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I don’t understand why I’ve put a stone on!

144 replies

Oldcrockpot · 14/11/2024 07:12

Over the last 2-3 months I’ve gained a few pounds a week for no apparent reason and am a stone heavier! I can’t be pregnant as my periods have been heavy, very irregular and all over the place (this is not new, but they haven’t been as heavy as this since I had the coil about 18 months ago). No notable changes in routine or diet.

Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone and what was it? All my clothes are tight and I feel like a bloater!

(I am 39 and a healthy weight- but now getting to the top end of that! Have the coil and no new medication etc)

OP posts:
Disturbia81 · 15/11/2024 18:23

@coffeesaveslives Well yeah..

coffeesaveslives · 15/11/2024 18:19

Disturbia81 · 14/11/2024 22:24

This.. hormonal changes can lead to increased appetite. If you watch what you eat you won't gain weight.

That's the thing though, most people don't watch or change their eating habits and carry on as before until they realise (like OP) that they've put on a stone.

Mere1 · 15/11/2024 18:18

Lastonightadjsavedmylife · 14/11/2024 07:20

Peri doesn’t mean you suddenly gain weight like that, and to do so you still need to eat and drink more and move less.

I agree.

tolerable · 15/11/2024 18:10

mirena? hits me with a stone i cant shake off

Judecb · 15/11/2024 18:02

Sounds like peri menopause to me. However any unusual drop or gain in weight should be reported to your GP.

TheRoseBear · 14/11/2024 22:30

Ask your GP to check your thyroid function. Don't leave it because if that's the issue it might be very hard to lose the weight again later and you'll keep putting weight on until it's treated properly.

Disturbia81 · 14/11/2024 22:24

TheSilkWorm · 14/11/2024 07:50

You only gain weight in Peri if your symptoms include increased appetite and fatigue. It's not like peri causes weight gain by itself.

This.. hormonal changes can lead to increased appetite. If you watch what you eat you won't gain weight.

Sparxdislike · 14/11/2024 22:19

I remember one Christmas putting on 10lbs in a week! I ate a lot of yummy food but still 😳. It really can go on quickly. I do think tracking what you eat will help you see what you're eating.

My friend eats extras at work all the time and has gained a couple of stone. She said she doesn't understand why. She often has biscuits with her drinks, cakes on peoples birthdays and social drinks. It soon adds up.

I'm trying to be good as have gained from being relaxed over summer. I had a great summer with the kids but let it carry on after they went back to school.

thatsawhopperthatlemon · 14/11/2024 22:15

OptimismvsRealism · 14/11/2024 08:25

It's completely undermining that everything a woman experiences from 35 to 60 is diminished as peri. Not to mention the fact that every woman is told it will involve her becoming a fat, dried up, brain fogged basket case. Menopause is a social contagion at the moment.

This really hits the nail on the head.

Whatever your symptoms are, oh it must be peri.
Confused

PortiaWithNoBreaks · 14/11/2024 21:53

Metabolism doesn’t actually change until age 60+ and even then it only declines by a small amount. What does happen is that our lifestyles change over time. It’s about our behaviour.

Our metabolism is just how we convert food to energy. A small calorie surplus over time may not result in noticeable fat gain until the cumulative effects kick in. If we are currently in energy balance, just eating one digestive biscuit a day everyday for year will result in 6-10lbs of fat gain.

coffeesaveslives · 14/11/2024 20:40

Zanatdy · 14/11/2024 20:24

As we age we need fewer calories. Its pretty easy to gain over a few months, doesn’t take much to pile it on

Exactly - you only need to eat a few extra biscuits a day on top of your normal diet (no other changes) to gain weight. It's quite scary really.

coffeesaveslives · 14/11/2024 20:40

TheLever · 14/11/2024 17:41

yes if you have the metabolism and calorie needs of a young child I would seek medical help and advice. 1200 is not sufficient for an adult female unless you are under 5ft tall and barely move we shouldn’t normalise this

Edited

Unless you know everyone's medical details, you should probably refrain from telling them what their bodies do or don't need.

