August's perimenopause waist reclaim thread

[Katekarate]

Here we are as promised I'll try to tag in everyone from the previous thread but sorry if I missed anyone, do join in. @Skybluepinkgiraffe @MiniTheMinx @badpuma @Timeforredwine @Jackieweaverishere @ittakes2 @Seesawmummadaw @itwasgoodwhileitlasted @wtfisgoingonhere21 @EssexLioness @Shallwegoforawalk @Flamingo49 @Chisontoast @Upupandiwent @MistySkiesAfterRain @Bambooshoot @ Fordian @LlamaofDrama @Readytostartagain

@ginsparkles thank you! Well done for sticking to your calorie limit. Bleeding fortnightly and the cramps sound rough. GP sounds a good idea.
I had a lovely time at the cinema yesterday and it really boosted my mood to spend some quality time with my husband. He has been really supportive through the tears and endless talks this past few days, I have felt really loved. Anyway, I stuck to my food plan, including the popcorn (guilt free).
Didn’t get round to doing my workout yesterday so did that this morning instead.I got another 7 hours sleep last night! 😲Honestly can’t believe it. It’s obviously not the HRT yet so I can only think that it is the fact I feel more hopeful and less down about the future. I have gone on for so long thinking that I am just on a steady demise physically and feeling as though I would never feel fit and well again. Now I have got my head round things more and things make more sense and I am confident that I will feel better once the HRT kicks in. Anyway, whatever the reason I am chuffed to bits to be getting a full night’s sleep again.
Meals all planned for today and about to have my breakfast.

@ginsparkles I've been the same with the bleeding every two weeks. Had some blood tests done that seem to be all clear and been put on the mini pill but have just started bleeding again a week after finishing my last period. I had 3 weeks without any bleeding so thought it was going ok, even though I was expecting to not bleed at all on the mini pill, but much improved from bi-weekly bleed. Think I'm going to have a chat with the GP again just to be sure, but otherwise the mini pill is suiting me so if it's just a case of waiting for it all to settle then I'm that would be good.

I've been on the exercise bike the last couple of days and done some weights, but just makes me even more hungry! I've also been doing intermittent fasting for the last 12 months and it has helped with some of my digestion issues, but no change on the peri-belly.

Hope eveyone has a lovely weekend

I fell off the wagon after my post ! But have been well behaved today (so far!!)

I definitely think a trip to the docs is a good plan.

Glad you had a nice evening @EssexLioness.

@AliciaMayEmory I have found the same as you with intermittent fasting, and I'm now feeling tired and lacking in energy so have put fasting on hold for a while. I am still 16:8 on working days to help control the calorie intake a bit though.

Never mind @ginsparkles happens to us all! I tried intermittent fasting a while ago but feel drained without breakfast so figured it wasn’t for me. I only have a light breakfast but it was too much of a struggle to go completely without. I still eat within a 12 hour window though as generally eat breakfast around 8am and dinner 7pm, so not sure if that still counts. I don’t snack in evenings

Checking in again - hope you are all doing ok. I have been on track food wise but today was a bad day symptom wise. Joints quite painful and bad fatigue. Spent half the afternoon in bed sleeping so didn’t do the long walk I had planned, or any exercise tbh. But as long as I am sticking with it food wise then I am happy with things. The scales just depress me lately as they haven’t really budged for a couple of months now: just the same pound on and off, so I have decided to put them away for a while.my stomach doesn’t seem to go down either really so tape measure is a bit demotivating too, especially given I eat like a bird most days now. But I am doing all the right things health wise and only about 12lbs over my healthy BMI range, so I am just going to keep plodding on doing what I am doing. Hopefully the HRT will help the weight loss when it kicks in but if it doesn’t the main thing is to keep making healthy choices. As an aside, not sure if any of you have tried Vogel’s soya and linseed bread? I bought some today and it is really dense but makes the most delicious toast and is really nutritious/ doesn’t contain the usual rubbish you find in a lot of loaves. Soya and linseeds are supposed to be good for reducing peri symptoms.

Sorry to hear the symptoms were rubbish yesterday @EssexLioness . Keep at it, all the hard work will pay off.

Had my first visit to the gym yesterday. A good swimming session. Off again on Tuesday with DD. Hopefully will get into a nice routine of going at least a couple of times each week.

Thanks @ginsparkles. Well done on going swimming. Couple of times a week sounds like a good plan.
Hope everyone has a good day. I’ve got my meals planned out for the day and about to hit the treadmill before starting work

Watching

It’s lunchtime and I’m checking in
So I didn’t stay dry over the weekend but I did only drink on one evening, so not all bad.
I also managed to avoid late night binging, which has been a real issue for me.
Kept the exercise going and even took an hour walk in the rain. I’m feeling the benefit of all the fruit and veg and drinking loads of water.
Feeling really good right now. I’ll forgive myself for the Friday night wine.

Will catch up on the thread a bit later but hope everyone else is doing well.

Wow great job @CakeandGo. It’s all about moderation and a little wine on Friday evening won’t have undone all your hard work.

Checking in, too. I read this thread last week but was on holiday and still indulging. Back on my game now, though, as realised of the 20lbs I lost in 2020, I’ve put 7lbs back on in the last couple of months purely from being a lazy, greedy arse - and it’s all on my belly and waist .

Been good so far today….
Drinking lots of water.
Did yoga and meditated this morning.
Eating lightly - no carbs today and aiming for low carb for a bit, as I know I feel more energised when I stay away from bread, pasta, potatoes etc.
Planning a nice bath & bit of beautifying later and an early night!

