Perimenopausal and Weight Gain/Loss

kfuog

So, I'm perimenopausal. You know: not in menopause. Not experiencing all the full blown hot flashes and night sweats. Still have my period, but it's irregular. And I'm having issues with weight gain. I think it's water retention--just as it is leading up to a period--but it seems to be constant. If I'm not actually menstruating, I seem to be retaining water.

Is anyone else experiencing this, and what did you do about it?

I already consume very little salt, so adjusting that won't help me much. I work out pretty vigorously for at least an hour 7 days per week. I am counting my calories and have been under consistently. Today I changed my goals to weight loss just because even with exercise and keeping within my calorie goal I seem to slowly go up. When my body finally decides it no longer needs to retain the water, I don't drop to where I was, but stay a little higher.

While I would welcome concrete suggestions in response, this post is mainly me wailing and inviting other women to share their wailing and venting on the topic of being perimenopausal. What's happening with your body and mind? How are you coping?

My cycles have always affected my mood, from the nightmares I have just before my period starts to the *****iness during the day. These symptoms have become exacerbated with me as well. Dark chocolate helps, but then there is the weight gain issue.

I'm just kind of hoping that I'm not alone in going through this.

NJL13500

I'm afraid that I won't be much help because I am experiencing everything that you are describing! I can't really even monitor my periods because I use the Mirena IUD and I don't get real periods with it. For the past week my boobs have also become unbelievably tender and swollen up at least a cup size.

I am planning on calling my doctor today to make an appointment and find out if it might be perimenopause. I'm about to turn 43 and I know that it might be relatively early, but I sure would like to find out what the heck is going on with me.

I weighed 130 pounds 2 1/2 months ago and have gained almost 10 pounds since then. I've been logging and exercising. At first I thought that it was water retention, but then I can get down to about 133 and then I shoot right back up to 137 or so.

I am interested to see what responses you get but also to say that you are not alone. Thanks for your post!

kfuog

NJL13500, I really hope that it is something simple for you. 43 is young for perimenopause, but everyone is different. Good luck!

Eowyn61Rox

No, you're definitely NOT alone in all this "perimenopause" crap. I am 52 and for the last couple years my periods (which I had hoped would have magically gone by now) are now becoming unpredictable for the first time in my life. One month it's super heavy and seems like it will never end--the next month it's barely there, and then it will sometimes even skip a month (which sets off a flurry of wishful thinking that "this is it!, it's gone" only to get it the next month twice as bad). ((HEAVY SIGH))

I don't have any of the menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, or huge mood swings... but, I have experienced some occasional night sweats.

But compounding all this is the fact that, try as I might, it's seems almost impossible to lose weight now! Simple portion control actions that worked in the past are definitely not working now like they did... and even exercise doesn't seem to take it off.

Maybe it's like you said, it's water retention... but I drink A LOT of water, which should help to remedy that, and still have major trouble losing weight. I bought the book "Walk Your Butt Off"... I hope that will help. Have you or anyone else found some good ways to lose the weight? (By the way, I've tried pretty much ALL the weight loss systems out there that use "other-than-normal, store-bought-food" and am not going back to them).

Anyway, it's nice to hear of others experiencing the same thing... I hope this is over soon, I certainly won't miss my period when it's finally gone!

FattieBabs

Exactly this for me too! Irregular periods, some night symptoms err all rather annoying. Last year my weight shot up 6kg in a very short period of time for no apparent reason. Had my thyroid checked but all ok so what to do? Suffered from really bad leg cramps that had my waking up screaming.

Started MFP in September in around 1600 a day and lost 20 pounds xmas but then stalled. Trying to doing weight training 2-3 times a week and slowly losing inches but the scales are hovering around 100-102 kg and wont budge! did the whole TDEE thing and upped to 1700 . slowly, very slowly starting to lose again! it is hard but i am convinced it is possible. i slip up frequently and drink too much wine which doesnt help!

