Menopause and weight loss
turbojam_rocks
Posts: 82 Member
Just curious!!! Doe's going through Menopause make it harder to lose weight??
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Replies
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Just curious!!! Doe's going through Menopause make it harder to lose weight??
Yep. The loss of progesterone which is released mostly during a woman's ovulatory phase, goes when ovulation goes (it usually well precedes menopause). Progesterone makes the body's cells more sensitive to thyroid hormone so it is our friend in terms of avoiding fat gain and losing excess fat. Estrogen, on the other hand, continues on longer and is even released by our fat cells if the ovaries are removed, Estrogen is a "fat hoarder" (thus the rounded shape of women) and it makes a woman's body less sensitive to thyroid hormone. Not a happy circumstance---but there it is. :grumble:
p.s. There are bio-identical progesterone creams that are available over-the-counter that many women have found to be helpful during the "menopause years" (45 to 55).0 -
So it is probably best if I go on Premarin(an estrogen medication) then?0
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I'm 60 & had a late menopause. Since then (in the last year) I've lost 60-odd of the surplus pounds that have been accumulating for decades.This is the first time I've stuck to a diet / healthy eating regime - ever! (For long enough to make it work, anyhow).To me, it's all in your head - MFP is the best tool ever for weight loss and helps, but if your head & heart aren't in it, it's not going to work whatever age you are. If your head and your heart are going for it, it doesn't matter what your age is, you will lose weight.0
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So it is probably best if I go on Premarin(an estrogen medication) then?
Noooooooo! :sad: Synthetic hormones do a number on your body and your hormonal system. You need "bio-identical" hormones or no additional ones at all. The pharmaceutical houses don't mind if they pump you full of synthetic crap. They can't charge their enormous prices for bio-identical hormones because they can't patent them. The smaller companies that make the bio-identical hormones are meeting the demand of women who know better than to get sucked into the clutches of Big Pharma. Synthetic estrogens are entirely unnecessary. On the other hand, "bio-identical" progesterone is often quite helpful to women during menopause.0 -
Okay!! LOL....I will try that instead:)))Thank-you0
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I'm having the same problem... working and dieting my butt off (figuratively not literally... I wish!), and nothing to show for it.
I was having a horrible time with hot flashes but didn't want to do synthetic hormones.. My sister was having the same problem after her doctor took her off of premarin.. So I started taking PhytoEstrogens with EFAs, basically soy estrogens with some herbals thrown in. And voila! Hot Flashes gone!
So, you're telling me that my supplement is keeping me from losing weight? Dang.
So, question.. will bioidentical progesterones relieve the hot flashes too? And what do I look for when I go to buy it?
Thanks.0 -
There are no studies looking at bioidentical vs. traditional hormone therapy. The jury is still out on whether it's better and/or safer for you.
This is from Harvard:
Many women assume that “natural” hormones would be better or safer — but the term “natural” is open to interpretation.
Any product whose principal ingredient has an animal, plant, or mineral source is technically natural. It doesn’t matter whether the substance is ground, put into capsules, and sold over the counter — or extracted in a laboratory, manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, and made available only by prescription. For example, the soy plant is the source of supplements that some women take to ease menopausal symptoms; it’s also used, along with yams, to make the estrogen in the FDA-approved hormone drug Estrace.
But unlike Estrace, soy supplements aren’t regulated and haven’t been rigorously tested in humans, so we don’t know whether they’re safe or effective. There’s some evidence that certain soy components may actually stimulate breast tumor growth. So “natural” doesn’t necessarily equal “safe” — and may simply be a euphemism for "unregulated."
The interest in a more natural approach to hormone therapy has focused attention on bioidentical hormones — hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. They’re not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Bioidentical estrogens are 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. (Estradiol is the form of estrogen that decreases at menopause.) Bioidentical progesterone is simply progesterone. It’s micronized (finely ground) in the laboratory for better absorption in the body.
Bioidentical hormone therapy is often called “natural hormone therapy” because bioidentical hormones act in the body just like the hormones we produce. But here again, that tricky word natural muddies the waters. Pregnant mares’ urine is natural, but Premarin is not bioidentical, at least not to human estrogen. The same goes for Cenestin, which is made from plants but is not bioidentical.