Morning all! Checking in. Weighed in this morning, 4lb down (although I think it was an over inflated start weight due to bloating and period etc) but whatever the loss is, it's going in the right direction.

This week I have two days eating out so need to be careful the rest of the week. About to dive into the pool and have a nice long dog walk planned for this afternoon to help combat some of tonight's dinner!!

Well done @CakeandGo !

Hope everyone's day is going well

@GarethBalesManBun sounds like you’ve made a great start. You can get the weight back off again.

@ginsparkles well done - that’s a fab weight loss.

Had my first session with personal trainer today. Was really good and I think it will help me. I have booked for a course of 12 more sessions to give it a proper go. Where my weight loss is not really doing much, then I am hoping this will help with building muscle instead and protecting against future injuries/ osteoporosis etc.

Food on track as usual and plan on weighing in later today. It was a few weeks since last time and not expecting much change as that’s the way things are with me now. After that I will prob just weigh in at the end of August and maybe months after that. I have such a healthy lifestyle in general now that I don’t think the scales are helping my mindset very much. Want to focus on becoming stronger and less wobbly instead.

I really like this thread, it’s so supportive. I know it’s a bit premature but maybe we could have a new thread for September, when it’s time?

Weighed in tonight and lost 1/2lb in the last 3 weeks! I’m doing all the right things and it’s really annoying. I am 12lbs away from goal weight but at this rate it will take me almost 2 years to get there! Will still keep plodding on but it is s annoying. It’s not even as though I’m losing the inches either.

Thanks for the encouragement ladies.
10 days in and I’ve done everything I wanted to do. I’ve changed my eating habits. I’m eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg. I’m drinking loads of water. I’ve cut back on the alcohol and stopped the evening binging.
So got the tape measure out and I’m exactly the same…no change.
AIBU to think that’s hilarious?!
I had a little laugh but I’ll keep going. Will measure myself again in a week or so. It’s strange because I feel less bloated. I feel better too and I’m sleeping better so I won’t stop now!

@EssexLioness don’t be discouraged, I’m sure the scales will start moving eventually.

I'm just going to have a little relief cry then join you if I may. Just posted in S&B about my shit hair and I'm fat as well!

Hi everyone I've had a busy week and a bit of the evening snacking has been creeping back in so checking in here really helps. Hot flushes have been quite bad and waking me up most nights- definitely hungrier when not sleeping so well.

That's frustrating EssexLioness but at least it's going in the right direction, hang in there. Seeing the PT is bound to help you feel better in yourself.
Great news ginsparkles

Thanks to all who have been posting on here

I really like this thread, it’s so supportive. I know it’s a bit premature but maybe we could have a new thread for September, when it’s time?
Sure thing!

You're doing really well Cakeandgo It's encouraging to hear about all the other benefits

Welcome polkadotpjs

Thanks @CakeandGo and @Katekarate … I’m ok, just frustrated! And yes at least it is going in the right direction! This is a way of life for me now though so will still continue eating healthily. I have meal planned for next week and mixed things up a bit with some extra protein and 24 different fruit/ veg planned for the week. Will cut my carbs slightly too to see if that helps, though I don’t tend to have very many. Fingers crossed it pays off next week as getting a bit fed up of this plateau now! 😬

45 here. My tummy is HUGE!!!
Keep having summer drinks. Must stop!
Going swimming tomorrow.
Reading a good book too.
Night all x

Thanks @EssexLioness and @Katekarate !

I have been in a cycle of losing and gaining the same few lbs for ages so I'm not counting my chickens! Yesterday was a food disaster but today so far I'm doing ok, a smidge over my desired calorie count 1400 instead of 1300 but still much lower than usual.

Back to the pool tomorrow and a nice walk with my daughter too so my exercise is definitely up.

I totally get the frustration @EssexLioness, was stuck in that rut for ages. It will come!

Defo in for a September thread. Posting to you girls is keeping me accountable. DH thinks all this is in my head. He doesn't really get it, but any ladies I tell about how I'm feeling instantly understand.

@ginsparkles sounds like you’re on the right track. The odd wobble is perfectly natural. Thanks, I have swapped some of my food about to see if that makes a difference this week. Stayed on track today food wise and clocked up 15,000 steps (usually struggle to get 10,000). Went for a coffee and walk along the seafront this morning with my MIL which was lovely. Yesterday felt happier and less achey so wasn’t sure if it was my HRT or a bit of a placebo effect. Well I think I can safely say today that my HRT has kicked in… been buzzing most of the day. Feel absolutely amazing and so energetic, despite getting another poor nights sleep. After our 1 1/2 hour walk, I came home and had lunch. I also walked the dog, did some gardening, caught up on laundry and loads of housework (fallen really behind the last few weeks due to feeling so drained and ill), did some work (work from home, self employed), and batch cooked loads of meals for the freezer. Doesn’t look as much written down but the only time I sat down was half an hour for my lunch, until 7pm. The past couple of years I am so lethargic that I have to prose myself off the sofa. And I am so bubbly and animated rather than my sleepy old self. I really hope this isn’t just a fluke day. Honestly can’t believe the difference. Feel like I have my old self back, and much more besides.

@EssexLioness that all sounds amazing!! Glad to hear the HRT seems to be doing so much already!

Thanks @ginsparkles. I could honestly still happily potter around for a while but sitting on the sofa to catch up with DH after not seeing him all day. The difference is astonishing… tempted to check the info leaflet to make sure they don’t have added amphetamines in them 😂 My husband was so pleased but a bit wtf as he came home to find me practically bouncing off the walls 😂… just need to sort my sleep out and I will be a very happy bunny indeed!

You are certainly a great advert for the HRT! You make me want to go and speak to my GP!