Good luck with it all but be careful not to go too low on cals because if you stall you have nowhere to go! Look at weight training as well as cardio. Friend me if you like but be aware that I am trying to eat at a higher cal level and don't exercise as much as I should!

scorpiotwinkles

I am 51. I have managed to lose a lot of weight over the last year. I weight lift with hardly any cardio due to knee problems. I eat as clean as I can and drink loads of water. My weight comes off in chunks. I NEVER weigh regularly, the scales are my enemy! If I weighed every week (which I used to do) it messed with my head because it never seemed to move. I weigh monthly or even six weeks apart. I seem to lose nothing for six weeks then bam 7-10lb can go - although not now cos I have less to lose and it's more about keeping the strength training going and allowing my loose skin to catch up!

Don't under eat though - if I don't eat enough calories to maintain my exercise I stall.

FattieBabs

I would just like to say that Scorpio T is one of my role models!

happydispatcher

I am 47 and have been going through menopause for well over a year. I started having symptoms after I had my tubal ligation when my son was born in 2007. I struggle with the flashes, mood swings etc. and it is almost impossible for me to lose. Recently I upped my calories hoping that was the issue. After reading that lifting weights burns more fat than cardio I am leaning towards doing more lifting. I also have this issue with the scale. I tried weighing every day to teach myself just how much my weight fluctuates so I don't stress out so much. I used to enter any time I showed a change in weight but then learned that if I entered a gain I got very discouraged so now I only enter the losses. I wish there was a magical solution. Trial and error seems to be my norm.

FattieBabs

I log my weight most days in my food notes section but only publish losses. It is taking a long time but I do feel so much better. I am very lucky in having some motivating friends on here that don't criticise me too much when I fall but pick me up and help me to get on with it...... this is the longest I have ever stuck with diet wise and I know it will take ages but I am determined to get there. Exercising does help with the menopausal symptoms, I just wish the scales would move! Oh well.... good luck everyone

larsensue

So, I'm perimenopausal. You know: not in menopause. Not experiencing all the full blown hot flashes and night sweats. Still have my period, but it's irregular. And I'm having issues with weight gain. I think it's water retention--just as it is leading up to a period--but it seems to be constant. If I'm not actually menstruating, I seem to be retaining water.

Is anyone else experiencing this, and what did you do about it?

HOLY COW ME TO! I went to the doctor to get my thyriod and blood checked but everything is normal..... I can bloat up to 3 inches every day!! it is so horrid. I end up looking 6 months pregnant by noon and have to change my pants or suffer all day being uncomfortable!

scorpiotwinkles

I would just like to say that Scorpio T is one of my role models!

THANKS BABE!:flowerforyou: :blushing:

H1L5

I started the menopause when I was 49, I'm now 63. I have put on a stone plus and all of it has gone around my waist :-(. It is much harder for me to lose the weight now than it used to be. My first bit of advice is lose it now before it starts to get really difficult.
Next have you though t about HRT? I have never felt so well as I did when I was on it. No hot flushes, no sleepless nights, no faffing about ineffectively with the simplest task, no mood swings, no aching joints.
I stopped it when there were health scares, but I think opinion has changed. Osteoporosis is a hidden symptom of the menopause and HRT is good at maintaining bone strength. The down side is a very small increased risk of breast cancer, which I don't have in my family.
Also for dieters make sure you are eating calcium rich foods to protect bones. Dieting and menopause together could seriously affect them.

pepperpat64

I just found your post when searching "perimenopause." I'm 49, having similar problems as you and suspect that's what it is as well. I've never had such a hard time shaping up, especially with all the exercise I'm doing and how well I generally eat. My periods are still more or less on time but I think that's because I take birth control pills, which have a regulating effect. I'm going to stop them after my current batch is finished to see if my periods get more wacky, and I'm hoping it also helps with my stubborn weight loss (or lack thereof) problem. I joined MFP only a week ago I'd like to add you as a friend if that's okay. Since we're in the same perimenopause boat, maybe we can help each other out. :-)

onwarddownward

Hi, I am in the same boat. I am 48 and had my first hot flash at age 43. I was sitting at a local craft show and after getting home, thought I had gotten a sunburn, turns out it was my first hot flash. I get them facially. They feel just like a sunburn.

