Autumn perimenopause waist reclaim thread

[EssexLioness]

Welcome everyone, this is a thread for all of those that would like to support each other in the lead up to Christmas, in our efforts to reduce our waists. All those that suspect or are going through perimenopause are welcome.
I have tagged everyone from our August thread: this thread is for September onwards, so we can continue using the old thread in the meantime. @Katekarate @ginsparkles @CakeandGo @badpuma @HelpMeTree @RoseAddict @SailorGeri @Bambooshoot @LlamaofDrama @GreySweater @MrsDThomas @shallwegoforawalk @torquewench @foxandbee @HoliHormonalTigerLilly @pastaparadise @theghostofchristmasarse @CharmingScene @Rupeertpenrysmistress @katplva @OverbyYer @dudsville @isthismylifenow @boon @ThatsAllFolks @AliciaMayEmory @Cornishbelle @Purplepeopleeaterz @Eggmcmuffin @MinnieMountain @AttaGirrrrl @TheRealKateAdie @Badgerstmary @Jackieweaverishere @pinkcattydude @EarringsandLipstick @VivaDixie @AliciaMayEmory @JMAngell @GarethBatesManBun @polkadotpjs @HappyHedgehog247 @Tiggles @Leftbutcameback @Itwasgoodwhileitlasted @Timeforredwine

Can I ask a question that is related - does Oestrogel make you put on weight or not?

Adapted from previous thread:

We can just dip in and out of the thread as needed and support and encourage each other to make a few positive changes. Some ideas from the previous thread:

Exercise of all kinds - yoga, pilates, barre, weights
No booze
Reducing sugar
Lower carbs
IF/keto/paleo
More sleep and relaxation

Please add in any other ideas. It seems a lot to do all at once but you can do as little or as much as suits you. Good luck all, let's hope we end up with more waist at Christmas than we started. Hopefully we can all add some self care into our lives anyway. Good luck folks!

Could I join please. I'm only 38, but GP thinks my ongoing fatigue and weight gain is likely to be peri menopause related. Waiting for a Gynae referral, as GP cannot prescribe HRT to under 40s.
Despite training for an ultramarathon this summer, I have put on another half stone, taking me over a healthy BMI. That is a full stone on since Christmas, almost all of it around my waist.
I am starting on 6th, when kids go back to school normal life resumes.

"Welcome @tigger1001. That sounds really difficult. I couldn’t imagine having to study or do exams during the worst of my brain fog"

Not sure it was one of my better ideas! I didn't appreciate how brain fog would affect me.

I would love to join too please! I'm 50 and have gained a stone that is just not shifting..recently started on HRT, I've had 5 miraculous weeks but now feel that I've crashed again with low mood, rage and bloating. I've stopped drinking alcohol because it was playing havoc with my sleep and lost half a stone of 'wine weight' but the weight is creeping back up again. It's shit, but nice to know I'm not going through this alone.

Hi everyone. Please can I join. I think I asked on the previous thread but then we went on holiday and I didnt get to check back in. Im 5ft 5 and 11st 9lb. Im in the overweight BMI category and have just been told I have borderline high cholesterol. I had the blood tests because I am on the mini pill but have out of the blue had 2 periods. Im waiting for an ultrasound to check all ok down there as the bleeding is very random. I think I may be perimenopausal. I have also been struggling to lose weight, but from Saturday started calorie counting and walking.

So many new joins! 😊 👋 lovely to have you here, though it sucks that there are so many of us in the same boat.

@Happyface120 I’m super impressed with the ultramarathon training. That’s amazing!

@boon, yes you popped up on the old thread for a while but nice to have you back. Sometimes life just gets in the way. Sounds like you are making healthy changes already so that’s great.

I have had my morning jog and managed to shave just over 8 minutes off my time from last week! Upped from a gentle jog to a very much less gentle jog! Going to head off in a little while for a nice walk with my husband. Hope you all have a nice day.

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Oooh, I'm in too. So glad to have found this thread. I'm fairly sure I'm going through perimenopause although, despite going to the doctor many times over the past 2 years with a variety of physical ailments (I really feel like my health has collapsed over the past 2 years and I've got old - I'm late 40s), they've never suggested it.

I feel it will be a battle to get treated, somehow.

My 11 year old daughter is like a stick and eats easily twice what I do (and I was the same into my mid twenties) so it's definitely not just about how much I eat and it frustrates me so much when people (let's be honest, mostly men or women who haven't gone through menopause) suggest it's just a matter of willpower. It's not, my body reacts totally differently to calories to how I've been used to in the rest of my life, and lots of other things too.

Following ... I’m treating my symptoms with sugary food to which I’m addicted... what could possibly go wrong?

49, peri menopause, thyroid problems, back issues and joint issues which limit mobility. Mother passed in 1st lockdown and I ballooned from size 16 to size 22. About to move 100 miles to new area so I want a fresh start for my body too.

Can't sleep - typical.

I have my dreaded first waist measurement on Wed 1st. I haven't decided which time of day to do it yet..probably not in the evening because that will be too cruel.

Will report back to keep myself accountable.

This sounds like the place for me if I may join you guys please ☺️ 42 - all the peri-menopausal hallmarks.

