Any Menopause weight loss success stories?

:flowerforyou: for encouragement

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I'm 63, well past menopause, and have just started with MFP on the advice of my son, aged 40, who has just lost a whopping 85 pounds just using MFP. I've done it a "million times", lost weight and gained it back plus some, but in the past three or four years, all of the weight has gone to my middle and I just became disgusted and frustrated at how I look and feel.
I retired in June this year-10 years of sitting behind a desk-then we moved to a new state. Needless to say, it was kind of a stressful time for me. As soon as we settled, I made up my mind to get this weight off of me and start feeling good again. I joined MFP and have stuck to the recommendations they provided. I'm so pleased with the results that I know I will reach my goal of losing 104 pounds!! I am exercising 6 days a week, alternating walking with weight training, and I can just now begin to tell the difference in my stamina. I still can't do all of the exercises I want to do as yet, but I know I will in the weeks to come…knees are just not what they used to be!!!
I was fortunate to not have too much trouble with menopause-a few hot flashes, but nothing I couldn't live with. The worst problem has been my middle belly weight gain and that concerned me as it was so much so quickly. I fear heart problems, stroke and the like-I just don't want to have those fears if I can help it. I am pretty much healthy as a horse-not on medications of any kind.
Good luck to all of us ladies-so excited for those that have met or are reaching their goals-it truly is inspiring to me!!

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I'm 51 and I had no trouble (surprisingly, according to my doctors) losing weight while peri-menopausal. However, having been menopausal for around 18 months, the weight is creeping back on - and my symptoms (hot flashes, etc.) have been worse the last 6 months or so.

I finally decided I just needed to be super-careful again and for the last two weeks have closely watched my calorie intake - eating mostly fresh/frozen veggies and lean meats with yogurt, fresh fruits, and whole grains making up the remainder. I work out 5 days/wk. This month I'm doing Beachbody PiYo to give my feet a break (arthritis due to bad bone structure), but I usually do intensive cardio and I normally do weight training 2-3 times/wk (but not with the PiYo program - it's strength training by body weight). If I eat at what TDEE calculations say I should to maintain, I gain weight.

So, two weeks of being super-good and normally I would have lost 1-2 lbs. This time, I GAINED 3 lbs. WTH? I did start a new post-menopausal medication (non-hormonal) around 3 wks ago and I'm wondering if this is the cause - although I haven't seen weight gain noted as a side-effect. My diary is open, although I haven't been good at logging lately, I have been careful about what I'm eating and portion sizes. I do measure/weigh most of my food. Been a bit lazy about exactly measuring the veggies, but seriously, I don't think they are a problem. By now, I am pretty good at eye-balling a cup of steamed broccoli. :happy:

I'm definitely interested in what others have to say. I'm sticking with my plan for the remainder of August and may have to go off the meds to see if that helps at all - then suffer through the other menopausal symptoms. Dang - just seems there is no winning right now!

My gp says no, but I've been struggling with my weight since my menstrual cycle stopped in 2008. I've regained my energy level by consuming 70-100g of protein a day, and to be honest I've never eating as much food since I was a child growing up. I also exersice a min. 3500kcal a week. I've been a member since last Sep, and I've lost 4kg going on 5.

Great Thread! I will take the time to read everyone's comments. Thanks OP for this question. I am hitting it now at age 51 and will enjoy reading others success stories.

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I am 43, been in peri menopause for 3 years since my tubal and found that after many different attempts with quitting sugar I just needed to moderate. I keep my calorie goal MFP gives me, walking has REALLY helped and I take maca root herbal supplements which has completely eliminated hot flashes and helped with the loss. This is the first time in the 3 years weight is slowly but surely coming off.

You are an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your journey....

Started in March 2014. I am losing more slowly than I would like but as long as it's going the right way I can live with it. My body seems to be losing in a different way than before. Loads gone off my legs and bottom first but I know (hoping) the rest of me will catch up. My stomach and hips don't seem to be reducing at the same rate. I am trying to stick to 1200 calories and walk a lot at the weekends, but I have always walked, this isn't a new activity for me.

Thanks for this - I will follow your lead and embrace anything that I could lose. Positive thinking and just keep on going.

Did you find the weight harder to lose (or maintain) during pre-menopause or post?

I'm 48 old yrs, 5'9" wgt165lbs I 'm currently post menopausal. I increased my workout to 6 days a week, alternating between spin classes and body pump ( it's a strength training class) I'm desperately trying to lose 10 to 15lbs mainly because I want to fit back into my size 6 to 8 clothing. I eat pretty healthy, no refined sugars, a lot of spinach salads, chicken, veggies and fruits. I'm pretty toned but I can't seem to lose the 10 to 15lbs weight gain that happened in the last two months.
Any advice?

I'm 60 years old. Have been post-menopausal for about 11 years, never taken any hormone therapy drugs. Last year, after weighing around 240 pounds for 10 years or so, the switch finally clicked and I started dieting and stuck to it. I followed the Atkins plan, more or less, and after losing about 30 pounds I added in exercising vigorously. Many years ago I was very fit and a fitness instructor in my 30s, so I was knowledgeable in that area although I had strayed very far from it for a very long time. Twelve months later, now and I have lost 65 pounds. I'd like to lose 5 pounds more or so, but feel like I've effectively achieved what I set out to do. I'm a little over 5'8" and on the mesomorphic side. Finally now, at 60 years old, I feel fit and energetic and strong and confident again. What a joy it is. I don't know what to make of that thing people say about your "metabolism slowing down." For me it was, I think, not a factor. My metabolism had certainly slowed from the fitter days of my youth, but that was because I had become inactive and had very poor eating habits. Once those corrections were made, I have lost weight pretty consistently and the time it took felt natural and healthy -- of course I lost more quickly in the beginning, as most people do, and then it slowed as I got closer to a healthy weight. Whether age-related metabolism is a factor or not, I don't think it really matters. The path to losing weight and getting fit is the same. So it may take a little longer and the margin for error (like eating something we know we shouldn't sometimes) may be smaller, it's still the same path to walk. Patience and persistence is key, as always.