menopause and after weight loss
Mommak1958
Posts: 2 Member
Has anyone out there experienced difficulty losing weight while going through menopause or after. I am really struggling to lose anything, and have been for the last year and a half. I have only gained about 5 pounds, but I CANNOT seem to lose it. I do exercise 3 - 4 days a week, most weeks. For the last 2 weeks, I have been drinking Visalus shakes for Breakfast & lunch, eating maybe an apple and a single serving size bag of popcorn during the day. Then eating a normal dinner. I am not hungry, but I'm not losing either. Just wonder if anyone out there has had similar issues and what you may have done to get past them.
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Replies
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It is possible that you are not consuming enough calories. Also, have you checked the sodium in the foods you're consuming? Just a thought.
I'm not at the big "M" yet but the older I get the harder it gets to get the weight to shift. However, with the help of this site and my naturopath the weight is slowly but surely coming off. Remember to eat all of your calories. Totally not what we were taught through the years but it seems to work.0 -
Also I don't know what the shakes are that you are "eating" but I am a proponent of real food. Real, healthy, unprocessed food. That's just my opinion though.0
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Hi, I'm 63 and am just finishing the menopause, I only need to lose around 9 pounds but it has been very difficult. If I eat lots of fruit and vegetables and 2 - 3 ounces of say, chicken, then I find I can lose a little but as soon as I start to eat carbs I put it back on. I'm on a 1200 calorie diet, I walk the dog and do some form of exercise 5 times week. If I eat chocolate or sweet stuff I can't lose anything even if it's only a little bit. I do think though it's necessary to eat little and often - I try to eat my 1200 calories and some days I'm under but I never eat what I log as exercise. Let me know how you get on. :happy:0
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I'm not in menopause yet. I'm in the perimenopause stage and it is definitely harder to lose weight now. And my GYN says it's likely to get worse once I hit menopause. Plenty of intense cardio seems to help me lose the most.0
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I've been reading about this recently, don't laugh...I bought Suzanne Somers "Sexy Forever". She has researched this exact topic and has lots of great advice. I'm in the middle of the book and have learned how hormones affect us in every way...weight loss, weight gain...moods...quality of sleep...energy...etc.0
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I agree with the above post^^^ about making sure you are eating ENOUGH-
when I started logging a year ago, I was sporadic about eating- skipping meals, grabbing empty calories (candy bars/milkshakes)
and then ate a decent dinner....and was perplexed why I'd gained.
Makes sense to me NOW that I can see- sometimes I UNDERate and that stored FAT.
as far as menopause goes, I'm in it- but I ended up developing an underactive thyroid-
after a suggestion by my CHIROPRACTOR- I asked my PCP to test my levels- they were out of balance-
which *CAN* occur during menopause...and it has helped too.
Just something to ask your doctor about- and keep track of over the course of your life.0 -
I too only gained about 5 lbs with menopause however I am over 200 to begin with. After 3 weeks of serious exercise I am slowly (3lbs) starting to loose weight. I just don't have it in me to eat diet food so I have only given up sweets and am adding more fruits. Using MFP is really helping because it has been telling me I am not eating enough calories and once I started eating ALL the reccomended calories, I started loosing. It sounds like you are not eating enough and your body is into "storing" the fat mode. Eat more normal food calories. ALSO: I now have "friends" that are giving possitive feed back and that really helps too!
Good Luck & God Bless!0 -
oddly, i am 'supposedly' at that menopause mark. who knows... my hormones are so crazy anyway. I am interested in reading what everyone has to say.
I have been working out every single day. I gain tons of water weight during that time of the month, usually close to ten lbs... not joking! I have started weighing myself daily and keeping track to see the fluctuations, and they are really huge. Every single time I lose the water weight there seems to be a some fat that I gain that I can' t seem to shake off.
I have been burning and burning tons of calories daily, but it isn't doing anything for me but helping me shed the water weight. At first I thought it was my thyroid, but sheesh... something has to give.
Have you checked with a nutritionist to see what they have to say? That is my next move. I have also been thinking about doing low carb. Haven't made any diet choices as of yet though.
Hope everything works out for you!