Technically, the body can’t distinguish bioidentical hormones from the ones your ovaries produce. On a blood test, your total estradiol reflects the bioidentical estradiol you’ve taken as well as the estradiol your body makes. On the other hand, Premarin is metabolized into various forms of estrogen that aren’t measured by standard laboratory tests. Proponents of bioidentical hormones say that one advantage of bioidentical estrogen over Premarin is that estrogen levels can be monitored more precisely and treatment individualized accordingly. Skeptics counter that it hardly matters, because no one knows exactly what hormone levels to aim for, and symptoms, not levels, should be treated and monitored.
Bioidentical estradiol in pill form is converted in the liver to estrone, a weaker bioidentical estrogen. But given in a patch, it enters the bloodstream as bioidentical estradiol. Creams, gels, and lotions applied to the legs or arms can also deliver bioidentical estradiol directly to the bloodstream, although it’s uncertain how much is absorbed.
Are bioidenticals safer? No one knows. Studies have shown they can help relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but as yet, few large studies have investigated the differences among the various hormones and methods of administration. More research is needed to further understand these differences and compare the risks and benefits.
Women taking bioidentical estrogen who have a uterus must still take an FDA-approved progestin or micronized progesterone to prevent endometrial cancer. So-called natural, plant-derived progesterone creams sold over the counter contain too little of the hormone to be effective. And yam extract creams don’t help because your body cannot convert them into progesterone.0 -
I've been through (early) menopuase. I gained a few pounds, and a spare tire around my middle! :bigsmile:
Menopause does make it harder to lose weight. It isn't impossible though, just harder! I just had to up my excersising and watch my calorie intake. I love MFP for that.
I do not take any harmones. My doctor agrees with not taking them.
I have accepted that the older I get, the less I should eat, and the more I need to excersise!
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There are no studies looking at bioidentical vs. traditional hormone therapy. The jury is still out on whether it's better and/or safer for you.
This is from Harvard:
Many women assume that “natural” hormones would be better or safer — but the term “natural” is open to interpretation.
Any product whose principal ingredient has an animal, plant, or mineral source is technically natural. It doesn’t matter whether the substance is ground, put into capsules, and sold over the counter — or extracted in a laboratory, manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, and made available only by prescription. For example, the soy plant is the source of supplements that some women take to ease menopausal symptoms; it’s also used, along with yams, to make the estrogen in the FDA-approved hormone drug Estrace.
But unlike Estrace, soy supplements aren’t regulated and haven’t been rigorously tested in humans, so we don’t know whether they’re safe or effective. There’s some evidence that certain soy components may actually stimulate breast tumor growth. So “natural” doesn’t necessarily equal “safe” — and may simply be a euphemism for "unregulated."
The interest in a more natural approach to hormone therapy has focused attention on bioidentical hormones — hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. They’re not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Bioidentical estrogens are 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. (Estradiol is the form of estrogen that decreases at menopause.) Bioidentical progesterone is simply progesterone. It’s micronized (finely ground) in the laboratory for better absorption in the body.
Bioidentical hormone therapy is often called “natural hormone therapy” because bioidentical hormones act in the body just like the hormones we produce. But here again, that tricky word natural muddies the waters. Pregnant mares’ urine is natural, but Premarin is not bioidentical, at least not to human estrogen. The same goes for Cenestin, which is made from plants but is not bioidentical.
Technically, the body can’t distinguish bioidentical hormones from the ones your ovaries produce. On a blood test, your total estradiol reflects the bioidentical estradiol you’ve taken as well as the estradiol your body makes. On the other hand, Premarin is metabolized into various forms of estrogen that aren’t measured by standard laboratory tests. Proponents of bioidentical hormones say that one advantage of bioidentical estrogen over Premarin is that estrogen levels can be monitored more precisely and treatment individualized accordingly. Skeptics counter that it hardly matters, because no one knows exactly what hormone levels to aim for, and symptoms, not levels, should be treated and monitored.
Bioidentical estradiol in pill form is converted in the liver to estrone, a weaker bioidentical estrogen. But given in a patch, it enters the bloodstream as bioidentical estradiol. Creams, gels, and lotions applied to the legs or arms can also deliver bioidentical estradiol directly to the bloodstream, although it’s uncertain how much is absorbed.
Are bioidenticals safer? No one knows. Studies have shown they can help relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but as yet, few large studies have investigated the differences among the various hormones and methods of administration. More research is needed to further understand these differences and compare the risks and benefits.
