I'm not doing low carb, but I would characterize my eating as slow carb, or low glycemic. I know many women of a certain age IRL who eat slow carb, as well as many women, on here and IRL with PCOS who eat slow carb/low glycemic.
It seems to help me at least maintain, and did, I think, help me lose 5LBS that were hanging around.

And, fwiw I don't think of South Beach (especially phase 2 and 3) of being low carb. Slow, yes.

Thanks for replying. Hoping to get some others opinions on this. I have noticed since I started phase 1 I am not bouncing up and down but am steadily starting to move down again! And I have lost an inch on my waist, bust and hips! YAY!

Thanks again Sabine for helping me get started!

Hey thats a good thing! Well done! Hope others reply. :-)

Hi
I have noticed that when I attempt low carb I see a significant drop and most definitely a loss of the dreaded bloat. I do however find it difficult to sustain but I think that is my general lack of commitment and low will power at the moment. I do however keep on trying.

Smiles, I know that feeling. I notice an improvement if I just stop eating bread for a week, and have done that before snug dress events.:flowerforyou:

I gained over 60 lbs of unwanted belly fat after quitting smoking and going through menopause. I did low carb diets, low calorie diets and exercised 6 days per week with no luck, just continued gaining belly fat until my knees began to suffer and I was having trouble continuing my exercise.

Finally, I found out about the science of food combining and was able to begin actually losing some of the weight, after 6 years of gaining. I tried balancing hormones, getting medication for my sluggish thyroid, low-calorie diet and exercising 6 days per week for over a year. Only low-carb dieting would keep me from gaining any additional weight, but didn't help me lose, even with exercise.

I have long been interested in Suzanne Somers books about balancing hormones and read one of her diet books about her diet called Somersize. It's very similar to the Atkins induction diet, yet combines low-glycemic index foods with the science of food combining. You don't have to count calories and can eat as much as you need to feel full. She has some great recipes for things you would really feel deprived of on a diet -- desserts, bread substitutes, etc.

I started on her diet in November, just before Thanksgiving. As of this morning, I have lost 19 lbs. and all this without exercising. I don't have anything against exercising and intend to start back as soon as I have lost enough weight that I'm certain I will not further damage my joints. At present I am looking forward to spring and summer, so I can have longer days and time to go walking after work.

On this diet, there are a list of what she calls "funky foods" that have too much natural sugar or combinations of carbs and fats, that should not be eaten at all. A lot of these foods were some of my basics on my low-carb diet. As for the rest, she recommends eating real fats, olive oil, real butter, etc. and not combining fats with carbs. You can eat the allowed carb foods as a separate meal, but not with fats. Fruits are separate from either the protein/fats or carbs and can only be eaten a certain length of time before or after one of the other food groups.

The rules are a bit confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, learn some of the recipes and throw out all the foods you can't eat, it's easy. Yesterday was Valentines day and all the candy, cookies, donuts, etc. made the rounds in the office. I was feeling a little deprived when I brought it home for my kids to eat, so I went into my kitchen and made myself some mini chocolate cheesecakes! They are allowed on the diet and were yummy -- no longer deprived!

You can search up the Somersize support group on Facebook if you want more information. They are a great bunch of people, eager to share their success stories, recipes and help keep you on track. Good luck!

Posting again, because she's smart.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Momma_Grizz/view/menopausal-weight-gain-war-zone-576021

Hello ladies, Im back again after two years of being off and recovering from surgery, new job etc. With this I have managed to gain every pound back and plus some! Now that my schedule is more consistent, I have time to exercise and became extra motivated after seeing my recent pic with my daughters! 50 yrs old, post meno, and the belly fat has to go. Im sporting a five star "menopot", great apple shape here. Has anyone tried Estroven?

I have been researching the paleo lifestyle diets and cooking, I am making the transition. I have thrown away all processed frozen foods, no more Eggos, frozen pizzas, stouffers dishes etc. The only thing in my freezers will be meats, homemade soups, etc that I have cooked. I consciously look at foods differently in the grocery store. I dont know that I will ever be able to eat paleo 24/7/365 however, 3-5 nights a week is a start. No lone loves bread more than me.

I need to lose 60 lbs badly, I refuse to let menopause get the best of me. I;ve started wogging again to get back to running, that helped me tremendously 2 years ago.....

Looking for friends and motivation.....

This is the coldest and rainiest winter NC has experienced in many years. We actually had two snow events, I am ready for Spring! Winter is depressing, who wants to exercise then, January after New Years is tough!

I went to Costco today, bought one of their Pilates exercise DVDs with a ball and mat for 16.99. I'm self employed and have a nice office with room to stretch so I figure Im going to make myself do this every other day. I feel like I need some strengthening, I know a few other meno ladies who toned up doing Pilates, do Im going to give it a try. I do not do gyms for sanitary reasons.

I'm doing 1450 calories a day, this Im content with, until I drop 25 lbs, then I may try to go lower.

I am two years into this journey. I'm still trying to find my niche as to what will work for me because what used to work, doesn't anymore! I've gained and trying to keep my spirits up and my motivation up in spite of that is hard. I have a cousin who is about 5 years older than me and she has gone through this all. And now I remember when she put on the extra weight, she was always pretty slim. She said you just can't give in to it even when you aren't seeing the results that you want. After she went one year without a period she started seeing the weight come off. Now she is back to her normal weight. So I keep telling myself to keep my eye on a few years down the line. Instead of letting myself go completely because of being discouraged that at least I will not have so much work to do when I have completed my menopause. So I just keep on trucking. I'm at the phase where I will have a normal period for two months, then nothing for two months, then a period that feels like its ripping out my insides. I do not want to use any hormones and so I've been doing as natural as I can. I have been using Estroven for weight loss in the mornings and it does seem to help me have more energy.

What I have found is that carbs are not my friend any more. When I eat carb heavy (pasta, pizza, mashed potatoes, fried foods), it sends me into a carb frenzy craving. So though I try to not cut any one thing completely out of my diet. I do find that if I splurge on carbs it takes me longer to get back to eating healthier.

Sabine posted a link to a blog that was right on. I copied it and saved it and I am going to read it every day to remind myself. I have just started doing more walking (relaxation walking), hitt type running exercises and New Rules for Women which is a weight lifting program that usually has me in and out of the gym in 20 min. So it was encouraging to read that I am doing the right things.

I bought a fitbit to help me with moving more and accountability and it seems to be helping keep me on track. Its hard at this age, at least for the majority of us. I am not within the 10% or whatever it is of women that don't gain and lose by eating and exercising moderately.

Hang in there and know that it will come to an end!

great info..
thanks

thanks I may need to start eating the 5 to 6t small meals a day as well and running may help