Peri-menopause and belly fat
Replies
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"There's no strong data to show that weight gain is related to menopause," says Margery Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society. "There are age-related weight changes that affect everyone, men and women." For example, a slowing metabolism makes it harder to lose weight, and women need to eat less and exercise more just to maintain their weight. Hormonal changes can make it difficult to stick to a healthy weight, but they don't cause weight gain, Gass says.
Once you hit perimenopause, the good, lean muscle mass with the faster metabolic rate is depleted, says Christiane Northrup, ob-gyn and author of The Wisdom of Menopause. "Everything changes. That's why you could be the same weight as in high school, but the fat replaces the muscle and takes up more room and weighs less."0 -
"There's no strong data to show that weight gain is related to menopause," says Margery Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society. "There are age-related weight changes that affect everyone, men and women." For example, a slowing metabolism makes it harder to lose weight, and women need to eat less and exercise more just to maintain their weight. Hormonal changes can make it difficult to stick to a healthy weight, but they don't cause weight gain, Gass says.
Once you hit perimenopause, the good, lean muscle mass with the faster metabolic rate is depleted, says Christiane Northrup, ob-gyn and author of The Wisdom of Menopause. "Everything changes. That's why you could be the same weight as in high school, but the fat replaces the muscle and takes up more room and weighs less."
This makes alot of sense to me. Thanks for sharing
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I'm 58 and already went thru it :-/. What worked for me:
1) remifemine which I got at health food store
2) a fan on the night stand at night whether it was winter or not and slept in shorts and tank top
3) 30 min power walk 6 days a week
4) strength training 3 times a week ( used weights, stretchie band, resistance belt, )
Went thru it smoothly. Yes I have some belly fat and working on that as well. Started lifting 3 times a week and cut back on cardio as that can back fire on you so no more 60 min cardio for me. Now 30-40 min cardio 3 times a week . Taking 1 day of rest 0 -
This was my first sign too...2 months after my 40th birthday! I was 28 days always then I got it 21....then it went back to 28 then sometimes it is 34...usually it is 25. My calendar is a mess of p21? p28? etc etc.... It became quite light and lasted a full 7-10 days too. ALthough sometimes I will get it very light for a few days then it will stop and then it will be like a normal or very heavy period for 3-4 days. More cramps and WAY more psychotic PMS emotional rollercoaster. I am going to check out that book too because I work out HARD 5-6 times a week and generally eat 1400 healthy clean eating cals a day and Im lucky if I can lose a pound a month. I am 43 now and can't wait for this to be over! I feel like my life revolves around my period.So I started the book "menopause makeover" and had a question:
The author (who writes well and is a hoot!) says
Have others seen that? for me THAT was the most recent sign!IRREGULAR PERIODS This is probably the first symptom you noticed. When you begin to go through menopause, your periods start to get a bit unpredictable. You may notice spotting, heavier or lighter bleeding and your periods may be longer or shorter.
Jonekos, Staness (2012-04-01). The Menopause Makeover (Kindle Locations 331-333). Harlequin Enterprises. Kindle Edition.
for ME it started with dizziness, crankiness, night sweats, and then weight "shifts", then hot flashes, and THEN my period went goofy.
I was 24 days like clock work (including night sweats the three nights before my period started at 5am on day 24) until the last year.0 -
This was my first sign too...2 months after my 40th birthday! I was 28 days always then I got it 21....then it went back to 28 then sometimes it is 34...usually it is 25. My calendar is a mess of p21? p28? etc etc.... It became quite light and lasted a full 7-10 days too. ALthough sometimes I will get it very light for a few days then it will stop and then it will be like a normal or very heavy period for 3-4 days. More cramps and WAY more psychotic PMS emotional rollercoaster. I am going to check out that book too because I work out HARD 5-6 times a week and generally eat 1400 healthy clean eating cals a day and Im lucky if I can lose a pound a month. I am 43 now and can't wait for this to be over! I feel like my life revolves around my period.So I started the book "menopause makeover" and had a question:
The author (who writes well and is a hoot!) says
Have others seen that? for me THAT was the most recent sign!IRREGULAR PERIODS This is probably the first symptom you noticed. When you begin to go through menopause, your periods start to get a bit unpredictable. You may notice spotting, heavier or lighter bleeding and your periods may be longer or shorter.
Jonekos, Staness (2012-04-01). The Menopause Makeover (Kindle Locations 331-333). Harlequin Enterprises. Kindle Edition.
for ME it started with dizziness, crankiness, night sweats, and then weight "shifts", then hot flashes, and THEN my period went goofy.
