Menopause and weight gain
con5202
Posts: 3 Member
Can anyone help me, I'm going through menopause and I've gained 20 lbs in 7 months..!! I exercise and count my calories during the day but at night I'm eating everything in sight...Please give me some suggestions, I need to get this weight off!!
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Replies
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It's tricky - your body is going through a lot of changes already, so it resents being asked to do anything else, such as losing weight!
Be extra careful about the quantities you eat - you will need less than before, so if you snack in the evenings, make it on low calorie things like celery sticks and carrots.0 -
Been there - early menopause in my mid thirties and I put on 3 stone which I found impossible to lose until everything had settled down 15 years later. That's not very encouraging is it? But I have now lost almost all that weight over the last 3 years. Low carb is the only way that I could do it. Nothing else seemed to work.1
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Thanks for the advise...I appreciate it....!!!0
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It's tough but it can be done. Keep counting the calories and like the other poster said, watch the portion sizes. It's surprising how little a couple of ounces something actually is. I have lost 27lbs since August and I don't have much time for exercise. It's not been easy but it wasn't as difficult as I'd expected either. You CAN do it!0
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You are singing my sad song. I had to have ovaries removed last year which threw me immediately into menopause. I could not believe how quickly I started gaining weight (especially around my middle) and I exercise heavily and eat "healthy". I have watched the scale inch up slowly and have upped the exercise and cut back more on the food and only have managed to stay pretty much the same. Until very recently......
My husband asked me a few days ago if we could do a "wheat free" diet. He too has developed the "belly weight" thing even though he doesn't eat much at all and had read something about wheat being the problem for people our age who are active. So despite my reservations, I tried it. Had to change the way I eat (which was formerly HIGH on whole wheat type items). Surprisingly enough, in one day of a wheat free diet I dropped 4 lbs! Its too soon to see if this particular diet is the reason why but it sure motivated me to explore this further.
Only time will tell.
I'll send you a friend request. I can always use another friend who is struggling with the same issues I am! Anybody else dealing with menopause is welcome to friend me too! There is no doubt that OUR struggle is different!!0 -
I am just heading into that part of my life and I am glad that right now I seem to have a grip on weight loss...hopefully I can get off what I need to before that pesky old menopause kicks in hard!0
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bump (Wheat Free)0
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You are singing my sad song. I had to have ovaries removed last year which threw me immediately into menopause. I could not believe how quickly I started gaining weight (especially around my middle) and I exercise heavily and eat "healthy". I have watched the scale inch up slowly and have upped the exercise and cut back more on the food and only have managed to stay pretty much the same. Until very recently......
My husband asked me a few days ago if we could do a "wheat free" diet. He too has developed the "belly weight" thing even though he doesn't eat much at all and had read something about wheat being the problem for people our age who are active. So despite my reservations, I tried it. Had to change the way I eat (which was formerly HIGH on whole wheat type items). Surprisingly enough, in one day of a wheat free diet I dropped 4 lbs! Its too soon to see if this particular diet is the reason why but it sure motivated me to explore this further.
Only time will tell.
I'll send you a friend request. I can always use another friend who is struggling with the same issues I am! Anybody else dealing with menopause is welcome to friend me too! There is no doubt that OUR struggle is different!!
Please let me know how it goes for you, and any tricks to giving up the bread.0 -
It's tough and you need a heck of a lot of patience, but yes, it's entirely possible to lose weight during perimenopause and menopause. Basically what happens during that time--and that's what causes the weight gain/body's reluctance to shed weight--is that you produce less and less estrogen. Noting the deficit, your body tries to store estrogen, and wouldn't you know it? The preferred storage facilites are your belly, hips, and thighs. The storage 'crate' are fat cells, which means that your body's latching on to every last one of them like an octopus on steroids... :sad:
The good news is, as difficult as losing weight has become, it's doable. Just don't expect rapid results. And no, it ain't fair! I mean, night sweats, needing to pee every five minutes, your menstrual cycle going nuts... all that AND muffin tops! Wow! :grumble:0 -
I'm right in the middle of the night-sweats thing myself...
Anyway, my 2 big takeaways so far have been:
1) Drink your water. While it may not make the overall process any faster, it does keep it more consistent. I I don't drink my water, I gain as much as 5 pounds, which hides the good part I am doing.
2) Don't try to push too fast. Sticking with 1 lb a week works great. If it's a day when you don't eat much or exercise a lot, you have a buffer for not eating too few calories. If it's an overeat day, you have a a buffer for still being under maintenance calories, so you are still making progress. There's a lot to be said for slow and steady wins the race, you know!