I don't get night sweats, but I do get hot at night. It's hard because my son Charlie has autism and can't stand to hear night breathing and snoring, so I have to keep the door shut to the bedroom and my husband is a furnace at night. So I don't sleep well.

I am STILL getting zits, which bugs me. I had my last period in the middle of May and started having period symptoms in mid-June, but it hasn't kicked over so far. I have had fluid retention and cramps, so I take a midol and that helps. I eat watermelon sometimes, too. It's a natural diuretic.

I was on hormone therapy for it back when I was 44, but I won't take it anymore. It made me sort of insane.
:noway: :noway: :bigsmile::noway: :noway: Not good.

I don't know when I am going to go into full menopause. My mom had a hysterectomy, so I have no idea when she would have hit it and my sisters have each already gone through the gate. One is 52 and the other is 56. It's a waiting game, I guess. I'd just like to know when I could take the period gear out of my purse.

sabinecbauer

Welcome, sister. The more the merrier :drinker:

52, been suffering through this perimenopausal BS for three years or so and counting.

The horrible news first: the weight gain, alas, is NOT water retention. It's all too real, I'm afraid. Basically it's to do with the body cutting down on estrogen production and, to make up for that, it tries to store the remaining estrogen in a nice, safe place. Yes, you've guessed it! That would be fat on the hips and stomach. Gee, thanks!

Basically that's why it's so dang hard to lose weight all of a sudden--the body fights to hang on to every available fat cell. Plus, the lower estrogen levels also allow all kinds of preexisting nastinesses to crawl out from under their rocks. For instance, a surprisingly high number of women will become hypothyroid or (in my case) discover that they've been hypothyroid for decades. Estrogen will mask a multitude of symptoms. Once it's gone, you're on your own. :grumble:

Unfortunately, knowing all this doesn't help. Much. For me it's particularly bitter, because just before all this rubbish started I'd lost 70-odd lbs and for the first time in my life really was where I wanted to be weight wise. About a year later the creeping menopausal gain started, and I've been fighting it ever since. With exercise and a predominantly clean diet I've managed not to balloon out of all proportion, but it's a constant battle (made worse now because, thanks to a serious foot injury, I can no longer run the way I used to).

The only light at the end of the tunnel is that it's supposed to get easier again once you tumble out the other end... which, according to my family practitioner, may well be another ten years in the future :noway:

NaomiJFoster

Me too. But actually, there is only one year that is called 'menopause'. That is the 12 months after your last period. There are usually no symptoms during that year or after. All the ugly symptoms are during the perimenopause years. They come in stages, just to make things more fun.

I'm 45 and can't wait for this to end. I've had 6 years so far of insane and whacked out periods. The hot flashes come and go, I'll get several for a few weeks and then none for a while. The bladder issues are a huge cosmic joke. The forgetfulness and irritability and irrational thinking is awful. But the weight gain was way out of control. I gained 30 pounds in 6 years. Being on here has actually been amazingly helpful.

I just can't wait for this to be over. I wish my ovaries had an off-switch.

Danni3ll3

Me too. But actually, there is only one year that is called 'menopause'. That is the 12 months after your last period. There are usually no symptoms during that year or after. All the ugly symptoms are during the perimenopause years. They come in stages, just to make things more fun.

I'm 45 and can't wait for this to end. I've had 6 years so far of insane and whacked out periods. The hot flashes come and go, I'll get several for a few weeks and then none for a while. The bladder issues are a huge cosmic joke. The forgetfulness and irritability and irrational thinking is awful. But the weight gain was way out of control. I gained 30 pounds in 6 years. Being on here has actually been amazingly helpful.