Zanatdy · 14/11/2024 20:24

As we age we need fewer calories. Its pretty easy to gain over a few months, doesn’t take much to pile it on

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/11/2024 20:22

TheLever · 14/11/2024 17:21

I don’t get it really when people say this. I am the same age I’m 5’6 and BMI of about 23 and I can eat around 1800 a day and not gain weight but I am not sedentary. I don’t know if it’s people over estimate their activity levels or think going for a slow 1 mile run a couple times a week is enough activity or doing housework running round after kids counts or they are very short in height

Edited

Good for you but this is how my body works

BogRollBOGOF · 14/11/2024 19:59

For a rapid gain with no lifestyle changes, I'd be getting checked out incase there is a medical issue involved.

TheLever · 14/11/2024 17:41

coffeesaveslives · 14/11/2024 17:32

Or maybe it's because everyone is different - with different metabolisms, hormone levels and lifestyles?

yes if you have the metabolism and calorie needs of a young child I would seek medical help and advice. 1200 is not sufficient for an adult female unless you are under 5ft tall and barely move we shouldn’t normalise this

coffeesaveslives · 14/11/2024 17:32

TheLever · 14/11/2024 17:21

I don’t get it really when people say this. I am the same age I’m 5’6 and BMI of about 23 and I can eat around 1800 a day and not gain weight but I am not sedentary. I don’t know if it’s people over estimate their activity levels or think going for a slow 1 mile run a couple times a week is enough activity or doing housework running round after kids counts or they are very short in height

Edited

Or maybe it's because everyone is different - with different metabolisms, hormone levels and lifestyles?

TheLever · 14/11/2024 17:21

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/11/2024 16:43

I have to eat 1200 calories to lose weight now.Im 44.

I don’t get it really when people say this. I am the same age I’m 5’6 and BMI of about 23 and I can eat around 1800 a day and not gain weight but I am not sedentary. I don’t know if it’s people over estimate their activity levels or think going for a slow 1 mile run a couple times a week is enough activity or doing housework running round after kids counts or they are very short in height

Lastonightadjsavedmylife · 14/11/2024 17:20

Feelingathomenow · 14/11/2024 17:17

So if it’s purely down to eating too much and not exercising enough why do you need a drug?

Is this even a serious question: because I lacked the motivation, the mental ability to stop doing that. How can anyone be in this thread and not know that,

Feelingathomenow · 14/11/2024 17:17

Lastonightadjsavedmylife · 14/11/2024 16:59

I’m on mounjaro. I am dieting and I’m exercising. I did it. I can’t lie.i sat on the sofa and I ate, and I didn’t move. It was Covid, going home based, stopping smoking, lots of stuff. But me. I’m responsible it wasn’t outwith my control. I ate too much and I moved too little.

So if it’s purely down to eating too much and not exercising enough why do you need a drug?

Partylikeits1985 · 14/11/2024 17:06

Lastonightadjsavedmylife · 14/11/2024 07:20

Peri doesn’t mean you suddenly gain weight like that, and to do so you still need to eat and drink more and move less.

Peri can contribute to weight gain though tbf.

Lastonightadjsavedmylife · 14/11/2024 16:59

Feelingathomenow · 14/11/2024 15:27

Has anyone ever explained the impact of the change in hormones on your weight during perimenopause/menopause? There are many factors to look at here.

So what does “taking responsibility” look like to you? How have you changed your Wright gain position? What has worked?

I’m on mounjaro. I am dieting and I’m exercising. I did it. I can’t lie.i sat on the sofa and I ate, and I didn’t move. It was Covid, going home based, stopping smoking, lots of stuff. But me. I’m responsible it wasn’t outwith my control. I ate too much and I moved too little.

Anotherworrier · 14/11/2024 16:46

Kindly, it’s your age.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/11/2024 16:43

I have to eat 1200 calories to lose weight now.Im 44.

TheLever · 14/11/2024 16:26

I’m not over 45 and nor are many of the late 30’s early 40’s women who are hearing about this and attributing the changes to peri menopause. The OP is 39!!

I am not a believer that anyone is making it up. I did say that cortisol is a link but not been proven as a cause. High levels of cortisol found in women who are already overweight doesn’t mean it caused them to be overweight in the first place and studies have also shown very little data with regards to cortisol coming from nowhere to cause weight gain and women’s metabolisms dropping significantly over 40. The responsibility people are talking about is taking pre emptive action to improve your lifestyle before finding yourself deep into menopause and in more of a struggle to get things on track, or making changes for yourself when things do start to change for you, rather than just attributing it to menopause and giving up