Menopause and weight gain

[somewhatworried]

Has anyone else gained a lot of weight when their period stopped? Since the summer I have gained about one stone. I eat less (often nothing in the morning so only eating between 12 and 8 in a day), I exercise the same if not more, but my stomach just seems to grow all the time. I got a shock yesterday when I realised that I've now gained a stone. I used to get more fat on my bum and thighs, never on my tummy, but now I feel fat, look fat compared to what I used to be like (I've always been slim), and I have one pair of trousers left that I can wear for work (more sloppy ones to use at home).

I have some other health issues going on, that are being investigated, but reading menopause information online I've been thinking that my weight gain could well be related to that. But seeing the scales yesterday made me think that it really can't just be me getting older and 'naturally fatter'. Or could it?

Menopause definitely leads to weight gain in a lot of women. There are some lucky ones who don't gain weight but I think they're in the minority. It's very hard to shift once you get to a 'certain age.'

Thank you very much @Tinypetunia for your quick response :-) Yes, I know I'll probably get fatter but I didn't expect it going up so quickly after having had my (probably) last period five months ago...

It's not a great future healthwise really :-(

Yes I think so. I have hit menopause at 41. I take natural dessicated thyroid which contains t3 ( i have hashimotos), plus I’m on ozempic. Despite that it’s very obvious my belly is out of control while my arms and legs are slightly slimmer.
have you read Dr Louise Newsons new book? I haven’t yet but I imagine they suggest the following: HRT? Weight training and increase protein plus supplement any vitamin deficiencies. Have you tested hormones, thyroid and vitamins? I need to do mine I did them a year ago and anticipate when I next do I’ll need to start on HRT

lastly I notice on here there are some very irritating people who insist that hormones, thyroid etc have nothing to do with weight gain, ignore them!!!

Thank you so much for the book suggestion @mummylondon16 ! Looks very interesting, I've put it on my reading list! I hadn't really thought much about menopause until a few months ago so it's just floored me a bit to read about weight gain, strength loss and then combined with feeling fat and my other health issues I just feel quite rotten. I will need to start doing strength training too, although it won't improve things, it could help it not getting much worse quickly...

I've just had loads of blood tests and everything was fine, or perfect, but there are other gastro issues so there are more investigations going on, but if most of is menopause related, that'd be good in a way, it could be worse...

You are welcome hope it helps

my experience of doctors saying things are “ fine” can be anything from bottom of range thyroid illness when I was so unwell I thought I had dementia, and their ranges for vitamins such as B12, vitamin D are also wide enough to leave room for improvement. Once I started treating myself privately I went back to doctor 3 stone lighter, with my hair and eyebrows growing back and able to think straight, of course they accepted what they said was fine was not optimal.
i use thriva to test my thyroid and vitamins, inflammation etc. it’s been really helpful for showing up issues such as low folate and high inflammation, maybe look into that.

i did strength training in my 30s and looked amazing. Sadly in my 40’s I gained muscle but didn’t lose fat. Doing even basic full body resistance training with bands at home can help with bone and strength so I would recommend !
good luck

Thank you @mummylondon16 :-) I have all the blood test results so have been able to check them myself too. Will look into training with bands - I know nothing about this type of training so will need to read up!

Have a look at Davina McCall, Joe wicks or some type of full body 20 min workout on you tube ( will consist of things like press ups, squats, lunges, etc exercises that work multiple body parts and help with improving bone density too, nothing better than feeling strong). I’m fat but I’m fit so I can at least pass that on haha. I think Dr Louise Newson will also talk about this in her book

Eat less and do more exercise. Jillian Michael's has done a few You Tube videos. I went into menopause at 35 due to cancer treatment. There's no way I could eat the same as before without gaining weight.

my body loves being fat so much that I sleep walk and eat. I only knew because I saw myself on cctv. I was dieting within an inch of my life- 20,000 steps a day, personal trainer twice a week, calorie controlled diet. The only time I lost weight was starving myself and taking ozempic, then the sleep walking started. So it’s not as simple as some might say

It works for me. Obviously, I can't talk about anyone else's experience.

It happens to most of us. Read ROAR for an explanation and how to combat weight gain and stay healthy. The latter is key as you age.

Try eating a healthy Mediterranean diet.
cut out/severely reduce UPF, refined carbs and sugar, as Wells’s alcohol.
eat mostly plants and lean protein
Try intermittent fasting if necessary

And work out several times a week.
Especially resistance and weight bearing exercise.
Try Growingannanas to start with, but ultimately aim for Caroline Girvan.

At 47 I was fit & fabulous and easily passed for a decade younger. At 48, wallop, 2 stone extra, droopy boobage and an apple belly that is very hard to dress/flatter. I'm now exhausted.

You're not alone.
I went on a diet end of december and I lost 4lbs initially but then from 10th January to mid feb I lost NOTHING, not a gram. I slowly lost a few more pounds and just decided to stick at it. I may have lost another pound. So eating like a sensible monk I've lost about 10lbs in 12 weeks. So slow. Five years ago I'd have lost 20lbs by now. I've decided to eat really healthily all year and see where I am at the end of the year.

Thank you all very much for sharing your stories! I feel a bit naive that I hadn't realised it could be so quick etc (well hoping that's the reason and that there is nothing sinister, we'll see :-/ ).

I do eat super healthily compared to the absolute majority of people (I'm often a bit shocked to read people's 'normal' menus here :-) :-) ) and I have cut down on the amount, including eating during fewer hours, so think it's the exercise/strength training I need to focus on. Will check out the tips for youtube information - thank you @FlowerArranger @Mercurial123 and @mummylondon16 for those - very grateful to get a starting point!

Along with a more rounded belly I also have small saggy soft empty boobs, which means my belly looks even bigger. My boobs used to be bigger than my belly but now it's the other way round. It's v sad

Oh well. I have tried HRT to ease the aching, anxiety and insomnia, but it gave me awful PMT type symptoms which were not worth tolerating (for me) as I'd previously never had PMT throughout my whole life.

Yes and I cannot get it off. Normal calorie counting isn’t working. I know there is a certain way to do that. But I already have a lot of health problems surrounding food. So cannot change my diet at all. Doomed to be a size 14/16 forever

I weigh the same.Tall and slim.
My legs and arms are now skeletal my stomach like a weeble. Same weight.
I used to have a great figure. Eat so healthily, good protein. All fish and salads (Spain)
Same weight, Fat stomach. Horrendous. On HRT since 43. by 48 all was lost, look shit...

I would not be without HRT. God knows what I[d look like then.