I just can't wait for this to be over. I wish my ovaries had an off-switch.

You are sort of right but then again, sort of not. You can declare that you are in Menopause once you have had a full year of no periods or if you didn't get periods like me due to surgery, your doctor does blood work that lets you know that your ovaries are no longer producing eggs. So you are right in that regard. However, as to the hot flashes stopping once you are past menopause, someone forgot to tell my body. I am well over a year past mine and I am still getting hot flashes and night sweats. The upside is that I hear that the average for this 5 years and I am holding my body to that. It will be 5 years in November.

Back to the original poster, I have been in my weight loss journey during both perimenopause and menopause so it can be done. It is slow going but it is happening. I count calories and do a lot of walking with a couple of classes of Pilates a week. Good luck!

NaomiJFoster

Me too. But actually, there is only one year that is called 'menopause'. That is the 12 months after your last period. There are usually no symptoms during that year or after. All the ugly symptoms are during the perimenopause years. They come in stages, just to make things more fun.

I'm 45 and can't wait for this to end. I've had 6 years so far of insane and whacked out periods. The hot flashes come and go, I'll get several for a few weeks and then none for a while. The bladder issues are a huge cosmic joke. The forgetfulness and irritability and irrational thinking is awful. But the weight gain was way out of control. I gained 30 pounds in 6 years. Being on here has actually been amazingly helpful.

I just can't wait for this to be over. I wish my ovaries had an off-switch.

You are sort of right but then again, sort of not. You can declare that you are in Menopause once you have had a full year of no periods or if you didn't get periods like me due to surgery, your doctor does blood work that lets you know that your ovaries are no longer producing eggs. So you are right in that regard. However, as to the hot flashes stopping once you are past menopause, someone forgot to tell my body. I am well over a year past mine and I am still getting hot flashes and night sweats. The upside is that I hear that the average for this 5 years and I am holding my body to that. It will be 5 years in November.

Back to the original poster, I have been in my weight loss journey during both perimenopause and menopause so it can be done. It is slow going but it is happening. I count calories and do a lot of walking with a couple of classes of Pilates a week. Good luck!

Oh, poop. I was really hoping that it would all just stop when I got to that point, finally.

tlwshaw

Me too. But actually, there is only one year that is called 'menopause'. That is the 12 months after your last period. There are usually no symptoms during that year or after. All the ugly symptoms are during the perimenopause years. They come in stages, just to make things more fun.

I'm 45 and can't wait for this to end. I've had 6 years so far of insane and whacked out periods. The hot flashes come and go, I'll get several for a few weeks and then none for a while. The bladder issues are a huge cosmic joke. The forgetfulness and irritability and irrational thinking is awful. But the weight gain was way out of control. I gained 30 pounds in 6 years. Being on here has actually been amazingly helpful.

I just can't wait for this to be over. I wish my ovaries had an off-switch.

You give me hope! I am 51, and have been peri for a couple of years now. However, if menopause is the 12 months, I will reach that mark in October. Maybe then I can sleep without burning up. It would be nice if I could lose some weight a little easier too.

littlepinkhearts

good lord reading all this is very depressing!!! Isn't there some way to speed this *kitten* up? I'll be 52 this year booooo. But I don't feel any where near that, thank goodness. I just started into this stuff this year. I pray it doesn't take years to get past it. God bless us all putting up with this on top of everything else we endure in our daily lives :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker:

onwarddownward

I know people who have hysterectomies suffer for years with menopausal symptoms. I find that embarrassment or upset will trigger a hot flash.

NaomiJFoster

I'm feeling very sad for those of you who didn't start this path until in your 50s. I started at around 38, as did my mom and my grandmother. It's absolutely killing me now at age 45. I feel like I'm way to old to deal with my body acting this way. But now I'm glad that I'm this 'young' for it!

