Any Menopause weight loss success stories?

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I have been trying. To lose 12lns. For 3 months and have only lost 2 lbs. I am 49 and have gone. Through menopause. I work out 5 - 6 days a week. I have been staying under my calorie count. I am very frustrated. Any suggestions?

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I have posted on this topic so many times it makes me nauseated. I've been fighting menopausal weight gain for two years. It just keeps coming.

Unlike many here, I have been in excellent shape my whole life. I started weight training at age 19, before it got to be mainstream for women to do it, and have never stopped. Over the years I've added running, yoga, Pilates, biking, kickboxing, boot camp...if it's fitness related, I've done it.

I was in the absolute best shape of my life at 48 when BAM. I had a period from hell that lasted two and a half months, nonstop. Horrible. The very next month I started to gain weight. Then more. Then more. The harder I fought it with cutting back calories and exercising more, the more weight I gained.

I've always been fit. Always been muscular and small. In the past two years I've gone from 110 (my usual weight) and a size 0 to 130 and a size 6. Fighting it every step of the way. There is NOTHING I haven't tried. And the sad thing is, my whole lifestyle was the healthiest it could be to begin with. Adding weights in the gym did nothing. I watched helplessly as my muscles disappeared and it "seemed" that cellulite and fat took their place.

I am now flabby, four inches bigger in the waist, three inches bigger in the bust, hips, and thighs, despite a clean diet and regular workouts.

I've been put on thyroid meds with no effect. I finally resorted to bioidentical hormone replacement a month ago. So far all I've noticed is sore breasts and even larger rear and thighs than I've ever had (never were my problem areas before).

So....yeah. Exercise and clean eating does NOT work for everyone in menopause. If you check out my profile, you'll see my "BEFORE" pictures. LOL

I'm 58 and have lost just over 100 pounds in about a year. I stick to my 1200 calorie plan and do not eat back my exercise calories. I work out about an hour six days a week plus walking with the dogs. My diet is low salt, low fat and low enjoyment. I no longer eat fried foods and don't eat much bread. When I do I make my own without salt. I do occasionally eat ice cream and chocolate for treats. I eat a lot of chicken breast and sweet potatoes. But I really enjoy how I feel at this smaller size, so I don't mind the limited food choices. Only 55 more pounds to go.

I am 52 and my doctor is shocked I haven't shown any signs of menopause. I keep my hormones level with nutrition and weight loss has been easy (when I don't cheat.) Gone from size 16 to 6 with nutrition -

It certainly could be what you eat and it could also be genetic. Awesome that you lost weight like that it gives me hope.

BUMP

I am reading all the comments and am so glad I am not in this struggle alone. I have fought my weight my entire life. Lost and gained, and repeated again. But I had finally got a grip on it, lost 150 pounds, felt great, ate good and clean, and devoted to exercise. Then about three years ago the weight started coming back on- for no reason other than menopause. I have gained around 25 pounds (mostly in the belly area) and have tried every way to try and start my metabolism into kicking in again but nothing has worked. Still exercising 5 times a week, lifting weights with alternating days of aerobic. I'm changing my exercise programs periodically so my body does not become used to one routine. Not on any meds so can't blame it on that. I am just miserable and am probably over obsessed with the fact I feel horrible with the added pounds. It's constantly on my mind and one can't help but be reminded of it when you look in the mirror and also have to buy larger clothes (which I was determined not to do ever again) Especially coming from working so hard to get the weight off in the first place. This truly is an awful, helpless and depressing feeling. I'm determined to get through this phase in life a winner. If anyone has any suggestions or advice as to how they broke through this, please share.

Hang in there!

I have been here since Jan. 14 and I have lost a pound a week consistently and I am 52 and post menopausal.

My calorie goal was around 1350 to start with, now 1290 as I have lost weight. I stick to that goal and I exercise about 5 days a week, cardio and some light weight. I do run walking and I just started going back to aerobic classes, also do some elliptical and some light weights. I want to do more heavy weights.

I don't usually eat back all my exercise calories.

I pretty much eat what I want, haven't ruled out any foods entirely, but I eat reasonably healthy.

I think consistency is really important.

I'm 49 and am in the midst of menopause. I've lost a total of 86 pounds so far. After years of eating crap and not getting enough exercise, I've cut out fast food, eat hardly any processed foods, and eliminated pop (soda) and cow's milk entirely. Additionally, I began my exercise with TaeBo then moved to Insanity. After shoulder surgery (my stupidity, not Insanity's), I began doing Beachbody's Combat series. Now I do a mixture of Combat and Insanity about four times a week. Whenever weather permits (usually 5-6 days a week), I walk my dog for 40 minutes (2.5 miles). I honestly feel better than I have since my early 30's!

For months I couldn't lose weight. I'd lose a couple of pounds, I'd gain it back. Restricting calories, exercising like a fiend--nothing worked.

Until my sister introduced me to something that worked for her, Dr. Ian Smith's "Shred."

I'm on week six, day one and I'm down 17 pounds. As soon as I finish this sixth week, I will begin again at week 2 until I hit my goal.

I never feel deprived and even though I tweaked my back and haven't been able to work out for a couple of weeks, I'm still losing weight. There's a ton of support from fellow Shredders on Facebook, and Dr. Smith checks in on both--so you never feel that you're at it alone or go without important questions answered.

I just turned 55 and this is the first time in four years that I have been able to easily lose weight and I no longer feel like I am the only person in creation that can't lose with normal diet and exercise.

Check it out.

what is your caloric intake?

My weight gain of the past 2 1/2 years was directly related to menopause. I have lost the weight by watching my carb intake. My reward at the end of a day is a piece of Darryl Lea red licorice. Snacks are almonds or carrots and celery. I exercise on the Nordic Track and try to walk as much as I can while at work.

My weight gain of the past 2 1/2 years was directly related to menopause. I have lost the weight by watching my carb intake. My reward at the end of a day is a piece of Darryl Lea red licorice. Snacks are almonds or carrots and celery. I exercise on the Nordic Track and try to walk as much as I can while at work.

I find that I have to be very mindful of the type of carbs I eat.