Hang on in there, don't ever quit.0 -
I am post-menopausal and I have gained 40 lbs in the last few years and it's very difficult to get off. My gyn told me that I have to burn off more than I eat and do NOT eat back exercise calories.0
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I've been struggling with weight gain over the past seven years; I will turn 60 this year. I have to believe the big M plays a major role because traditional advice for losing weight don't seem to work. I tend to agree with the post that said you are not eating enough though. I arbitrarily set a limit of 1000 to 1200 calories last year and I was reasonably faithful. I also exercised a good bit, walking 15-20 miles a week. I ended the year 8 pounds heavier than I started.
Since January I've been really watching my calorie intake again trying to stay between 750 to 1000 calories. In early February, a friend told me about myfitnesspal. When I plugged in my goals, it says I should have 1500 calories a day. I've lost 6 more pounds since increasing my calorie intake. I make sure I eat breakfast every day and I have an apple or veggies for snacks. I allow myself to have a Skinny Cow treat if I choose too. I've been trying to do my carb loading at breakfast and lunch and intake few if any for dinner.
I'm not sure if I've stumbled on the right combination for me or not. Time will tell. Like the post below, I've stopped adding salt to my meal after it's prepared. I allow myself a pinch if needed when cooking. All I know is that it's been a very long time since I've had any weight loss and this feels right. Hope this encourages you.0 -
Hi there!
Did you just start on here? I'm going through the same thing, hotflashes and all and cant take any hrt. I've been a member on here since Jan and I've lost 10 lbs since Christmas eve. It's not a lot but I didnt put this weight on all at once either.
The biggest changes I made was to get up and move more. I break a good sweat with at least 100 minutes of exercise such as walking/hiking at least 4 times a week. I prefer to do it 7 days a week now and enjoy it. I added a gps pedometer app to my phone that tracks the miles and steps that I've walked, calories I've burned and a few other things. I love it.
I've also learned to enjoy every single bite of my food. I've realized that if I'm truly hungry most ALL food tastes good, even the healthy stuff! So if an apple sounds boring you probably aren't really hungry.
Since soy is supposed to help with menopause symptoms, Ive started drinking Silk choc soy milk, light. It's only 90 calories and gives me an awesome fix to my choc craving. I also eat roasted edamame as my salty, crunchy snack.
One more thing I've noticed is that I have fewer hotflashes if I'm not dehydrated. I'm not sure why though!
Have you been tracking your food intake and exercise on here? I find that it helps me reach my goals much easier. MFP also has a phone app you can use for when you're not at a computer.
Add me as a friend if you'd like. Perhaps we can help each other go through this crazy part of life that God chose to punish us with. lol Good luck to you!0 -
I've been reading about this recently, don't laugh...I bought Suzanne Somers "Sexy Forever". She has researched this exact topic and has lots of great advice. I'm in the middle of the book and have learned how hormones affect us in every way...weight loss, weight gain...moods...quality of sleep...energy...etc.
The book sounds good and worthy of reading. I am still in the pre-menopause stage and I think weight loss does get more difficult. I'm working out more and eating less and it is helping!0 -
If you are taking any kind of hormone replacement medication some of them keep you retaining weight just a thought....0
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At a recent medical conference, they stated that after menopause a female must exercise 30 minutes a day at moderate intensity to MAINTAIN weight and 60 minutes a day at moderate intensity to LOSE weight. I am not going to cite a source, because I can't remember it. That was with absolutely no change in dietary habits or the amount of food being eaten.
Also, as an aside, exercise after menopause will help preserve your bone strength.0 -
Has anyone out there experienced difficulty losing weight while going through menopause or after. I am really struggling to lose anything, and have been for the last year and a half. I have only gained about 5 pounds, but I CANNOT seem to lose it. I do exercise 3 - 4 days a week, most weeks. For the last 2 weeks, I have been drinking Visalus shakes for Breakfast & lunch, eating maybe an apple and a single serving size bag of popcorn during the day. Then eating a normal dinner. I am not hungry, but I'm not losing either. Just wonder if anyone out there has had similar issues and what you may have done to get past them.
Oh yes. You will find many menopausal women have the same problem regarding trying to lose weight. It is a bugbear that can only be understood by anybody that has or is going through it, in short, it is the proverbial pain in the butt!
Our metabolisms HAVE slowed down and it is a lot more difficult to shift the weight during and after the menopause than it would have been in our teens or twentys (or even thirties come to that).
My own way is 1200 calories, cut out all crap, no junk food, exercise (which, for me is running) three times per week, log everything into my food and exercise diary, weigh and measure once per week. So far it has worked a treat.