My sister did it the easy way. She had very bad ovarian cysts. They removed one ovary surgically. She begged them to take both but they wouldn't do it because the other one was healthy. Well, two years later, it also had complex cysts on it. She didn't really want another surgery. So they gave her injections to put her into instant menopause. She had monthly injections for 6 months, experienced all the classic symptoms during those 6 months, and then it was over. Done. The end. Bravo!

jzammetti

NJL13500, I really hope that it is something simple for you. 43 is young for perimenopause, but everyone is different. Good luck!

I'm 42 and also in perimenopause. I started my period pretty late (15) and it is typical to start menopause early in that case.

I haven't really noticed an affect on my weight - but that may be because I started this weight loss journey about the same time I started seeing the symptoms of perimenopause so I have no baseline to compare to...

OP - I would suggest you drink lots of water every day - the warmer the weather, the more you should drink. Staying appropriately hydrated will help the weight fluctuations caused by water retention. Also, stay active - that helps the symptoms according to my mom, an RN.

sphenisciforme

It's such a relief to find this thread. I'm 50 and had a partial hysterectomy (the type where they leave the ovaries behind) when I was 38. Having no periods means no clues about when the menopause will happen. Reading the symptoms some of you have mentioned - the erratic memory is a particular problem for me - and having noticed some strong mood swings, makes me wonder if my ovaries are finally getting out of the egg production business. It could also explain why my weight loss has been on a plateau for the last year despite eating to target. Increasing or varying exercise is not an option as I have a lifetime medical ban on abs exercises, lifting and running, but at least what I have learned from this thread has provided me with a possible explanation for what may be happening ... and knowledge, as they say, is power. Thanks to the OP for raising the question, and to all who have contributed.

NaomiJFoster

NJL13500, I really hope that it is something simple for you. 43 is young for perimenopause, but everyone is different. Good luck!

43 is actually pretty normal. The majority of women begin perimenopause anywhere between 45 and 55, but the 'normal' range goes from 35-65.

And why doesn't anyone teach us about all of this? We are prepped and prepped and have every tiny detail explained to us about starting our first periods. But the only info we get about ending them, are the jokes on sit coms. Most of us end up floundering through the experience for a few years before finally figuring out what is going on. My own mom had barely even heard of it when she started at age 38, and only knew that it was something that happens to women in their 60s (even though we later found out that her mother was also in her late 30s when she started. She finally went to the doctor thinking she had cancer or something. Why aren't we taught about this part of our lives?

Galbania

I had the same problems as all of you but fortunately am over it now, and I,m only 47. I had about three horrible years before though. I don't have hot flushes anymore and feel more like my normal self again, but can't loose weight- but then I am lazy and eat far too much. I know that but I have a lot of stress with my large family and job. I think I have to de-stress a lot to loose weight. One herb that seems to replace estrogen I found is called fenugreek and you can buy it really cheap in large bags in indian grocery stores. It also regulates blood sugar. But don't take more than half a teaspoon a day, otherwise you get more problems than before. You can soak it overnight as it is quite hard and put in your muesli. It tastes pleasant, like maple syrup. Artificial maple syrup is actually made from it. Here's the link:
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-fenugreek.html
One other thing I found that helped is to mentally concentrate on your periods stopping. I know it sounds weird, but for me this worked extremely well.

Cobwellac

NJL13500, I really hope that it is something simple for you. 43 is young for perimenopause, but everyone is different. Good luck!

43 is actually pretty normal. The majority of women begin perimenopause anywhere between 45 and 55, but the 'normal' range goes from 35-65.

