Perimenopausal and Weight Gain/Loss

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  • DonnaLeeCattes
    DonnaLeeCattes Posts: 492 Member
    I'm 45 and when I was 26 I had a hysterectomy which forced me into menopause early.
    I have struggled with weight every since then. I still get real bloated and feel like crap. But I have found if I workout first thing in the morning it helps me or at least makes me feel better about myself :)
  • lisaanne1369
    lisaanne1369 Posts: 377 Member
    I am 44 and in my 3rd year of it and there is nothing "pre" about it. I have all my girly parts and havent had a period sense Feb 2013 and before that Oct 2012. I have rounds of hot flashes and night sweats and when I think I had enough and want hormones ,they go away for 4-6 months.

    I been on MFP for a year and took up running in November of 2012. I have lost 18-20 pounds and eat what ever I want, just in moderation. I feel this is a life time deal and slow and steady wins the race. I know every day isn't a winner and to just roll with the punches.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Yeah, during perimenopause it seems like I have PMS more often even though I have periods less often. The usual PMS meds work as much as they ever did, but I find that intense exercise helps me the most. Things like HIIT, or cardio calisthenics routines. It is seriously hard to talk myself into doing them when I'm bloated and cranky, but it always helps.
  • StefPayne
    StefPayne Posts: 126 Member
    I am right here with at 44 years old. I lost 33 pounds and maintained the loss for 6 months and now I have put 5 pounds back on and can not get it off for the life off me. My weight just jumped up, my period that had always been regular became un-regular and I started having night sweats all at the same time. I am working out twice as much as I was, counting calories and getting my water in and the scales will drop, but just not back down to my lowest weight. It is very frustrating and this started in April for me so I am anxious to see some other posts. Thanks for starting this post and good look to you!
  • dym123
    dym123 Posts: 1,670 Member
    Not sure if I'm happy or severly depressed to find this thread. I'm 46, started having perimenopausal symptoms last year, then they stopped and now they've started back with a vengence. After consistently losing over the last 18 months, I've gained 3lbs, which sucks because I was 3lbs away from finally losing 100lbs and after reading the other responses, 3lbs is just the beginning. I know my diet (avoid most processed foods) and workouts (lots of heavy lifting) are good and I drink tons of water (mainly because its summer in the Midwest). Maybe I'll pick up some Estroven on my next trip to Costco and hope for the best. I hate being this close and then having to deal with this.
  • ClareWantsProgress
    ClareWantsProgress Posts: 173 Member
    Maybe I'll pick up some Estroven on my next trip to Costco and hope for the best. I hate being this close and then having to deal with this.

    The over-the counter Estroven products have helped me a LOT with the night sweats and hot flashes. I no longer wake up 4-5 times a night soaking wet (that was just so lovely, ick). While the pills don't completely take away the symptoms, they have greatly lessened their severity. My doc gave me the o.k. to use them, too. Being able to sleep better helped a lot with my general mood and functioning.
  • FattieBabs
    FattieBabs Posts: 542 Member
    Great thread and everyone keeping it real! Thanks to the OP. I have found that interval training and weight training is really helping. My weight is on a plateau but I am losing inches and have dropped from a size 20-22 to an 18. . A lot of people have made some very positive comments too. I still scuba dive and sail, I am 53, and the energy levels I get some the regular exercise really does help.