Watch you do not underestimate your food calories and overestimate your exercise calories - especially if you eat your exercise calories back. It can be the difference between being on target or many hundreds of calories over if you do it incorrectly and that, in turn, will mean either no weightloss or worse still, an increase in weight. That would be a damn shame.0 -
I totally agree with this! Try getting some whey protein powder and making your own if that is what you want. It is very easy with some frozen berries and just water!Also I don't know what the shakes are that you are "eating" but I am a proponent of real food. Real, healthy, unprocessed food. That's just my opinion though.0 -
Thanks for all the suggestions and support. I started today using the food diary on MFP again. I also have fibromyalgia which has slowed my exercise some, but I'm going to be searching for a good exercise plan today too, so I can get back on track. I lost about 13 pounds 4 - 5 years ago and have just now gained it all back. But I have been struggling with this 5 pounds for over a year.
I agree it could be that I haven't been eating enough calories, so that is why I am starting up the food diary again. And I know I haven't been consistent with my exercise over the last few weeks, so that has to change.
I am also battling an inflamed ankle tendon, so any suggestions of a good exercise program, i.e. free weights (light weight), videos, etc that you recommend would be appreciated.0 -
That's interesting Jill, will ask my doc if I can have tests.
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Hi Change_happen, if you're burning lots of calories, could it be that you're gaining a bit of muscle and that's where the extra weight is going? Just a thought 0
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Has anyone out there experienced difficulty losing weight while going through menopause or after. I am really struggling to lose anything, and have been for the last year and a half. I have only gained about 5 pounds, but I CANNOT seem to lose it. I do exercise 3 - 4 days a week, most weeks. For the last 2 weeks, I have been drinking Visalus shakes for Breakfast & lunch, eating maybe an apple and a single serving size bag of popcorn during the day. Then eating a normal dinner. I am not hungry, but I'm not losing either. Just wonder if anyone out there has had similar issues and what you may have done to get past them.
Oh yes. You will find many menopausal women have the same problem regarding trying to lose weight. It is a bugbear that can only be understood by anybody that has or is going through it, in short, it is the proverbial pain in the butt!
Our metabolisms HAVE slowed down and it is a lot more difficult to shift the weight during and after the menopause than it would have been in our teens or twentys (or even thirties come to that).
My own way is 1200 calories, cut out all crap, no junk food, exercise (which, for me is running) three times per week, log everything into my food and exercise diary, weigh and measure once per week. So far it has worked a treat.
Watch you do not underestimate your food calories and overestimate your exercise calories - especially if you eat your exercise calories back. It can be the difference between being on target or many hundreds of calories over if you do it incorrectly and that, in turn, will mean either no weightloss or worse still, an increase in weight. That would be a damn shame.
I can really second that!
I'm in menopause for 6 years now and found it very difficult to lose weight. With MFP and the right attitude towards exercise I've lost 44 pounds and quit smoking. I'm feeling much better now, have less hot flashes and no mood swings. Seems like my hormons a re more balanced now although the blood check last week told a different story .
I exercise daily (cardio and strenth) and watch carefully what I eat and how many cals I've burnt.
Since the figures for cals burnt per certain exercise are far too high here on MFP I've bought a HRM and now I know that I'm not burning that much at all, especially now that I'm close to goal.
What else do I do? I stick to a 1200-1300 calorie limit and don't eat back my exercise cals. Some here in the community told me to eat more, my weight loss would stall and my body would go into starvation mode. I didn't listen to them because my body doesn't work like a 20-something's body any more. So easy is that!!!!!
I keep sodium below 1000, cook at home and don't eat processed or junk food. I make sure I eat a lot of protein and less carbs.
And I make sure I'm having fun:bigsmile:
Good luck on your journey and maybe you want to check the menopause groups here on MFP0 -
i am having the same problem. Been here for 4 weeks along with guidance from a nutritionist. the first week i lost 2.4 lbs, then .4 last week .2 this week NOTHING!! this is typical for me with " other" weigh loss plans which is why i went the nutrition route!! Its pretty difficult i think to rev up the metabolism!!I was never a poor eater either!! Considered myself a healthy eater as i have tried to eat "clean' for years now. I dont have soda, junk food, etc to give up!!! I have a meeting with my nutritionist today. I will show her my food diary and see what she has to say!!!
