Perimenopause Weight Gain

LadyBedo · June 2014

I have always been overweight, at my heaviest i was 252 pounds and i decided that enough was enough and i started walking 2 miles a day, 6 days a week i was eating between 1200 and 15 calories a day and in a year i got down to 195 pounds and i was so proud of myself, i felt so good for the first time in years. then....perimenopause hit me...HARD. i was still doing my walking and my diet but the weight started coming back, fast. i am not back up to 228 and i honestly don't see any end in sight. i must say i am so depressed and disappointed in myself that i am gaining this weight back after working so hard to get it off. i don't know what else to try and i feel like giving up.

plingelbach · July 2014

Our numbers and stories are almost identical!

Even the 5 pound fluctuation I can normally achieve without trying too hard just WILL. NOT. HAPPEN. I've exercised A LOT the past month. Last week I set a goal to walk 26 miles and did that plus other stuff while having a fairly decent calorie intake each day-- with no result at all. The only success for the entire month of June was one inch off my waist. When I weighed this morning, it was exactly the same as a month ago. I about cried. I am trying so, so hard. It's just not working, and hormones are the only thing I can identify as the cause. (I've developed a tendency to have ovarian cysts the past few years, and I think my hormones are a wreck. Thanks, forties.)

Today I decided to give South Beach a whirl and keep trying with tracking and exercising. Seven years ago I lost 50 on WW. When the weight started creeping back on about four years ago, I tried it again, but the "free" fruit/veggies kill me. I need accountability for everything. I've kept off 25 of the 50, but would really like to lose 40-50 overall.

Day 1 exercise derailed due to an unfortunate bike wreck my son had while we were out. (He's okay. Bad road rash.) The food has been okay, other than the fact that I *love* fruit and have looked very longingly into the fridge, wishing those nectarines and pears were on the phase 1 list.

Keep your chin up. I'm working hard to follow that advice myself.

Kalikel · July 2014

Oh, Hun. Take it easy on yourself. It's supposed to be an emotional time, so probably some of your sadness is hormones messing with you. I know it can't help the way you feel, but knowing there's a reason might be some comfort? Or not, maybe. Sorry.

Go back to your walks. If you can swim, do it! It's the BEST thing to burn fat, giving you cardio and resistance at the same time. Fantastic exercise and leaves you cheered up a bit, too. All swimmers talk about it - the good feeling that you get.

Give up if you want. If you wNt to quit, do that! But don't feel all mopey. Quit and then be happy with that decision.

When you're ready, you'll be ready! You already know you CAN do it because you did it once. You can do it again.

In the meantime, maybe make some tiny changes. Add healthy things to your diet. Just make a change every week or two. Little by little. As you ease into healthier food, it becomes habit. Once you're in the habit of eating healthy, it becomes your lifestyle. It's very difficult to gain eating healthy food. After you exercise, you won't have to do maintaining. You'll have made a lifestyle change that sticks.

But don't beat yourself up. You screwed up. It happens. People do much worse - to other people! - and don't feel as badly as you do.

Forgive yourself.

LadyBedo · July 2014

I am sorry for what you are going thru. i know how you feel . i was beginning to think i was just not eating right or exercising enough. but i have doubled up on my exercise and and eating only between 1200 and 1400 calories a day and i just cannot lose any weight. it it really depressing. the only thing i know to do is to keep exercising like i have been and eating right and i guess that's all i can do. i am glad to know you and i feel so relieved i am not alone.

Perimenopause Weight Gain

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