Women taking bioidentical estrogen who have a uterus must still take an FDA-approved progestin or micronized progesterone to prevent endometrial cancer. So-called natural, plant-derived progesterone creams sold over the counter contain too little of the hormone to be effective. And yam extract creams don’t help because your body cannot convert them into progesterone.
I would disagree with the statement that bio-identical hormone creams that are sold over the counter are ineffective. I've tested them on myself (and there are better and worse ones). I use Kokoro but there are others that are equally effective like Emerita. They need to be administered vaginally (and inside the labia) though, rather than on other skin areas. They do an excellent job of countering vaginal dryness and they have a lot of other pleasant characteristics as well. I do not take any estrogen products. Natural progesterone actually has a protective effect against breast cancer and endometrial cancer. Just a little progesterone cream is all you need to keep the hot flashes and dryness away. The yam creams are ineffective. Google Dr. John Lee---he was a pioneer of using natural progesterone cream for women.
Even if you OD on natural progesterone cream, the only effect you would have is a little giddiness. Progesterone is a mood lifter (just like estrogen can be a mood-downer). I personally feel that the epidemic of depression is the result of having inadequate levels of magnesium and progesterone because of inadequate diet (magnesium) and the effect of xenoestrogens in our environment. Xenoestrogens are environmental chemical pollutants that act like estrogen in the human body. It is the most likely cause of declining sperm rates in men.0 -
I'm having the same problem... working and dieting my butt off (figuratively not literally... I wish!), and nothing to show for it.
I was having a horrible time with hot flashes but didn't want to do synthetic hormones.. My sister was having the same problem after her doctor took her off of premarin.. So I started taking PhytoEstrogens with EFAs, basically soy estrogens with some herbals thrown in. And voila! Hot Flashes gone!
So, you're telling me that my supplement is keeping me from losing weight? Dang.
So, question.. will bioidentical progesterones relieve the hot flashes too? And what do I look for when I go to buy it?
Thanks.
Here is Dr. Lee's website: http://www.johnleemd.com/store/resource_progesterone.html
It has been taken over by another M.D. but the information is all there. You can buy it at most health food stores or contact the companies separately that are on the list approved by Dr. Lee and his organization. Soy "estrogen mimics" can be detrimental to the metabolism. People with thyroid issues are told to avoid soy.0 -
There are no studies looking at bioidentical vs. traditional hormone therapy. The jury is still out on whether it's better and/or safer for you.
This is from Harvard:
Many women assume that “natural” hormones would be better or safer — but the term “natural” is open to interpretation.
Any product whose principal ingredient has an animal, plant, or mineral source is technically natural. It doesn’t matter whether the substance is ground, put into capsules, and sold over the counter — or extracted in a laboratory, manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, and made available only by prescription. For example, the soy plant is the source of supplements that some women take to ease menopausal symptoms; it’s also used, along with yams, to make the estrogen in the FDA-approved hormone drug Estrace.
But unlike Estrace, soy supplements aren’t regulated and haven’t been rigorously tested in humans, so we don’t know whether they’re safe or effective. There’s some evidence that certain soy components may actually stimulate breast tumor growth. So “natural” doesn’t necessarily equal “safe” — and may simply be a euphemism for "unregulated."
The interest in a more natural approach to hormone therapy has focused attention on bioidentical hormones — hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. They’re not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Bioidentical estrogens are 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. (Estradiol is the form of estrogen that decreases at menopause.) Bioidentical progesterone is simply progesterone. It’s micronized (finely ground) in the laboratory for better absorption in the body.
Bioidentical hormone therapy is often called “natural hormone therapy” because bioidentical hormones act in the body just like the hormones we produce. But here again, that tricky word natural muddies the waters. Pregnant mares’ urine is natural, but Premarin is not bioidentical, at least not to human estrogen. The same goes for Cenestin, which is made from plants but is not bioidentical.
Technically, the body can’t distinguish bioidentical hormones from the ones your ovaries produce. On a blood test, your total estradiol reflects the bioidentical estradiol you’ve taken as well as the estradiol your body makes. On the other hand, Premarin is metabolized into various forms of estrogen that aren’t measured by standard laboratory tests. Proponents of bioidentical hormones say that one advantage of bioidentical estrogen over Premarin is that estrogen levels can be monitored more precisely and treatment individualized accordingly. Skeptics counter that it hardly matters, because no one knows exactly what hormone levels to aim for, and symptoms, not levels, should be treated and monitored.