Good luck everyone!! :drinker:0 -
you really might NOT be getting enough calories or nutrients???0
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hey i can break a good sweat sitting here typing- thanks hot flashes! :laugh:I break a good sweat with at least 100 minutes of exercise such as walking/hiking
i just started menopause too and am finding it incredibly hard to lose anything. seems like Hormones Gone Crazy can override the old cals in/cals out formula. and as someone mentioned above- the slightest amount of carbs, no matter how nutritionally 'good for you' form they are in can cause weight gain no matter what cals total are for some of us. you might find a lot of the stuff thrown around MFP (esp by the shirtless 6-pack young men set) just simply won't apply to you, your weight loss formula looks more like 'cals in-hormones-cals out' and you'll need to keep that in mind on your journey.
ps. i recently found that Enymatic's "am/pm menopause formula" (has black colash in it among other stuff) does indeed work as far as cutting down the intensity and frequency of hot flashes. i've actually been able to sleep through most nights instead of waking up 10 times a night to throw off covers since starting it.0 -
Hi Ive just been diagnosed with premature menopause and have struggled with my weight for the past 6 months. I gained 30lb in September and October and hadnt realised it was due to the menopause, so I went from a size 10 (UK) to a size 18 within 2 months. My first month here I stayed the same for 5 weeks and then gained 4lb!!! And that was following approx 1,300 cals and walking 4 times a week. I then gave up for 2 weeks and then came back again and started an intense 20 mins exercise DVD 5 times a week (30 day shred) coupled with the walking which kick started my metabolism. I got the results of the hormone blood test 3 weeks ago which is when I realised I had the menopause.
Its a long journey though and this past week Ive had my 3 young children off school so havent had a chance to exercise and have gained 3lb, which goes to show, it is the exercise for me that really helps me stay on the straight and narrow! Ive also found that eating clean really helps with my symptoms, I buy fresh meat, vegeatables and fruit and make my own pasta sauces, my own soups and stews and try not to use anything processed.
If anybody would like to add me then please do, Ive just turned 44, most of my friends are under 40, I dont know anybody going through the menopause, my Mum didnt have it so I have no experience and nobody to talk about the hot flushes and sleeplessness nights and endless tearfulness with!!! Would be great to have some friends who are going through the same thing 0 -
Let's be candid ladies - menopause is a b*tch, and wreaks havoc. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, slowed metabolism. Yikes ! And there is precious little help out there for women 50+ regarding how to stay healthy and fit, and acknowledging the role "The Change" brings. Pretty much all information on fitness and nutrition is geared towards 18 - 45 y.o. We might get a little footnote, but otherwise, I suppose the fitness community figures we're invisible.
Vibes on fibro - I'm sure that makes things even more difficult when it comes to exercise.
For what it's worth, here's what worked for me to get fit after The Change (I know everyone is different) :
- ditched the HRT. It didn't seem to make a damn bit of difference to the symptoms, and after decades on the Pill, I really wasn't stoked about pumping more hormones into my body. As disruptive as it was, I just let Nature take her course for 5 years from 46 - 51 when I became officially menopausal.( I was doing the yam-based HRT. As a horse lover, I couldn't rationalize the stuff made from mare's urine.)
- going gluten/wheat free. Nothing has made a bigger difference in getting the scale to move downward. Nothing.
- going back to hard core, high intensity aerobic work outs and weight training. I'm talking military style "Your Mama Ain't Here to Wipe Yo' Nose No Mo'!!" kinda stuff. Lunges, squats, push-ups, dips, burpies, basketball shots, military crawls, high knees... Repeat ad nauseum for 75 - 150 minutes per session (YES!) 2 to 3 times a week. Nothing has made a bigger difference in the tale of the tape when it comes to body measurement. Sorry, but Curves and a cute little Zumba class now and then just won't cut it if you truly are serious about re-shaping your body. It's brutal. It's difficult. It's challenging as hell. Especially at 55. And it works. No, I don't go quite as fast as the 20 or 30 somethings, and I swear under my breath non-stop while holding a plank for 2+ minutes. But I show up, I do it, and it works.
- cut back on the booze (wine). A lot. A glass with dinner and a couple in front of the TV each night adds up quickly. I love my wine, but I had to cut back by about 50 - 75% of my consumption.
