Menopause messing with your weight loss!?

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Replies

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hi to the gals (sorry guys) that are in menopause and suddenly have found a tire around their waist, they have to eat half the amount they used to consume - just to maintain their weight, wine is now a bad (VERY bad) carb - may as well eat a tablespoon of sugar....argh! I have decide to heck with menopause! I am 54 and refuse to settle for "it's menopause, you're getting older, that's life". Not me mama! I need support - I know I can't do this myself. I am not a complainer, just looking to tap into other peoples "spark" and share some of my own. I want to be fab and 55! I want my "twilight years" to be spectacular! Are you in?
    I hear you! I'm also menopausal, but this has been the easiest time for me to lose weight. If I can lose the weight, anyone can!
  • florylmay
    florylmay Posts: 1
    I am in the same boat. 47 years old and started peri menopause. I workout all the time (swim 3 days a week, cycle 3 days a week and play outdoor soccer on Sundays) and feel much better but still gaining weight. It is really frustrating. I eat healthy although I think I will have to cut my intake to 1/3 in order to lose weight or completely change my diet. Interested in what diet changes work for others. I've reduced my carbs substantially. I am also going in to get blood work done to see if I have a thyroid issue.
  • amymcnamara007
    amymcnamara007 Posts: 1
    I'm 31 and found out recently I'm going through early menopause. Over the last year I've gained 20lbs; some due to slacking off on working out and poor eating, and some probably due to hormones I'm sure. I've never had a major issue getting in shape as long as I exercised. I've also thankfully never been overweight, even now, despite not being where I want to be. However, gaining 20lbs stinks regardless. I've been able to lose 7 by eating better and cranking up the exercise, but it's taken FOREVER! I'm also about to start HRT and have read it can cause weight gain. I hope I can continue to get my health back and get back in shape despite what's going on. Any suggestions? I wish everybody luck who is in this situation with me!
  • bciloveme2014
    bciloveme2014 Posts: 213 Member
    bump. for future reference.:drinker:
  • karen0214
    karen0214 Posts: 120 Member
    I am so happy to see this thread! It is comforting to know that I am not the only one struggling with this menopause issue. I am 51 and muddling through it, some months having a period, and skipping some months here and there. If a group gets started, please count me in. I don't have time at the moment, but I am looking forward to reading all of the replies on here to see what I can learn. I am hoping to be more fit and active in my fifties than I was in my forties.
  • sprintto50
    sprintto50 Posts: 410 Member
    I'm 50 an been going through symptoms for 3 years. I used to eat and never gain, and now I nibble and explode! I work out daily and if I really, really cut back, can lose a pound or two. I used to be immune to salt, now one potato chip and I put on 2 pounds overnight! I'm glad to see I am not unique. Glad to be here, too.
  • wanttolose40lbs
    wanttolose40lbs Posts: 239 Member
    I'm 52 post menopausal, mostly (still get hot flashes). I slowly put on weight over the years and one day decided it was enough and tried to lose. I would lose and then quit trying, wouldn't gain it back but quit losing, then jump back on the bandwagon again and lose some more. I really started trying in January of this year and have been losing pretty steadily. Have had a couple plateaus but worked my way through it, haven't given up any food, and still like my wine and beer. I have about 15 lbs left to lose, and even though it's coming off more slowly now I hope to lose it before the end of the year. Hopefully it won't take that long.
  • Jerrysgirl2014
    Jerrysgirl2014 Posts: 2
    I'm 47, had a partial hysterectomy at age 38. I have fibromyalgia (under control right now), had a partial colectomy and gall bladder removed last year. Suffer from H-Pylori, over active thyroid and am in menopause. My body doesn't know what it's doing! I finally started Advocare this past week. I am in the cleanse phase, day 4 and feel very good. I am also down 5 lbs. I needed this to jump start my metabolism and push me into weight loss. I work full time, take care of my two young grandchildren and 16 year old son. I have my 30 year HS reunion in July and getting married in September. I've gained 50lbs in 6 years which is totally unacceptable. So I am on a healthy mission for myself. I know I can do this even more so when I start implementing more exercise. I am determined and have a ton of support. My fiancée is extremely supportive although he has seen me this weight and a lot lighter. So here I GO!!
  • Outwardlycalm
    Outwardlycalm Posts: 75 Member
    I'm keepin an eye on this thread topic - I'm 50 and with my luck :grumble: will probably be able to have babies until I'm 60. Uh, yeah...NO THANKS! I'm hoping to be in menopause REAL soon, hahaha, but so far no luck. The only thing I'm getting is a tiny bit of night sweat - not the wringing out the sheets kind - just more like I'm too warm and it wakes me up so I uncover, just at TOM. I do notice that my tummy is a tiny bit pudgier under the navel than it used to be, but that could be just loose 'old lady skin' showing up after my weight loss (I've been in maintenance for a few months now.)
    *sigh*
    No one in my family has gone through menopause naturally (due to severe endometriosis, cysts, etc - luckily I am healthy that way) so I have no idea what the general age range for menopause in my family is. :frown:

    I'm the first in my family to do it naturally too, well 'm waiting to. At 55 you think I would be. Even had a blood test to see where I was. Doc says not yet. I'm going to watch this thread too.
  • doodlebug1966
    doodlebug1966 Posts: 17
    I am going to keep up with this thread. Menopause really messes up your whole body and mind as well.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    Women live longer you moaning minnies
  • bombshellcertification
    bombshellcertification Posts: 126 Member
    Men waiting at a traffic intersection hasn't slowed my weight loss. Why you're calling them Men o' pause is fine by me, but I just keep moving. Best of luck folks.

    Amen! And Im in...no need for the details just have to learn and just do it! Support here is key< thank you
  • smrgal144
    smrgal144 Posts: 9
    Hi everyone! New here and would love to join this group! I have gained 10 pounds during this transition due to not being able to work out as strenuous and as much as I was prior. Before this blessed event began, I was working out in the gym 5 times a week and lifting 3 times. I became quite dizzy and sick with the fluctuating hormones so had to stop working out which depressed me to no end. I enjoy working out for those endorphins!!! Now if I am feeling up to it, I walk slow on the treadmill and lift a few weights here and there. I try to keep my calories at 1200 so as not to gain anymore weight but the weight just sticks now. I really think the 1200 is way too many calories for my body to start budging but know I cannot go lower than that for health reasons. Hope to make a few friends here!
  • HikeCalifornia
    HikeCalifornia Posts: 18
    Good morning ladies! I'm 48 and the doc says I'm "at least in peri-menopause." I've gained 30 - yes, count them with me - 30 pounds in a year. I know a lot of it is from crap eating and laziness, but really?!?!? Would love to give and get support from women around my age. Please add me - I'd love some friends who "get it." Thanks!! :smile:
  • screwmenopause
    screwmenopause Posts: 170 Member
    Ladies, come join us at the group "Menopause - taking action!" after I started this thread we formed a group. would love to share our journey together!
    jill
  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    I am 52 and have had so many stops and starts the past nine months,but this time it has been about 4 months...so maybe I am done? LOL, my Doctor is like when it happens, it happens.

    I am losing weight consistently, I log, eat at a deficit (at this point around 1500/day), and exercise at least 5 times per week.
    Since it came back with a vengence, I am obviously not done. My Mom didn't finish till 55, so we will see what happens. :)

    Whatever, but it won't stop me from getting to my goal, which is losing the rest of the fat (about 20 lbs., not really sure what it will be), keeping my muscle, and putting on a bikini and liking what I see. I am already liking what I see, and I am motivated to keep this up and get to my goal, then dedicate myself to maintaining it for the rest of my life.