Bioidentical estradiol in pill form is converted in the liver to estrone, a weaker bioidentical estrogen. But given in a patch, it enters the bloodstream as bioidentical estradiol. Creams, gels, and lotions applied to the legs or arms can also deliver bioidentical estradiol directly to the bloodstream, although it’s uncertain how much is absorbed.
Are bioidenticals safer? No one knows. Studies have shown they can help relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but as yet, few large studies have investigated the differences among the various hormones and methods of administration. More research is needed to further understand these differences and compare the risks and benefits.
Women taking bioidentical estrogen who have a uterus must still take an FDA-approved progestin or micronized progesterone to prevent endometrial cancer. So-called natural, plant-derived progesterone creams sold over the counter contain too little of the hormone to be effective. And yam extract creams don’t help because your body cannot convert them into progesterone.
I don't want to start an S---storm so I won't comment except to say that Harvard Med is in thrall to Big Pharma.0 -
I was on Premarin and Provera for years. Have been off for about 5 years. Early or late menopause? Not sure where I stand. Was 52 when I had an endometrial ablation. Dr said someone my age didn't need to be having periods when I'm showing all signs of menopause. Now in the last 6 months I am having spotting periods again.
Last year or so have been consciously working on losing weight. Have lost 23 lbs since July when I joined MFP. Overall, in last year or so have lost probably 50 or so lbs.
Does menopause make it harder to lose weight? No, I don't think so. To me it's mind over matter -- I am going to lose weight in a healthy manner until I get to a point where I am comfortable with myself.
A year ago August I also underwent a thyroidectomy for cancer. Metabolism out of whack for a long time. As my dr says, I am starting to get normal now.0 -
I had a complete hysterectomy five years ago and chose not to take any hormones. Instead of starting hormone therapy right away, I told my doc I wanted to see how I did without them. I didn't feel much different than before the hysterectomy, so I decided not to add something to my body that may or may not be harmful.
If I were you, I'd read up on all the various hormones available, chat with others who have made the choice to take them or not, then discuss the pros and cons with your doctor.
A good place to get user info about hormones is: http://www.hystersisters.com/0 -
I was on Premarin and Provera for years. Have been off for about 5 years. Early or late menopause? Not sure where I stand. Was 52 when I had an endometrial ablation. Dr said someone my age didn't need to be having periods when I'm showing all signs of menopause. Now in the last 6 months I am having spotting periods again.
Last year or so have been consciously working on losing weight. Have lost 23 lbs since July when I joined MFP. Overall, in last year or so have lost probably 50 or so lbs.
Does menopause make it harder to lose weight? No, I don't think so. To me it's mind over matter -- I am going to lose weight in a healthy manner until I get to a point where I am comfortable with myself.
A year ago August I also underwent a thyroidectomy for cancer. Metabolism out of whack for a long time. As my dr says, I am starting to get normal now.
You need to get to your doc ASAP---If you have had a cessation of periods for a number of years and then started having spotting periods again, that could be a real problem. Please, go see a gynecologist.0 -
I've been through (early) menopuase. I gained a few pounds, and a spare tire around my middle! :bigsmile:
Menopause does make it harder to lose weight. It isn't impossible though, just harder! I just had to up my excersising and watch my calorie intake. I love MFP for that.
I do not take any harmones. My doctor agrees with not taking them.
I have accepted that the older I get, the less I should eat, and the more I need to excersise!
Same. It is much harder to lose the weight, so I'm paying more attention to getting fit. Focusing on the measuring tape more than the scale. Tried hormone therapy early on and my period returned. Noooo way! I was done with that, so I quit taking it and it's all been good.0 -
I was on Premarin and Provera for years. Have been off for about 5 years. Early or late menopause? Not sure where I stand. Was 52 when I had an endometrial ablation. Dr said someone my age didn't need to be having periods when I'm showing all signs of menopause. Now in the last 6 months I am having spotting periods again.
Last year or so have been consciously working on losing weight. Have lost 23 lbs since July when I joined MFP. Overall, in last year or so have lost probably 50 or so lbs.
Does menopause make it harder to lose weight? No, I don't think so. To me it's mind over matter -- I am going to lose weight in a healthy manner until I get to a point where I am comfortable with myself.