- most of all : DON'T GIVE UP ! surround yourself with positive people of all ages, who support you in your health and fitness goals.0 -
Weight gain and perimenopause/menopause seem to go hand in hand unfortunately. I've heard it called many different things like the midriff bulge, the middle-age spread, of course "muffin-top", I've even heard it called meno-pudge. It's due in large part to estrogen dominance. Here's how it works: Too much estrogen circulating in the body produces body fat. Too much estrogen compromises your body's ability to metabolize fat, which means that no matter how much you diet or how little you eat, the fat will not go away. Too much estrogen inhibits your body's ability to distribute fat - so it tends to store it around your middle, hips and thighs it also causes your metabolism to slow down. Excess estrogen causes your body to release insulin more rapidly which can trigger hunger faster and cravings for sugar. I its discouraging but don't throw in the towel! While I won't promise that you will regain the body you left behind in your youth, I can say that it is possible to loose those extra pounds if you really want to. You need to begin by balancing your hormones. Without hormone balance it doesn't matter how much you exercise or how much you diet. You will be fighting a losing battle. There's a free report that outlines the steps you need to take now to take control of your menopause experience at www.menopauserelieftoday.com You can win the battle of the bulge!0
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Let's be candid ladies - menopause is a b*tch, and wreaks havoc. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, slowed metabolism. Yikes ! And there is precious little help out there for women 50+ regarding how to stay healthy and fit, and acknowledging the role "The Change" brings. Pretty much all information on fitness and nutrition is geared towards 18 - 45 y.o. We might get a little footnote, but otherwise, I suppose the fitness community figures we're invisible.
Vibes on fibro - I'm sure that makes things even more difficult when it comes to exercise.
For what it's worth, here's what worked for me to get fit after The Change (I know everyone is different) :
- ditched the HRT. It didn't seem to make a damn bit of difference to the symptoms, and after decades on the Pill, I really wasn't stoked about pumping more hormones into my body. As disruptive as it was, I just let Nature take her course for 5 years from 46 - 51 when I became officially menopausal.( I was doing the yam-based HRT. As a horse lover, I couldn't rationalize the stuff made from mare's urine.)
- going gluten/wheat free. Nothing has made a bigger difference in getting the scale to move downward. Nothing.
- going back to hard core, high intensity aerobic work outs and weight training. I'm talking military style "Your Mama Ain't Here to Wipe Yo' Nose No Mo'!!" kinda stuff. Lunges, squats, push-ups, dips, burpies, basketball shots, military crawls, high knees... Repeat ad nauseum for 75 - 150 minutes per session (YES!) 2 to 3 times a week. Nothing has made a bigger difference in the tale of the tape when it comes to body measurement. Sorry, but Curves and a cute little Zumba class now and then just won't cut it if you truly are serious about re-shaping your body. It's brutal. It's difficult. It's challenging as hell. Especially at 55. And it works. No, I don't go quite as fast as the 20 or 30 somethings, and I swear under my breath non-stop while holding a plank for 2+ minutes. But I show up, I do it, and it works.
- cut back on the booze (wine). A lot. A glass with dinner and a couple in front of the TV each night adds up quickly. I love my wine, but I had to cut back by about 50 - 75% of my consumption.
- most of all : DON'T GIVE UP ! surround yourself with positive people of all ages, who support you in your health and fitness goals.
I just love your post :flowerforyou:
Yours is the right approach to menopause! No HRT, stop crying after you've cried enough and start working your butt off. Blood, sweat and tears and you'll be fitter than the 20 somethings:bigsmile:
After a few years of crying over my lost youth, after moaning, after ifs and buts I finally came to the point where I started changing my life, my approach to life , to menopause and to myself.
Even though my boobs look down and not up any more, even though I can see clearly the lose skin of my belly when in a plank position and more lose skin where my butt used to be fat...hey, I have tighter buns than ever, toned arms, a tight belly with abs and hey: suddenly less complaints :bigsmile:
Menopause is not nice at all but it's not a death sentence either but a HUGE opportunity for ourselves:flowerforyou:0 -
Thanks c ! I'm glad you found it helpful. Congrats on your progress and accomplishments.
Personally, I find looking at older, fit and healthy women to be really inspirational. It makes me realize that I can still be the best zI can be, regardless of chronological age. I covet Helen MIrren's upper arm tone. I want to be like her when I grow up 0
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