Good luck.. And sabinecbauer, "an octopus on steroids" is my new favorite image - thank you!0 -
hi im 50 and in the menopause, ive struggled to lose weight, but thankfully iy has started to come off slowly, about a pound a week, im just sticking to 1200 calories and doing as much exercise as i can, ive managed to lose 12 pound in 13 weeks and i feel fantastic, still got about another 14 to go but im getting there. good luck. feel free to add me.0
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Wow..so glad I clicked on this thread! I just started MFP almost one week ago and have not been on the scale yet. The docs say I am too young for menopause but I am definitely in the peri part then! Belly fat..so glad I got an exlpanation for that one..ugh. I also have thyroid problems. While I don't want to use these things as an excuse, understanding them sure helps. So glad I found people like me!0
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For those that expressed interest---- Day two of the wheat free diet produced another 2 lb weight loss. That's 6 lbs in 3 days! That's insane isn't it? I'm sure it will level off in another day or two but still.....6 lbs in less than half a week!??? Hmmmm........my husband might be on to something. Hasn't been that hard to adapt either. I noticed within two days that I no longer had "cravings". You know....the cravings that live with most women day and night and you never get rid of, only WILL yourself not to give in and munch on something? Gone. I think this might be the first time in my entire life that I have not been plaqued by cravings 24/7 and constantly thought about food. This is........weird.
Going to continue to explore this. Could this be the magic bullet?0 -
I had to have a total hysterectomy 3 years ago after problems delivering my fourth baby. I was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks. When I first came home I had lost all my pregnacy weight and loads more. But it ALL found me...and then some. The belly fat is horrible. I have been doing MFP for 55 days and while I have lost 14 pounds most of the pal friends I have on here are losing so much more. I am greatful the scale is going down yet at this point thinking of a pound a week could make me cry. I want bigger results. Im glad I found this thread because I havent been able to find any "Menopausal Groups". Anyone intersted in a great cheerleader and motivator feel free to add me!0
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14 lbs in 55 days is terrific! Don't make the mistake of comparing yourself and your numbers to people around you. Everybody (and every body) is different, and chances are the other guys won't have the same problems to contend with (yet
).
I usually hang on the 17DD Facebook page and there are quite a few people over there who are dropping huge numbers. Slightly frustrating, to say the least, until I really digested the fact that a) those folks had a lot further to go than I do, and b) they were about 20 years younger.0 -
50 here. Nothing has worked for me except LOW carb. <50g/day.
My diet is almost wheat-free, so maybe that's the key???
ETA carb grams.0 -
Lowering carbs definitely works. It has for me, too, although I don't go as low as you do. I'm generally between 100 and 130, but that's largely from fruit and veg. Refined carbs I've eliminated completely, and I eat a maximum of two servings of grains or starchy vegetables per day.
I think the most noticable effect of doing this wasn't the loss so much as an almost complete absence of cravings. I've also drastically increased the amount of lean protein I'm eating. Not quite a gram per pound (goal weight), but it's not far off. Beauty of that is, I'm never hungry, and of course protein assists in burning body fat.0 -
Menopause groups if you're interested:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/search?phrase=menopause&order=00 -
I'm 42 and already completely menopausal. I definitely notice I store fat differently than I did in my 20's (and even my 30's).
I've given up refined carbs and usually stick with whole grains, fruits and veggies (although sometimes on the weekends, I'll splurge).
Haven't found the perfect equation as of yet but it's nice to find a group of women who struggle with the same challenges as I do.0 -
I'm starting peri-menopause and have under active thyroid. I dropped wheat and went low carb and lost 7 lb in first week and 18lbs in first month it slowed down recently and down to a few pounds a month but I'm only 3lb off my goal now and should make it by end of next month.
I am worried about gaining it back though when my menopause kicks in fully.. so I'm interested in replies!
p. s I was told fibroids were caused by too much estrogen so if you have too much to start with does that mean you won't put as much weight on from estrogen levels dropping too fast?.. I never thought but maybe thats why my fibroid had started shrinking as my peri-menopause symptoms have been kicking in?0 -
I'm starting peri-menopause and have under active thyroid. I dropped wheat and went low carb and lost 7 lb in first week and 18lbs in first month it slowed down recently and down to a few pounds a month but I'm only 3lb off my goal now and should make it by end of next month.