A year ago August I also underwent a thyroidectomy for cancer. Metabolism out of whack for a long time. As my dr says, I am starting to get normal now.
You need to get to your doc ASAP---If you have had a cessation of periods for a number of years and then started having spotting periods again, that could be a real problem. Please, go see a gynecologist.
I second this! See a gynae soon please0 -
bump0
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I agree.I was on Premarin and Provera for years. Have been off for about 5 years. Early or late menopause? Not sure where I stand. Was 52 when I had an endometrial ablation. Dr said someone my age didn't need to be having periods when I'm showing all signs of menopause. Now in the last 6 months I am having spotting periods again.
Last year or so have been consciously working on losing weight. Have lost 23 lbs since July when I joined MFP. Overall, in last year or so have lost probably 50 or so lbs.
Does menopause make it harder to lose weight? No, I don't think so. To me it's mind over matter -- I am going to lose weight in a healthy manner until I get to a point where I am comfortable with myself.
A year ago August I also underwent a thyroidectomy for cancer. Metabolism out of whack for a long time. As my dr says, I am starting to get normal now.
You need to get to your doc ASAP---If you have had a cessation of periods for a number of years and then started having spotting periods again, that could be a real problem. Please, go see a gynecologist.0 -
Yes. It's definitely harder. I've never been overweight (officially) but did lose 20-25LBS once in my 30s. I was able to easily maintain my new lower weight for about 12 years. The last two I've had to watch what I eat MUCH MORE CAREFULLY, and up my exercise, and the scale has still crept up a few ticks.
It's harder, definitely. But it can be done. And I believe the more balanced your hormones, the better you feel, and the more likely you can do it.0 -
wish i could be so accepting.....I HATE THE FACT THAT IT IS HARDER TO LOSE AND KEEP WT OFF!!! I HATE MENOPAUSE!!! HOT FLASHES, MOOD SWINGS, DECREASED LIBIDO, WT GAIN, SKIN CHANGES, NO ENERGY........IT ALL SUCKS!!!!I've been through (early) menopuase. I gained a few pounds, and a spare tire around my middle! :bigsmile:
Menopause does make it harder to lose weight. It isn't impossible though, just harder! I just had to up my excersising and watch my calorie intake. I love MFP for that.
I do not take any harmones. My doctor agrees with not taking them.
I have accepted that the older I get, the less I should eat, and the more I need to excersise!0 -
I'm right there with all of you. I could always lose weight easily when I was younger. Just exercising was enough to get it going. Now I am in perimenopause and i can't get that scale to move in the appropriate direction. I exercise everyday and have cut out after dinner snacks, soda, wine with dinner and try to concentrate on vegetables, whole grains & lean meat. Still nothing and I have been doing this since late January. I guess I have to kick up the exercise a few notches. I have a doctor's appt in late March and that is my goal to at least see some difference but it is really frustrating. The weight around my middle is especially stubborn & has never been my problem before this. The thought of gaining weight every year now is not one i relish! Thanks for being there for support !0
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I'm going through menopause and have managed to lose 41 lbs since I started watching my calories and exercising more since july 2012. Since you are going through menopause, don't forget your thyroid. Understand that will go to hell now that you have reached menopause. Using HRT and still losing weight.0
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No. Not if you mean perimenopause. I've lost 40lbs and around 43 inches and I'm def. going through it. Hotflashes, nightsweats, etc. Just do what anyone else would do, watch what you eat & exercise more. If you feel like things aren't quite right, go for a checkup.
ETA: I don't know if this is relevant to you or not, but I do not take HRT. I'm suffering through it. Ugh.0 -
Since I started counting calories I no longer drink regular soda and on occasion the diet stuff. Went from sugar to sugar alternative. No longer cook with oil but cooking spray. It was dark giving up the soda, but the calories for a cup was AWFUL! Small changes make a big difference.0
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This.. don't use menopause as an excuse. It's not different than blaming your period for making you pig out at a buffet. Just do the work and the weight will come off.I'm 60 & had a late menopause. Since then (in the last year) I've lost 60-odd of the surplus pounds that have been accumulating for decades.This is the first time I've stuck to a diet / healthy eating regime - ever! (For long enough to make it work, anyhow).To me, it's all in your head - MFP is the best tool ever for weight loss and helps, but if your head & heart aren't in it, it's not going to work whatever age you are. If your head and your heart are going for it, it doesn't matter what your age is, you will lose weight.0 -
I'm 60 & had a late menopause. Since then (in the last year) I've lost 60-odd of the surplus pounds that have been accumulating for decades.This is the first time I've stuck to a diet / healthy eating regime - ever! (For long enough to make it work, anyhow).To me, it's all in your head - MFP is the best tool ever for weight loss and helps, but if your head & heart aren't in it, it's not going to work whatever age you are. If your head and your heart are going for it, it doesn't matter what your age is, you will lose weight.
