MFP for 100 days today, and I have only lost 6 lbs. I have about 10 - 15 additional pounds that I would like to lose. Very slow weight loss , and I have been at a plateau for about 6 weeks now. I have lost several inches though, and gained muscle and strength. I have some parathyroid and maybe thyroid issues, so my weight loss may be very slow compared to other people. I am gluten free, dairy free, and low sodium for health reasons, and a vegetarian by choice. I generally keep to simple unprocessed foods, but I do have too many sweets, I think. I am trying to increase my protein and decrease my sugar. I exercise 45 - 60 minutes almost every day, and have added strength and try to do interval cardio, which has increased my endurance. I generally eat 1200 - 1300 calories, or a little more. The rate of weight loss is very different for different individuals, but you can do it, and as some people said in this post, by logging you may be able to see what works best for you. Good luck!

BridgeKiki

I love your story. I have been in the back row way to many times, or I just didn't get in the picture. I am waiting till I can feel comfortable standing in the front --- Thanks for sharing.

Aarjono

I have managed to lose 140 pds in 14 months and been going through menapause for just over 8 moths now so it is do able just keeping on track with calories and exercise is all i have been doing.

This is good to know. I started this journey in earnest in January, and at the same time, the night sweats and skipping TOMs started. I knew this was going to be harder than it was when I was younger, but hopefully I'm tougher now.

Aarjono

...difficulty with "short arms" in the bathroom,...

Sadly, I know exactly what you mean here....thanks to you, I realized that I no longer have that problem! Now there's an interesting NSV for you! :-)

OMG, I thought I was the only person that had this problem. :blushing:

time2bhealthy

bump

smilebhappy

bumping ~ read later

MsDover

I was 60 last summer. I've actually found it easier to lose weight since menopause (4 years into it). I haven't really eliminated any food, though I try to eat less refined sugar and more protein and complex carbs. Despite having my hip replaced 6 1/2 weeks ago I try to stay active and have been going to physical therapy using a stationary bike, treadmill, etc. until I can get out walking again, which I am easing into now that the weather is improving. I now weigh less than I did when I graduated from high school in 1970, though it is definitely redistributed into slightly different locations! As of today I weigh 113 pounds (5'1") and while my initial goal weight was 115 I've decided to shoot for 110. Not killing myself to get there... only lost 1 pound in the last month, but still headed in the right direction. I feel and look better than I did at 30!

carolyn000000

I weigh less now than I did ten years ago, before menopause hit. I work out 5 days a week for an hour, and log food everyday. I also take bio identical hormone replacement. I did tons of reach and they are actually quite safe.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I was 60 last summer. I've actually found it easier to lose weight since menopause (4 years into it). I haven't really eliminated any food, though I try to eat less refined sugar and more protein and complex carbs. Despite having my hip replaced 6 1/2 weeks ago I try to stay active and have been going to physical therapy using a stationary bike, treadmill, etc. until I can get out walking again, which I am easing into now that the weather is improving. I now weigh less than I did when I graduated from high school in 1970, though it is definitely redistributed into slightly different locations! As of today I weigh 113 pounds (5'1") and while my initial goal weight was 115 I've decided to shoot for 110. Not killing myself to get there... only lost 1 pound in the last month, but still headed in the right direction. I feel and look better than I did at 30!

Say WHAT????!!!!!?????? 60?????!!!!!?????

No WAY...you look like you're 20-25 years old MAX! I'm so proud of you--WOW!

Pamko57

I'm 55 and have been post menopausal several years. I gained about 70 pounds between 2001 and 2011, mostly from getting back into the habit of drinking Coca Cola. I lost about 13 pounds between my 2011 and 2013 check up (November to November). Spurred on by that success, I decided to quit drinking pop cold turkey. I allowed myself all the Zero I wanted the first week, but after that, I didn't want even the Zero. I had a dusty exercise bike in the garage, so I dusted it off and started out riding 15 minutes a day. I'm up to 50 6 x a week. I'm eating around 1500 calories a day, sometimes less. Maybe 1600ish on Saturdays.

I had lost 128 pounds the year I turned forty. I'm really pretty much just doing what I did then, except that my cardio was walking. I walked five miles a day back then, but my knees are shot. I know a lot of people look down on "spinning," but it's better than not exercising at all.

I was also fortunate in that I had some really good trainers for strength training, as I was a teacher the last time I lost weight. A very knowledgable coach agreed to show me and some other ladies how to lift. I bought my own weights when I quit teaching. I dragged those out and haven't missed a workout day (4 days, alternating upper and lower body) since November. It's like once I started doing what I know to do, my body just knew what to do. I will say that I lost the weight before on 1800 calories a day. Now, I'm at 1500, but as my son (a CPA/part time boot camp instructor) says, you just can't expect your body to be as efficient at 55 as it was at 40 (or certainly 25).

The thing for me is knowing this is a marathon, not a sprint. I want to be around a long time for my kids, grands and someday perhaps greats. (My oldest grand is only 9, so hopefully a long way down the road.) I tend to have longevity in my family. My grandparents and their siblings all lived to be at least mid-80's, and several great grandparents lived well into their 90's. My grandma was very disabled the last 5 years of her life, for no reason other than she gained 60 pounds after my mom died, and she was not a small woman then. She went from around 220 to around 280. Yes, she had issues. Her only child was murdered, and I admit I enabled her, because food was her only comfort. But if I'm gonna be around, I want to be as healthy as possible.

I digress. I realize it's a process, getting this weight off and maintaining it, but I agree with the poster who said strength training is important, but it's also important to find out what works for you and do it. For me, it's eat less; move more, including lots of cardio and strength training.

Pamko57

Forgot to say that including the 13 I lost in the year between check ups and the 3 I lost before MFP, I'm actually down 51 pounds. I want to drop another 50-ish. I hope to get to 188 by summer, then spend the summer knocking out the last 20.

MsDover

I was 60 last summer. I've actually found it easier to lose weight since menopause (4 years into it). I haven't really eliminated any food, though I try to eat less refined sugar and more protein and complex carbs. Despite having my hip replaced 6 1/2 weeks ago I try to stay active and have been going to physical therapy using a stationary bike, treadmill, etc. until I can get out walking again, which I am easing into now that the weather is improving. I now weigh less than I did when I graduated from high school in 1970, though it is definitely redistributed into slightly different locations! As of today I weigh 113 pounds (5'1") and while my initial goal weight was 115 I've decided to shoot for 110. Not killing myself to get there... only lost 1 pound in the last month, but still headed in the right direction. I feel and look better than I did at 30!

Say WHAT????!!!!!?????? 60?????!!!!!?????

No WAY...you look like you're 20-25 years old MAX! I'm so proud of you--WOW!

Thanks! I promise, I'm 60... born in 1952! I saw the Beatles twice! I was blessed with good genes. My mom lived to be 80 and even in declining health she looked 20 years younger. She had red hair, too, and only got one little streak of gray hair. I can't say the same! :glasses:

newmelady

I am 56. I started counting calories and eating clean in mid July 2012. By October, I had lost 20-22 pounds and I am stuck there. I am neither loosing inches nor pounds.
I need to lose another 10 pounds. I have started with 4 kg dumbbells workouts three times a week. I wont mind if I get some muscles and lose the fat at the same weight.