    Menopause, peri-menopause, wherever it is I am at, it is just not even a factor to me.
  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    Hi everyone! New here and would love to join this group! I have gained 10 pounds during this transition due to not being able to work out as strenuous and as much as I was prior. Before this blessed event began, I was working out in the gym 5 times a week and lifting 3 times. I became quite dizzy and sick with the fluctuating hormones so had to stop working out which depressed me to no end. I enjoy working out for those endorphins!!! Now if I am feeling up to it, I walk slow on the treadmill and lift a few weights here and there. I try to keep my calories at 1200 so as not to gain anymore weight but the weight just sticks now. I really think the 1200 is way too many calories for my body to start budging but know I cannot go lower than that for health reasons. Hope to make a few friends here!
    If you are not in the obese range, you should be eating more. I ate low till I got out of obese range, but now I am trying to get to 1700 and see if I can still lose that 0.5 to 1 lb. (not too much as I am trying to lose fat not muscle) per week. I think the TDEE method might work for me, but it is taking me a while to net that much, even though I only count half my exercise calories. I averaged about 1600 this week and I have still lost about 1 lb. so far.
  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    Don't give up! I married DH at age 50 and went into menopause a year or two later. I did gain weight but part of it was that instead of me throwing together a stir-fry of veggies and adding them to canned soup or a Weight Watchers frozen entrée (not totally healthy but fast and low-cal), DH was making dinner from his good home cooking recipes. At my urging, he made them healthier (less fat, more veggies) but I was not good about exercising portion control and suddenly skirts and pants didn't fit.

    Too bad I gave many of them away. While in my last 50s I stumbled onto 5-2 fasting and kicked up my workouts a notch. I also got a heart rate monitor so I could tell when I was slacking off in my workout. I lost 17 lbs. over a couple of years and I'm in better shape at 61 than I was 5 years ago.

    I know hormones can wreak havoc on your metabolism- I remember having a terrible time maintaining my weight when I was on BC pills in the 1970s- but healthier habits can go a long way.
  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    Ladies, come join us at the group "Menopause - taking action!" after I started this thread we formed a group. would love to share our journey together!
    jill
    What is your goal? If it is in line with mine, then I might want to join.

    I am definitely at least in peri-menopause, but I don't and won't use it as an excuse to say I can't, because that is a lie. I can, and I am, and I am full speed ahead till I get there.

    No 1200 calories a week for this lady, and I am doing great lifting heavy and losing lbs., but the other wonderful thing that happens when you lift heavy is you start shrinking in body size, not muscle, fat, even though your weight doesn't go down as much as you think it should for the amount of fat you see gone. It is actually pretty cool.

    I don't believe you either have to age gracefully, or you have to fight it every step of the way, I believe you can do both at the same time. You can age gracefully while being the very best you are capable of being at the age you are. I don't focus on the number, I just focus on doing the best I can in this moment.
  • 1crvygrl
    1crvygrl Posts: 506 Member
    Be Back
  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    Don't give up! I married DH at age 50 and went into menopause a year or two later. I did gain weight but part of it was that instead of me throwing together a stir-fry of veggies and adding them to canned soup or a Weight Watchers frozen entrée (not totally healthy but fast and low-cal), DH was making dinner from his good home cooking recipes. At my urging, he made them healthier (less fat, more veggies) but I was not good about exercising portion control and suddenly skirts and pants didn't fit.

    Too bad I gave many of them away. While in my last 50s I stumbled onto 5-2 fasting and kicked up my workouts a notch. I also got a heart rate monitor so I could tell when I was slacking off in my workout. I lost 17 lbs. over a couple of years and I'm in better shape at 61 than I was 5 years ago.

    I know hormones can wreak havoc on your metabolism- I remember having a terrible time maintaining my weight when I was on BC pills in the 1970s- but healthier habits can go a long way.
    SO agreed, I also deal with thyroid disease, and having no gallbladder, none of that is stopping me, including whatever phase of menopause I am in, not really sure at this point. There was a time before I was medicated properly that no matter what I did I gained weight, this is the weight I am finally getting rid of for good, and if anybody is not medicated properly for whatever hormone issues they have, time to get proactive about it, you won't get help you need unless you do.

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