Agree 100%. Menopause is not terminal it is only another process we adapt to. The emotional part of moving into a later stage of life is real. I find jogging helps and Zumba. At time Zantx. Most of us have our children turning into young adults and ageing parents plus our own health issues. So it truly is mostly getting your mind in a good place. The hot flashes compare a lot less for me than did cramps every month. Eat Clean and Workout hard. The weight WILL fall off.0 -
I am 53 1/2 yrs old. Hot flashes started a few years ago. I found some herbal supplements (chaste berry) that were very successful for about 10 months, then they ceased to be effective. Then I got a period that was SOOOO heavy, that I had to go to the doctor at 10 days to stop it! I was almost anemic. So then I got referred to a oby/gn. He did a D&C and then put me on progesterone and estrogen. No periods for 4 months, then I have had 2 periods since then, and the odd hot flash. Going back to see him in 2 weeks.
So that all said, I have been gaining weight slowly in the past 4 years, definitely since the hot flashes started. I have been doing 1 hour Zumba classes (cardio dance) twice a week this whole time. Burning about 400 calories a time (measured by a heart monitor.) This same monitor measures 700 calories burned by my daughter who is 21. We both 'give 'er' in the classes. So that is proof for me that our metabolism slows down and the exercise that we do is not as effective as when we were younger. So I then added in some classes at our fitness centre. Increased exercise alone was still not doing it. My weight crept up to 160 lbs. For the past year, I have been doing 2 Zumba classes PLUS 2-3 weight training sessions per week. (weight sessions designed by a personal trainer). Still no weight loss.
Then, in January, he said "I want you using My Fitness Pal" as well as doing this new program....which is 3 weight training sessions per week, plus doing my 2 Zumba sessions per week. FINALLY SUCCESS. Down 8 lbs in 5 weeks and feeling great.
What this taught me is that with NO changes in my eating - quality or quantity - I still gained weight due to the increasingly slower metabolism brought on my menopause. The only thing that has turned this around is eating less, eating much more healthy choices, AND putting in 1 hour a day/5x per week doing strength training AND cardio exercise. The strength training has really been positive in kicking up my metabolism.
I still have over 10 lbs to go to get down to my ideal 140 lbs, but at least now I know what I must do to achieve it. I am glad I stopped the upward climb at 160, because it requires so much effort to take it off. But at least I figured out what worked for me. The strength training is benefiting my bone density, and muscle definition, so as the weight comes off, my body is adjusting nicely to the new look!!0 -
Don't forget that, at about the time we're going through menopause, we've also been losing muscle mass. That means we burn fewer calories naturally than we did when we were younger. Your exercise needs to include strength training. I do a daily morning routine rotating between upper body, lower body and core so it doesn't take too long.0
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This too..as we age, most of us move less plus have less muscle mass. Put them together and it's easy to gain weight. Think about when you were younger and thinner.. You probably were chasing kids, doing more housework, working full-time, cooking more home-cooked meals and eating out less often. As we get older we tend to do less physical work, sit around and watch tv, spend hours online, have more stress, etc. Sitting burns about 54 calories an hour vs. 90 or so for just standing. It all adds up and unfortunately, it's usually added as fat on our mid-section.Don't forget that, at about the time we're going through menopause, we've also been losing muscle mass. That means we burn fewer calories naturally than we did when we were younger. Your exercise needs to include strength training. I do a daily morning routine rotating between upper body, lower body and core so it doesn't take too long.0 -
There are no studies looking at bioidentical vs. traditional hormone therapy. The jury is still out on whether it's better and/or safer for you.
This is from Harvard:
Many women assume that “natural” hormones would be better or safer — but the term “natural” is open to interpretation.
