I’m a not so happy mammoth

[Slayercake]

I’m 45, exercising more now than I ever have - running a few times a week + strength training + circuits - and eating healthily and I am actively putting on weight. Tummy, love handley area, thighs.
Is this really what happens?! It sucks so bloody much.
Any pearls of wisdom out there?? If I see another happy mammoth ad I may throw my phone down the loo. I don’t believe any of that and it’s so expensive but I need to get through this without chucking everything out the window and resorting to alcohol/comfort food/hard drugs/liposuction.
Save me from the peri men!! All tips gratefully received!

Laughed at your happy mammoth post - I got so fed up of their ads.

Surprised that people have had to push for HRT and convince doctors they are peri or menopausal. My GP surgery literally will look at you and suggest menopause. Broken arm? Menopause. Skin rash? Menopause.

I am self medicating. I take a multivitamin for women over 50 and on top of that I take additional omega 369, magnesium and zinc, and vitamin D. I also take Quercetin C from Holland and Barrett for my hayfever but the vitamin C also helps.

I read a big problem with menopausal women is that they don’t drink enough and that’s true for me so working on that.

Not sure it's what you want to hear but you need to start tracking calories as you are probably overeating ( exercise makes you hungry). I didn't think my diet was too bad but in my mid 40's I need to be on it all the time oe I gain... Even the occasional takeaway and greggs seems to affect things.
My PT has made a meal plan for me as my weight was spiralling. I'm eating the same thing virtually each day and It has some carbs but I have to weigh EVERYTHING. I'm finally losing but it's a bit dull.... But at least I don't have the tyranny of my fitness pal.
I don't think it matters how you do it but less calories consistently with enough protein seems to be the key.

Just to add to the fun that after menopause you need a third less calories

yeah sucks !!!

Hi @Thinkonmadam how are you getting on? I am 42 and just googled how fat and crap I am feeling despite eating healthy, tracking and exercising etc and your post came up. Did intermittent fasting help you? How are you doing? X

Hi @jostart thanks for asking, but I think you meant to message @curlywurlymum and/or @Vegandiva as they were the ones talking about intermittent fasting 😀

Although on a side note I have been tracking foods with MyFitnessPal just to stay accountable and watch the balance of what I’m eating (seem to struggle to meet protein goals without eating too much fat)

Oh @Thinkonmadam thank you! Sorry, obviously up too early to be messaging on Mumsnet!

That's good you're on MFP. I've been using that as well, sticking to around 1600 but no weight loss. It's so frustrating.

@Vegandiva @Slayercake @curlywurlymum how are you all getting on? And anyone else?!

I do intermittent fasting and MFP. You will need a calories deficit of around 500 to make a difference.

I hated mfp with a passion when I did it. Joy-suckingly awful so I don’t think calorie counting will ever be something I can do.
I started replacing brekkie with a protein shake after this thread and it felt like it worked but I didn’t keep it up. Aiming to start again when life returns to normal after school holidays.
how’s everyone else getting on? Thanks for the nudge @jostart

Thanks for replying @Slayercake

I sometimes have a Purition shake for lunch but always feel like it's not really a meal and then ending up eating anyway!

I think maybe snacking on whole foods might be a small but easy habit. I'm going to get some eggs this weekend to boil and take into work. I'll be the smelly egg woman but I don't care!

You need to reduce your calories as you get older or you will gain weight and find it harder to lose weight.

That's the only answer. You can run yourself until you collapse but it's what you are eating that is the problem.

I have reduced the amount I eat by quite a lot as I've got older and have not put on any weight.

I still enjoy food, I just eat much smaller amounts of it.

Track calories (or how can you possibly see if you’re in deficit?), prioritise protein-keeps you feeling fuller longer and up your fluid intake.

Hi @jostart I managed to lose about 8% of my starting weight since this thread was started. Just through restricting calories. There always seems to be one week a month (at least) though in the second half of my cycle where I can’t stop eating so I have to try to be extra conscious to make up for this when I’m not feeling permanently hungry 😁

I did hear about a study which talked about the one meal a day diet and it said if you did that it should be breakfast not dinner or that could be disastrous, makes sense.

Also, snacking mindlessly while watching TV is an ongoing issue. I have been trying to get more social support as well since feeling lonely or like you don’t have enough going on doesn’t help with combatting emotional eating.

Good luck everyone! It’s not easy, that’s for sure!

Mammoth shake contains far too much sugar. I have stopped it after becoming diabetic despite only having a BMI of 23, going to the gym 6 times a week and eating a clean diet!

Try the late (and much lamented) Michael Moseley's Fast diet. I was post-menopause and clapping weight on at a terrifying rate. Nothing seemed to work. I went to the gym regularly and watched (I thought) what I ate.

I followed the Fast Diet, and the weight just fell off me. When I went back to 'normal' eating, I was much more aware of what I ate, and not so hungry, so the weight stayed off.

Last year, I did the Zoe plan, and with that, I find I don't really need to think about my weight. It stays constant and what I eat fills me up nicely without over-eating or snacking.

Look up lipodema to see if that rings true for you.

As you get older you have to eat far less than before!

I've never put in weight and have done so by each year reducing the amount I eat. I am very active but ultimately it's what you put in your mouth that determine your weight.