Put on a stone since lockdown which took me from slim to sluggish & waistless. I used to lose weight easily but now it doesn’t shift. I feel like I’ve aged in recent months my body is playing tricks on me…

@VVKills27 I am exactly the same as you. I really miss being able to lose weight easily.

Thanks for new thread

I’m struggling to get a balance between my waist and my face! I need to put weight on to plump up my face but then it all just goes on my tummy and I look 5 months pregnant!!

I’m trying to eat low carb/high protein but not sure if I’m eating too much as it’s all quite calorific.
What do you guys think of what I ate yesterday?
Breakfast
2 teaspoons peanut butter mixed with 1 banana
Approx half a tub of Greek yoghurt with around 5 walnuts 4 dates and a liberal sprinkle of flaxseeds

Lunch
Half a halloumi grilled with a large salad. Spinach rocket tomatoes cucumber and beetroot. No dressing

Dinner
2 chicken thighs in a tomato based sauce with red peppers and aubergine - sweetcorn and green beans on side

Nighttime snack
A small bar of dark chocolate

Drinks
2 cappuccinos
2 litres water
Diet Coke can
1 large glass of prune juice

I’m 49 and my metabolism has definitely slowed down. Does this seem like a lot of food? I’m 5 foot 3.
I just want weight to go ON my face and OFF my waist 😂

Can I just add that this is a new way of eating for me - weirdly I don’t feel particularly hungry whilst eating like this - must be the low carb.

Can I join too please? I’m 45 and been feeling it for a couple of years now - mainly sluggishness and brain fog. I had blood tests but nothing was flagged up but peri menopause wasn’t mentioned either, tbh I didn’t think to question that. More recently I’ve been having hot flushes and I’ve noticed my periods have become lighter after years of heavy periods. I think if the symptoms do get worse I’ll go back to my GP and push potential menopause, see what they say.

I did cut back on sugar about a year ago and since April I’ve been regularly swimming 40 lengths a week which I do feel better for it and I have lost weight (about 9lb since April, I was bordering obese but now I’m back to overweight. We’ve just booked our holiday for next year so really want to keep at it now). Agree with VVKills27 losing weight in my 40s is much harder and slower going than when I was in my 20s/30s.

I think I’m going to keep a weekly record of my measurements (weight, BMI, and then chest, waist, hip and thigh measurements) hopefully that’ll keep me focussed.

Can I join? After 2 very long periods I went to the doctor who said it's probably menopause symptoms, due to my age. How rude! I'm sure I'm only 23! (I'm actually 45)

I can't seem to shift much weight, I lose and gain the same few pounds. Which I guess is lucky I didn't actually put on loads during lockdown considering how little exercise I do!

Once my kids are back at school I plan on going back to the gym, and I cycle or hike most weekends. Just need to not eat so much!

I'm 5ft 1 and currently weight 79.8kg. (I weigh myself on my boyfriends scales every Sunday)

Now I must go shopping. I will buy nice healthy food. Honest.

I don't want to need this thread. Sadly at nearly 49 I do. Can I join?

Need to lose approx a stone. Going to try and continue with yoga 4x a week and lots of walking plus avoid bread and biscuits. Back at school this Thursday (teacher) so this is good for my bank balance and liver but baaaad for self control where sugar is concerned!

@JMAngel1 I can look pregnant too. I don't think that is too much food and sounds really healthy.

I've just had an order in from Sosandar and their clothes are really flattering around the tummy area. I was dreaded trying them on because I am so bloated today, but I am keeping everything. Win!

Well I'm trying a few things this week:
Cutting out booze
Tracking my food
Joining classes at the gym

I will be happy if I at least cut out the booze. I have been drinking about 3-4 bottles of wine over 5 days for months now. My weight has increased a lot and I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I think a lot of that is the wine.

But I have been on oestrogel with the Mirena coil and I do feel that has been working to make me feel balanced and calm. So small steps for me....

@Itwasgoodwhileitlasted
Thanks for the tip! Off to Sosander site for a browse

I'm here! Still plodding on with very little of interest to say. I'm due a waist measure, will do that tomorrow morning. Still carrying the second half of the holiday weight gain.

On the bright side, I'm doing two pilates classes a week, at least two gym workouts, walking and a little bit of swimming and 16:8 IF to help me keep calories down. I'm doing all the right things and just need to trust them to have the right effect. In due course which is apparently not right the hell now which it definitely should be.

Onwards into autumn.

Can I join?
Pretty firmly in peri, though docs refuse to do bloods as I'm on meds that will skew results. Been getting hot flushes on and off since I was 38/39 (i'm 43 on friday). Then regular for months, off for months, then back to flushing again. yay...

My weight has been carried entirely on my front for years, my belly sticks out further than my 32G boobs! If you look at me front-on i have a nice hourglass figure, from the side I'm a blob

I'm upping my exercise and doing intermittent fasting at the mo. no weight movement recently, but I do feel better in myself.

Im not starting until Monday, but I need to start thinking about a plan.
Today I had weetabix minis for breakfast, carrot sticks and houmous for morning snack, then a tuna mayo salad, melon and strawberries for lunch. Have just walked in from work knackered and fallen into crumpets with peanut butter
I really struggle with this post work slump- I'm just so knackered, and all I want is carbs...