Any product whose principal ingredient has an animal, plant, or mineral source is technically natural. It doesn’t matter whether the substance is ground, put into capsules, and sold over the counter — or extracted in a laboratory, manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, and made available only by prescription. For example, the soy plant is the source of supplements that some women take to ease menopausal symptoms; it’s also used, along with yams, to make the estrogen in the FDA-approved hormone drug Estrace.
But unlike Estrace, soy supplements aren’t regulated and haven’t been rigorously tested in humans, so we don’t know whether they’re safe or effective. There’s some evidence that certain soy components may actually stimulate breast tumor growth. So “natural” doesn’t necessarily equal “safe” — and may simply be a euphemism for "unregulated."
The interest in a more natural approach to hormone therapy has focused attention on bioidentical hormones — hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. They’re not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Bioidentical estrogens are 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. (Estradiol is the form of estrogen that decreases at menopause.) Bioidentical progesterone is simply progesterone. It’s micronized (finely ground) in the laboratory for better absorption in the body.
Bioidentical hormone therapy is often called “natural hormone therapy” because bioidentical hormones act in the body just like the hormones we produce. But here again, that tricky word natural muddies the waters. Pregnant mares’ urine is natural, but Premarin is not bioidentical, at least not to human estrogen. The same goes for Cenestin, which is made from plants but is not bioidentical.
Technically, the body can’t distinguish bioidentical hormones from the ones your ovaries produce. On a blood test, your total estradiol reflects the bioidentical estradiol you’ve taken as well as the estradiol your body makes. On the other hand, Premarin is metabolized into various forms of estrogen that aren’t measured by standard laboratory tests. Proponents of bioidentical hormones say that one advantage of bioidentical estrogen over Premarin is that estrogen levels can be monitored more precisely and treatment individualized accordingly. Skeptics counter that it hardly matters, because no one knows exactly what hormone levels to aim for, and symptoms, not levels, should be treated and monitored.
Bioidentical estradiol in pill form is converted in the liver to estrone, a weaker bioidentical estrogen. But given in a patch, it enters the bloodstream as bioidentical estradiol. Creams, gels, and lotions applied to the legs or arms can also deliver bioidentical estradiol directly to the bloodstream, although it’s uncertain how much is absorbed.
Are bioidenticals safer? No one knows. Studies have shown they can help relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but as yet, few large studies have investigated the differences among the various hormones and methods of administration. More research is needed to further understand these differences and compare the risks and benefits.
Women taking bioidentical estrogen who have a uterus must still take an FDA-approved progestin or micronized progesterone to prevent endometrial cancer. So-called natural, plant-derived progesterone creams sold over the counter contain too little of the hormone to be effective. And yam extract creams don’t help because your body cannot convert them into progesterone.
I would disagree with the statement that bio-identical hormone creams that are sold over the counter are ineffective. I've tested them on myself (and there are better and worse ones). I use Kokoro but there are others that are equally effective like Emerita. They need to be administered vaginally (and inside the labia) though, rather than on other skin areas. They do an excellent job of countering vaginal dryness and they have a lot of other pleasant characteristics as well. I do not take any estrogen products. Natural progesterone actually has a protective effect against breast cancer and endometrial cancer. Just a little progesterone cream is all you need to keep the hot flashes and dryness away. The yam creams are ineffective. Google Dr. John Lee---he was a pioneer of using natural progesterone cream for women.
Even if you OD on natural progesterone cream, the only effect you would have is a little giddiness. Progesterone is a mood lifter (just like estrogen can be a mood-downer). I personally feel that the epidemic of depression is the result of having inadequate levels of magnesium and progesterone because of inadequate diet (magnesium) and the effect of xenoestrogens in our environment. Xenoestrogens are environmental chemical pollutants that act like estrogen in the human body. It is the most likely cause of declining sperm rates in men.
So what you're telling me is that this progesterone cream will eliminate the hot flashes? Because mine were HORRIBLE! As in going outside in a sleeveless tshirt when it's 30 degrees and sweating my butt off! and doing that at least once an hour! As in, can't wear makeup because it won't stay on for the sweat running down my face! Yeah, that kind of hot flash!
And I've noticed that my pillow is starting to get sweaty during the night so I'm having to do the pillow flip. Hot side/cool side - ahhh!
I'll definitely be getting some cream this week. What were the OTC ones that you would recommend?0
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