And why doesn't anyone teach us about all of this? We are prepped and prepped and have every tiny detail explained to us about starting our first periods. But the only info we get about ending them, are the jokes on sit coms. Most of us end up floundering through the experience for a few years before finally figuring out what is going on. My own mom had barely even heard of it when she started at age 38, and only knew that it was something that happens to women in their 60s (even though we later found out that her mother was also in her late 30s when she started. She finally went to the doctor thinking she had cancer or something. Why aren't we taught about this part of our lives?

You are right on with this. A lot of women have no idea that perimenopause can actually start in a woman's mid to late 30's, and that full menopause is normal anytime after 40.

evileen99

I'm post menopausal, and what you are experiencing is the tanking of your metabolism. It royally sucks. I have to work out harder and eat less than I did just 5 years ago to just maintain.

I highly recommend getting a BodyMedia Fit to help you see what your calorie burn is so you can adjust your eating accordingly.

ClareWantsProgress

*waves hello* Newbie here and just figured out how to search. I entered perimenopause at 39 and at 45 am dealing with the whole gamut of issues. Ob/gyn put me on Yaz to try to regulate my out-of-control periods, and when at age 44 I started getting menstrual migraines like clockwork during the "dummy pill" days, I am now taking it continually.

This does not thrill me, but I cannot function when I'm blacking out and vomiting, so what do you do? I have to work and cannot stay home in bed one week each month.

I just had my thyroid checked, and it is normal, so I'm hoping the Eat More To Weigh Less approach will work for me since I have gained 25 pounds since beginning this lovely change of life and would love to fit back into my clothes again.

ClareWantsProgress

I am 47 and have been going through menopause for well over a year. I started having symptoms after I had my tubal ligation when my son was born in 2007. I struggle with the flashes, mood swings etc. and it is almost impossible for me to lose. Recently I upped my calories hoping that was the issue. After reading that lifting weights burns more fat than cardio I am leaning towards doing more lifting. I also have this issue with the scale. I tried weighing every day to teach myself just how much my weight fluctuates so I don't stress out so much. I used to enter any time I showed a change in weight but then learned that if I entered a gain I got very discouraged so now I only enter the losses. I wish there was a magical solution. Trial and error seems to be my norm.

Just to clarify, your tubal did not cause your issues - it was just that you started perimenopause. (I had a tubal at 27 and had no symptoms whatsoever until age 39 when I started perimenopause.) I don't want women to avoid getting a tubal thinking it will cause menopause - it doesn't affect your ovaries or hormone levels in any way. Best decision I ever made!!

ClareWantsProgress

Hi, I am in the same boat. I am 48 and had my first hot flash at age 43. I was sitting at a local craft show and after getting home, thought I had gotten a sunburn, turns out it was my first hot flash. I get them facially. They feel just like a sunburn.

I don't get night sweats, but I do get hot at night. It's hard because my son Charlie has autism and can't stand to hear night breathing and snoring, so I have to keep the door shut to the bedroom and my husband is a furnace at night. So I don't sleep well.

I am STILL getting zits, which bugs me. I had my last period in the middle of May and started having period symptoms in mid-June, but it hasn't kicked over so far. I have had fluid retention and cramps, so I take a midol and that helps. I eat watermelon sometimes, too. It's a natural diuretic.

I was on hormone therapy for it back when I was 44, but I won't take it anymore. It made me sort of insane.
:noway: :noway: :bigsmile::noway: :noway: Not good.

I don't know when I am going to go into full menopause. My mom had a hysterectomy, so I have no idea when she would have hit it and my sisters have each already gone through the gate. One is 52 and the other is 56. It's a waiting game, I guess. I'd just like to know when I could take the period gear out of my purse.

I feel for you. I can't take HRT because my mom had breast cancer and I had tumors removed myself (pre-cancerous). My ob/gyn has me on continual Yaz to deal with my crazy periods and the migraines I started getting. I've gained 25 pounds in the last 5 years and cannot get it to budge, even though I was not overweight before and have always exercised regularly. I am trying the TDEE - 20% approach and hope to start seeing some results since nothing I was doing was working.