I am worried about gaining it back though when my menopause kicks in fully.. so I'm interested in replies!
p. s I was told fibroids were caused by too much estrogen so if you have too much to start with does that mean you won't put as much weight on from estrogen levels dropping too fast?.. I never thought but maybe thats why my fibroid had started shrinking as my peri-menopause symptoms have been kicking in?
Wow, that's an incredible amount of weight loss in such a short period of time! When you say you gave up wheat, what exactly did you stay away from?0 -
Day three of wheat free diet. Another pound gone. I am experiecing rapid weight loss for the first time in geez.....I dont' know how long! Years! After deciding to try going wheat free, I bought gluten free crackers today though....YUCK! I'm feeling my way through the diet changes but the fact that I have not had to give up potatoes and rice and sugar and fruit on this plan is my life saver! I could never go carb-less but I do have to agree with the poster above...... The significant lack of cravings through the day is so freeing and worth by having my morning toast. I have apple cinnamon rice cakes with peanut butter and sliced bananas on top for bkfast now with a boiled egg and fruit smoothie. I don't even THINK about lunch or a snack or food again until lunchtime or after.
The book I'm reading, if anyone is interested, is: LOSE THE WHEAT, LOSE THE WEIGHT! written by: William Davis, M.D. (Put out by Prevention Magazine)
I'm really starting to buy into his theory that excess wheat consumption is the culprit for people like us who battle the belly fat.0 -
I want to thank everyone for their responses they were greatly appreciated.....I'm still struggling but I'm determined to lose the weight I put on...I started my weight loss in Jan. 2010 and by Jan 2011 I had lost 90 pounds by counting calories and walking 4-5 miles daily....but then menopause started with a vengeance and I gained 20 pounds back...my goal is to get them off before June....!! I know I can do it...I have faith!!! Thanks again and keep the responses coming...0
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Bump!!0
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Bump0
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Are there daily menus in the book/recipes or is it just factual information? I'm really interested in looking at this since I am really struggling since starting menapause. I've lost 35 pounds but over the past month or so the menopause symptoms have gotten worse and my weight is creeping up again. I exercise every day and eat really healthy so it's very discouraging.Day three of wheat free diet. Another pound gone. I am experiecing rapid weight loss for the first time in geez.....I dont' know how long! Years! After deciding to try going wheat free, I bought gluten free crackers today though....YUCK! I'm feeling my way through the diet changes but the fact that I have not had to give up potatoes and rice and sugar and fruit on this plan is my life saver! I could never go carb-less but I do have to agree with the poster above...... The significant lack of cravings through the day is so freeing and worth by having my morning toast. I have apple cinnamon rice cakes with peanut butter and sliced bananas on top for bkfast now with a boiled egg and fruit smoothie. I don't even THINK about lunch or a snack or food again until lunchtime or after.
The book I'm reading, if anyone is interested, is: LOSE THE WHEAT, LOSE THE WEIGHT! written by: William Davis, M.D. (Put out by Prevention Magazine)
I'm really starting to buy into his theory that excess wheat consumption is the culprit for people like us who battle the belly fat.0 -
bump to read0
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bump0
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Thats what happened to me! I turned into humpty dumpty! The settings and recomendations on MFP actually worked for me. After I decided I was a hopeless cause, I had a friend convince me to try this program. Counting calories, changing the quality of my diet, getting a move on, all helped.
The calorie limit is important, but especially important was eating enough. I hold on to every single calorie, unless I eat enough. I can't stress that enough! Go with the MFP goal, but don't under eat, and eat back exercise calories. I worked up to an hour of exercise before I was half way through this year. It took a year, but I dialed back more than 10 years of added flab. I regained my 35 yr old figure (which was a pretty good one). It works, it's harder and slower, you eat much less, but you can do it!
After calculating my maintence calories for my age I was depressed. But once you get to that point, you actually don't need more. It's enough and satisfying, just much more thoughtful. It's no longer the case that all you have to do is scale back the eating for a week to lose 5 - 10 lbs. It's more like every ounce is a celebration! The closer you get to goal be sure to lessen the pounds per week goal loss and eat more. Thats the secret. We are made to last the famine! Eat better, eat less, and eat enough!
"The storage 'crate' are fat cells, which means that your body's latching on to every last one of them like an octopus on steroids... " Haha! Yes! And once that fat was gone I was feeling so much better! I really believe my hyped up PMS is better without the fat. I was going to kill someone soon! My hot flashes actually are much less, and the mood swings are less than half the intensity. I'm blaming it on the crazy fat.0 -
Bump(Gluten free)0
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