I was 24 days like clock work (including night sweats the three nights before my period started at 5am on day 24) until the last year.
My flow varies with every period too.
Sometimes I spot for two weeks... very annoying
And sometimes I feel like I'm going to hemorrhage to death
Sigh:grumble:0 -
This was my first sign too...2 months after my 40th birthday! I was 28 days always then I got it 21....then it went back to 28 then sometimes it is 34...usually it is 25. My calendar is a mess of p21? p28? etc etc.... It became quite light and lasted a full 7-10 days too. ALthough sometimes I will get it very light for a few days then it will stop and then it will be like a normal or very heavy period for 3-4 days. More cramps and WAY more psychotic PMS emotional rollercoaster. I am going to check out that book too because I work out HARD 5-6 times a week and generally eat 1400 healthy clean eating cals a day and Im lucky if I can lose a pound a month. I am 43 now and can't wait for this to be over! I feel like my life revolves around my period.So I started the book "menopause makeover" and had a question:
The author (who writes well and is a hoot!) says
Have others seen that? for me THAT was the most recent sign!IRREGULAR PERIODS This is probably the first symptom you noticed. When you begin to go through menopause, your periods start to get a bit unpredictable. You may notice spotting, heavier or lighter bleeding and your periods may be longer or shorter.
Jonekos, Staness (2012-04-01). The Menopause Makeover (Kindle Locations 331-333). Harlequin Enterprises. Kindle Edition.
for ME it started with dizziness, crankiness, night sweats, and then weight "shifts", then hot flashes, and THEN my period went goofy.
I was 24 days like clock work (including night sweats the three nights before my period started at 5am on day 24) until the last year.
My flow vary with every period too.
Sometimes I spot for two weeks... very annoying
And sometimes I feel like I'm going to hemorrhage to death
Sigh:grumble:0 -
^^ This"There's no strong data to show that weight gain is related to menopause," says Margery Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society. "There are age-related weight changes that affect everyone, men and women." For example, a slowing metabolism makes it harder to lose weight, and women need to eat less and exercise more just to maintain their weight. Hormonal changes can make it difficult to stick to a healthy weight, but they don't cause weight gain, Gass says.
Once you hit perimenopause, the good, lean muscle mass with the faster metabolic rate is depleted, says Christiane Northrup, ob-gyn and author of The Wisdom of Menopause. "Everything changes. That's why you could be the same weight as in high school, but the fat replaces the muscle and takes up more room and weighs less."
I am in menopause the last 6 years after hysterectomy and I still experience the hot flashes, mood swings and all the rest. i cannot say that MP is a walk in the park but: I am glad I can experience it and I am glad that now I'm feeling more like a real woman than ever before. I have to move and workout every day and watch what I am eating and how much, but my belly fat is on the way to where it belongs, somewhere else :bigsmile:
I have to work hard for this but i do it because I want to be healthy and feel happy within myself. Exercise also helps me with the mood swings. Menopause is not my enemy, it's my trainer and I don't see it as negative any more
Your approach to the problem is the key to solve it :flowerforyou:0 -
This was my first sign too...2 months after my 40th birthday! I was 28 days always then I got it 21....then it went back to 28 then sometimes it is 34...usually it is 25. My calendar is a mess of p21? p28? etc etc.... It became quite light and lasted a full 7-10 days too. ALthough sometimes I will get it very light for a few days then it will stop and then it will be like a normal or very heavy period for 3-4 days. More cramps and WAY more psychotic PMS emotional rollercoaster. I am going to check out that book too because I work out HARD 5-6 times a week and generally eat 1400 healthy clean eating cals a day and Im lucky if I can lose a pound a month. I am 43 now and can't wait for this to be over! I feel like my life revolves around my period.So I started the book "menopause makeover" and had a question:
The author (who writes well and is a hoot!) says
Have others seen that? for me THAT was the most recent sign!IRREGULAR PERIODS This is probably the first symptom you noticed. When you begin to go through menopause, your periods start to get a bit unpredictable. You may notice spotting, heavier or lighter bleeding and your periods may be longer or shorter.
Jonekos, Staness (2012-04-01). The Menopause Makeover (Kindle Locations 331-333). Harlequin Enterprises. Kindle Edition.
for ME it started with dizziness, crankiness, night sweats, and then weight "shifts", then hot flashes, and THEN my period went goofy.
