Hi and welcome. I am a Weight Watcher's veteran also and I am actually finding this easier, since calories are a little easier than trying to figure out points. Menopause does complicate things, but it will come off. We can do this together!

I have found it very hard since menopause started, but I try to remember that menopause means I am more at risk for other health issues due to the change in hormones(my family has a terrible history with heart and stroke problems) so I have to work harder at it to be there for my grandkids. Joining here helps- when you start recording you realize how the hidden calories have added up. And perhaps the cost of the gym will make you more vigilant about going. I joined a walking track last winter- while part of me said "why pay when you can go outdoors for free" the cheap part of me said "You paid so you are going"!! I found it was too easy to procrastinate before I got the membership- oh, I will go tomorrow or the weather sucks today so I will walk twice as long tomorrow. But when I knew I had paid I had no weather excuses and if I went a few days without going to the track I would get out and go so the money was worth it! Good luck- you can do it!!!!

Your history sounds much like mine. I think this time around was time #6 for me to lose weight, and I too was concerned about the menopausal factor. I met my goal in 6 months (by early December) and have been trying to stay stable through the holidays. As hard as I thought this time would be, based on prior experiences, I'll have to say that this time has really been the easiest. It has been easy for me to get myself into a food routine. I committed to myself up front that I would be honest on the food diary. My exercise routine has generally gone south, but I am otherwise doing well--back in Size 4 & 6 again, for the first time in at least 5 years.

I don't really have a strategy for keeping the weight off this time, and my gain cycle is around 5 years. I'm really hoping the diary will be a big help for me and keep me focused, even if I don't keep it everyday.

You can do this, and using mfp is really easy. There are lots of folks who use it and are happy to give encouragement.

Hi all, I am a newbie, too! Someone suggested this site on FB so I thought I'd check it out. I have thought about rejoining WW as well, but hate to pay the monthly fee. Also, I don't really like some of the people working at our center (not encouraging AT ALL), which makes going in there more difficult than it already is. My family belongs to our local rec center, but I haven't used it for quite some time. Yesterday we went to work out and play (the young kids need a place to let out some steam in our arcti temps). It felt so good to work out, breathe hard and sweat. Why don't I do this more often? I took a plunge and signed up for a 4-month fitness pass that will allow me unlimited use of the fitness classes. I plan to get started with yoga. I had an acl replacement last year and have struggled to get back where I once was with mobility and strength. yoga seems like a good place to start. Also, the elliptical is a wonderful machine for my knee.

My bipolar, a sedentary lifestyle, and peri-menopause have "helped" my weight creep up and up. It's a vicious cycle. But I look forward to encouragement and success on my new journey. And I look forward to taking my focus off of myself and what I deem all the negatives about myself and rejoicing in life, health and the opportunities to do great things for God in the coming year!

I am so glad you all are here and sharing your stories! I don't have a phone with apps, so I hope that this site allows me to keep records on the computer. I am going to wander around on the site and see what it has to offer. I'm looking forward to it. Happy New Year to you all!

I used to be a WW member too. Several years ago, I lost 30 lbs in a year with WW, but then I made the grave error of not staying a lifetime member. Then I hit early menopause (at 42) and the weight started creeping back up. I tried WW again about 2 years ago, and couldn't do it. The people at the group were NOT very encouraging this time around. I've been on MFP just over a year - I haven't lost a ton of weight, but I'm in my range now. I think as post-menopausal women, we need to focus a little more on strength training. That's been my weakest area - I've been doing well w/cardio, but I still look "flabby" and my flexibility is really bad. So one of my goals for the new year is to do more strength training, flexibility exercises and balance exercises - I'm going to get started with some kettlebells that I got for Christmas.
Happy New Year to you!