    My mother was a manic depressive and she was worse during the peri menopause which kicked it all off. I am therefore super cautious of mood swings and hormonal imbalances and am monitoring carefully. Joining mfp is one of the most positive things I have ever done because it really makes me think. Thanks to all the brave posters on here and for encouraging each other. My funniest experience of a hot flush was playing a big violin solo during a show and my fellow female players fanning me whilst I was playing to cool me down. Sweet! Good luck ladies!
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    My symptoms started 2 years ago - constant hunger, weight gain, memory lapses, bloating, extreme mood swings, night sweats, horrible itching. I thought I was going insane. My gyn prescribed exercise and diet. The only diet that worked for me is low carb unfortunately being that I love bread and pasta. A few weeks ago I started overindulging in carbs and exercising less, partly due to vacation, and my symptoms started coming back. Lowered carbs and started probiotics, feeling good again.
  • judiag1
    judiag1 Posts: 3
    This was me too - and I tried everything - but finally - something I have recently started doing is working! NO FLOUR NO SUGAR diet! Google and you'll be amazed. Have been on it for 6 days now - have lost 1.3kgs and feel great. I'm staying with this one! FINALLY something that suits my body!
  • liln5k
    liln5k Posts: 6
    I am 42 and peri-menopausal. I don't have hot flashes or anything like that BUT I do have the irregular cycles, mood swings, anxiety, heart palpitations, etc... My husband and I started the virgin diet (lifestyle change) in late oct early nov of last year. I weighed 215 lbs. As of my Friday weigh in, I am now 128 lbs... I walk on the treadmill at work 5 days a week for 40 mins (5 min warm up; 30 min walk at 3.5 mph; 5 min cool down) I do upper body weight machines mon and wed and then legs on tues and thurs. I do standing ab's all 5 days. My husband has lost 95 lbs with the new lifestyle changes and he doesn't work out like I do... for us It comes down to clean eating... we eat meat, fruits, veges, good carbs and healthy fats (oliveoyl, etc) (lentils, sweet potatoes and brown rice)... we eat as organic as possible... We don't eat processed foods, dairy, eggs, peanuts, corn, soy, sugar or artificial sweetners... I average between 1200 and 1300 calories and it is a lot of food to eat!!! we are never hungry!!! if interested you should visit jjvirgin.com or visit her page on facebook... it really does work!!! :smile:
  • spicy618
    spicy618 Posts: 2,114 Member
    I have no advice because i'm right there with you.:flowerforyou: I'm 45 and have been going through this for about 5 - 7 years. That's when the night sweats started only when i'm pmsing. Recently, i had my first migraine... thought it was a brain tumor. :laugh:

    My mom had me at the age of 44 while in peri and her periods were all wacked, so she didn't know until i was about 4 months :noway: She found out i wasn't a tumor :laugh:

    Both my sisters are over 60 and have shared there experiences. They both ballooned during this time. One recovered, the other kept the weight. For this reason i've been preparing since I turned 38 :laugh. I decided i had to have a handle on my weight before hitting Menopause. I've suffered with PMDD for many years, and feel as though i've been going through perimenopause since i had my son, so i'm hoping to have less severe symptoms when I actually arrive at MENOPAUSE :cry:

    I've been lifting for almost 3 months and have noticed a tiny difference in my inches. But no way in Hell am I weighing... don't need the stress. :laugh: One thing i've noticed is, lower carbs and cleaner diet seems to be the key to making it a little easier. Although, i can't seem to keep my carbs lower than 190 :noway: I know, I'm a Mess. :ohwell:

    Good to know, there is hope after it is all over. :happy:


    Can we get some posts from those who have gotten over the Mountain Top. :flowerforyou:
  • Bobbie8786
    Bobbie8786 Posts: 202 Member
    My symptoms started 2 years ago - constant hunger, weight gain, memory lapses, bloating, extreme mood swings, night sweats, horrible itching. I thought I was going insane. My gyn prescribed exercise and diet. The only diet that worked for me is low carb unfortunately being that I love bread and pasta. A few weeks ago I started overindulging in carbs and exercising less, partly due to vacation, and my symptoms started coming back. Lowered carbs and started probiotics, feeling good again.

    I have been searching all over to verify if insane itching is one of the peri-menopause symptoms. I am 47 and the constant all over itch started about 2 years ago and has now evolved to the point where I get giant hives in any spot on my skin where pressure is applied. At first I thought I was having allergic reactions to soaps, dyes,perfumes, etc., but eliminating all of that didn't help.

    As far as weight loss goes, I will lose weight pretty steadily for about 10 days and then the next 10 days I will plateau or gain with a significant amount of water retention in my legs and hands. It isn't coming off like it used to in a steady pattern, but it is coming off.

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