I was 24 days like clock work (including night sweats the three nights before my period started at 5am on day 24) until the last year.
My flow vary with every period too.
Sometimes I spot for two weeks... very annoying
And sometimes I feel like I'm going to hemorrhage to death
Sigh:grumble:
If your periods become really heavy (hemorrhaging to death) every month, ask your ob/gyn to check you for uterine polyps. I lived with that for years! A male doctor told me, "Oh, that's just normal. You're starting menopause." A couple years later, I read an article in "Health Digest" that asked, "Do you have any of the following symptoms?" I had every one. I went to a female doctor and showed her the article. She did an ultrasound, and I had a polyp the size of a baseball! It's pretty said one has to take in a magazine article to get a doctor to check something that is so common in women! I had the polyp removed, and life became bearable again!0 -
I'm 55 and done with menopause. The problem with the belly fat is trying to buy pants that fit. The waist is too tight and the rest of them are too big. My daughters are always telling that my pants are too baggy int the butt. Anyone else with this problem? I won't wear elastic waist because I feel like my mother and my kids say I'm not old enough for elastic waist. They keep me young. 0
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One more comment. I had symptoms when I was 40! My gyno said I was too young to even discuss it! Please don't let anyone tell you that you're too young! Everyone is different.0
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I'm 55 and done with menopause. The problem with the belly fat is trying to buy pants that fit. The waist is too tight and the rest of them are too big. My daughters are always telling that my pants are too baggy int the butt. Anyone else with this problem? I won't wear elastic waist because I feel like my mother and my kids say I'm not old enough for elastic waist. They keep me young.
No baggy pants!:noway:
I've bought "leggings" style pants that are stretchy like sweats but tailored to look clean and not baggy, plus they are super comfy!0 -
^^ This"There's no strong data to show that weight gain is related to menopause," says Margery Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society. "There are age-related weight changes that affect everyone, men and women." For example, a slowing metabolism makes it harder to lose weight, and women need to eat less and exercise more just to maintain their weight. Hormonal changes can make it difficult to stick to a healthy weight, but they don't cause weight gain, Gass says.
Once you hit perimenopause, the good, lean muscle mass with the faster metabolic rate is depleted, says Christiane Northrup, ob-gyn and author of The Wisdom of Menopause. "Everything changes. That's why you could be the same weight as in high school, but the fat replaces the muscle and takes up more room and weighs less."j
I am in menopause the last 6 years after hysterectomy and I still experience the hot flashes, mood swings and all the rest. i cannot say that MP is a walk in the park but: I am glad I can experience it and I am glad that now I'm feeling more like a real woman than ever before. I have to move and workout every day and watch what I am eating and how much, but my belly fat is on the way to where it belongs, somewhere else :bigsmile:
I have to work hard for this but i do it because I want to be healthy and feel happy within myself. Exercise also helps me with the mood swings. Menopause is not my enemy, it's my trainer and I don't see it as negative any more
Your approach to the problem is the key to solve it :flowerforyou:
Thank you :flowerforyou:
"...where it belongs, somewhere else...":bigsmile: :bigsmile:0 -
On my second year post menopause...heck yeah i gained weight during menopause! Then I read "The Menopause Makeover"... Great read. I lost 45 pounds in 2011. I now, at age 54, weigh less than I did at age 19,. I wore a junior size 13 jean then, now i wear a size 6.
Another great book to read is "Ballet Beautiful"... I now am into barre 3, lots of walking .
Had a total hysterectomy in November 2011...I just requested "The Menopause Makeover" from the library. Thanks for the suggestion!0 -
One more comment. I had symptoms when I was 40! My gyno said I was too young to even discuss it! Please don't let anyone tell you that you're too young! Everyone is different.
That is total bolognia...when I was in my early 40's my doctor told me I was getting in touch with my hormones...I told him I didn't want to touch them. He did not see the humor! :laugh:0 -
One more comment. I had symptoms when I was 40! My gyno said I was too young to even discuss it! Please don't let anyone tell you that you're too young! Everyone is different.
That is total bolognia...when I was in my early 40's my doctor told me I was getting in touch with my hormones...I told him I didn't want to touch them. He did not see the humor! :laugh:
Yeah, okay buddy:noway:0 -
I'm 55 and done with menopause. The problem with the belly fat is trying to buy pants that fit. The waist is too tight and the rest of them are too big. My daughters are always telling that my pants are too baggy int the butt. Anyone else with this problem? I won't wear elastic waist because I feel like my mother and my kids say I'm not old enough for elastic waist. They keep me young.
Oh gosh, YES!!! "Regular" pants are impossible (without tailoring, which I'm too cheap/broke to pay for "fat pants") if they fit my waist they are huge in the butt/thighs -- which particularly bites because I don't have much of a butt to begin with! :laugh:
If not for the wrinkles on my face one would think I was 6 months pregnant - UGH!!!
Anyone here do 30 Day Shred and/or Zumba? I've just gotten both DVDs in the mail and am hoping A) I can do them without passing out, and
that they may help to reduce this Buddha Belly. 0 -
.nydj fit great! I can wear the straight leg or legging style - verry flattering! I worked hard to lose all that weight and i am not givibg up jeans!0
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I like your attitude!!0
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Oh, for exercise i wear a nike fuel band and take as many walk breaks and stairs as i can... I also like wii fit yoga but also like the on line workouts with barre 3... Serious core work standing up in many of the routines... I hate crunches...0
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Hi Ladies
I'm 52 and post menopause and about to launch the world's first monthly on-line magazine dedicated to all phases of menopause.
It's a not-for-profit social enterprise with the aim of bringing the world's best experts into one place to share the best possible advice for this very challenging time of our lives.
Having been through perimenopause myself I was totally shocked at the lack of reliable information, and let's face it, every single woman on the planet will go through it and we are virtually ignored! I aim to put that right :-D
Please feel free to add me as a friend :-D and if you have any questions you would like to ask I will be very happy to help you :-D
Menopause doesn't have to be hell,
Alison :-D0 -
Hi Ladies
I'm 52 and post menopause and about to launch the world's first monthly on-line magazine dedicated to all phases of menopause.
It's a not-for-profit social enterprise with the aim of bringing the world's best experts into one place to share the best possible advice for this very challenging time of our lives.
Having been through perimenopause myself I was totally shocked at the lack of reliable information, and let's face it, every single woman on the planet will go through it and we are virtually ignored! I aim to put that right :-D
Please feel free to add me as a friend :-D and if you have any questions you would like to ask I will be very happy to help you :-D
Menopause doesn't have to be hell,
Alison :-D
Sound great!
Let us know the website for your magazine 0 -
Does the Menopause Makeover still work if you've been through full-blown menopause years ago? I went thru menopause at 40 and am now 49, still carrying that flabby, giggly middle and the ole' cottage cheese thighs! Yuck!!0
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@ lorih:
I think so...On my second year post menopause...heck yeah i gained weight during menopause! Then I read "The Menopause Makeover"... Great read. I lost 45 pounds in 2011. I now, at age 54, weigh less than I did at age 19,. I wore a junior size 13 jean then, now i wear a size 6.
Another great book to read is "Ballet Beautiful"... I now am into barre 3, lots of walking .0 -
Hi Ladies
I'm 52 and post menopause and about to launch the world's first monthly on-line magazine dedicated to all phases of menopause.
It's a not-for-profit social enterprise with the aim of bringing the world's best experts into one place to share the best possible advice for this very challenging time of our lives.
Having been through perimenopause myself I was totally shocked at the lack of reliable information, and let's face it, every single woman on the planet will go through it and we are virtually ignored! I aim to put that right :-D
Please feel free to add me as a friend :-D and if you have any questions you would like to ask I will be very happy to help you :-D
Menopause doesn't have to be hell,
Alison :-D
Sound great!
Let us know the website for your magazine
The holding page is live at the moment at www.thechangeexplained.com :-D the website will be live at the end of Feb and magazine launched shortly after :-D0 -
Hi Ladies
I'm 52 and post menopause and about to launch the world's first monthly on-line magazine dedicated to all phases of menopause.
It's a not-for-profit social enterprise with the aim of bringing the world's best experts into one place to share the best possible advice for this very challenging time of our lives.
Having been through perimenopause myself I was totally shocked at the lack of reliable information, and let's face it, every single woman on the planet will go through it and we are virtually ignored! I aim to put that right :-D
Please feel free to add me as a friend :-D and if you have any questions you would like to ask I will be very happy to help you :-D
Menopause doesn't have to be hell,
Alison :-D
Sound great!
Let us know the website for your magazine
The holding page is live at the moment at www.thechangeexplained.com :-D the website will be live at the end of Feb and magazine launched shortly after :-D
Thanks! 0
