To be horrified at my menopausal weight gain?

[Midlifebloat]

Late 40’s and I’m menopausal.

Ive been horrified at the weight gain on my belly!

I’ve always had a flat stomach. Pear shaped, but slim.

could eat loads and still be a size eight.

I’ve put on a stone in the last few weeks. All on my stomach.

AIBU for being horrified and thinking I can fight this decline?

Thanks @Wherethewildthingsfart im very paranoid about ovarian cancer so going to doctors about that too

I don't think HRT makes the weight gain worse, it's just that we start taking it at a time when we are destined to struggle with weight gain anyway. I was hoping it would help but I must say it has neither helped nor hindered weight wise so far.

Reassuring to be able to link the weight gain to a phase of increased eating tbh. When you speak to your GP about HRT they will rule out anything else.

Me too - I feel completely blindsided. I'm 42, had 3 kids and although I never got fully back to my pre-pregnancy weight (so gained a little each time), I was always a 10 (top) and 12 (bottom). In the last 18 months or so I've put on about 10kgs. Had to replace almost my entire wardrobe to a size 14 and am now wondering if I am going to have to replace it again to a 16. It feels completely out of control and all the things I used to do to cut a bit of weight don't touch the sides anymore. For the first time in my life my BMI comes back as "overweight." I feel totally miserable about it - I look awful and I miss my clothes!

I am struggling with this too, even more so as I have a history of anorexia so am still hyper aware of my weight and hate the fat roll round my belly. Makes me feel really low.
Have gained about 5 kg over the past year, from an 8-10 to a size 12 and now none of my clothes fit me. BMI is 23 ish so wouldn't be able to get injections.
I agree its cortisol and its affects. I gather eating more protein can help with this but am also feeling a bit lost.
Very hard to know what to wear with slim arms and legs and a jelly belly.
Sympathies to you all

If you’re pear shaped, did you have those big tree trunky legs? Only it could be that your fat disposition has changed with the hormones

Oh I hear you OP. I am 46 and have put on so much weight in the last few years, especially around the middle.

I always had a fast metabolism when I was younger and shifted weight so easily - I could always eat whatever I wanted!

I did speak to the GP about it at my last HRT review and she said it’s just what happens at peri menopause.

Depressing though, as my self esteem is very caught up in being slim.

Plus as others have said I do come under a lot of stress and cortisol makes you put on belly weight.

My GP- male, size of a butcher's pencil- dismissively told me it's nothing to do with menopause, it's just because women slow down as they get elder. WHICH IS UTTER BLLSHT.
I was a size 8 all my life, - then the triple whammy of menopause, steroids and disability meant I went up to a size 20. I was so unbelievably miserable and just couldn't shift. I'm now on Mounjaro since May and Im finally approaching a normal BMI. And my fatty liver has practically disappeared.
Still had to access it privately as my GP was no use whatsoever.

You need to raise this with the GP. It can be due to ovarian issues (cysts, tumours, cancer) esp if it happened over a rather short space of time. Don't brush it under the the carpet! Adding a stone in a few weeks is probably not simply menopausal stuff.

Oh yes. Plonked on 10lbs round my middle and it stuck to me like shit to a blanket. I’ve always been fairly slim but none of my usual ways to lose weight had any effect.

However, it is shifting now. I got a Macro check from a Fb group Macros Inc. It’s free, (they always say on there that peri doesn’t cause weight gain, which I think is crap, but whatever) get the free check and eat within your macros.

And I changed my exercise routine from primarily cardio (running/step/aerobics) to primarily strength training. I follow Sydney Cummings on YouTube and again it’s free. Work outs range from 30-45 mins and are 5 days a week, so quite manageable.

Whilst this shouldn’t actually work (I am definitely burning less calories now than I did before and eating more!) it’s the only thing that has worked. After struggling with it for a year, I made these changes and lost 6lbs in 4 weeks, even with 2 weekends away where I ate and drank whatever I wanted. Am aiming to lose another 10 and reckon I can actually do it. Worth a try?

This whole menopausal weight gain needs to be studied as it definitely isnt as simple as calories in calories out.

But given most GPs dont even know about HRT.....

Surely this coz once your periods stop then you need a third less calories. So if you eat the same and exercise the same you are still going to lose weight.

I still have a waist and have only added a couple inches. Am 50

I skip and row everyday I can. Otherwise walk a lot. Do 10mins weights.

eat one meal a day, cut out bread, don’t have a sweet tooth so no chocs or cake but I do drink a lot.

I think in order stay slim it’s like your total focus !

A third less calories? How much energy do you think having periods takes????

Wow I don't think I could manage only one meal a day @sausagesforteaagain and neither do I want being slim to be my total focus. There is so much more to life!
However I do eat much less than I did in my twenties and thirties, much less carbs, don't drink, and exercise way more.

Can I offer a bit of hope?

I’ve just turned 50, I’ve been peri-menopausal since I was 45. Had lots of shitty symptoms so have been on HRT for 3 years now which has been helped enormously.

My weight was steadily climbing too - maybe due to hormones but also due to being in a very stressful job and eating for comfort. Four months ago I decided I had to make changes. I basically stopped eating my emotions (eating when sad, bored, stressed, tired, frustrated) and have now lost 17 pounds. It’s the first time I’ve lost a significant amount of weight in over 10 years. My BMI has gone from overweight to normal.

i haven’t followed any particular diet, I don’t restrict when I eat, no foods are forbidden and I don’t do any exercise other than walking (I know I need to work on that 😄). I stick to unprocessed foods as much as possible, lots and lots of vegetables, lean protein. I still eat bread, pasta etc just in smaller quantities than before. And the odd bit of chocolate!

@KnottedTwine ! I got told that by an expert menopause health expert. Just sayin’

@Lentilweaver yeah you don’t drink….. I drink like a fish still so need to balance it up. The one meal is easy if you are busy and I eat fruit in the day. Also I don’t have to cook the one meal, that helps!

@UtterlyButterly2048 what is a macro ?

The fat cells in the stomach produce teeny amounts of estrogen. When the ovaries start to pack in the body goes looking for it. That's why we get a belly and your body will cling onto that belly for grim death.

It's not impossible to get rid of it but it'll take some graft. I'm hoping hrt helps.

Haha yes - I’ve always had chunky legs. They aren’t exactly skinny now, but wonder if some of the fat has moved around.

im heavier though- I think I’m craving more carbs and sweet things

Yes. It’s a very distinct type of gain very different to just gaining weight through overeating. I’ve had a young pt tell me it’s a myth and bemused I couldn’t shift weight on her cals and exercise plan. It’s like a slab on your front. I have no waist.
It’s definitely far more complex than cals in and out.

Thanks - that’s how I feel - like I have a massive belly just slapped on the front of me.

It makes it difficult for clothes to fit well too!

I also have PCOS which I suspect makes it worse.

For me it’s all about the bread, if I eat it, I have a gut, if I don’t my stomach is not too bad. I still have a proper waistline and don’t have the menopause shape yet, I am 55.

So the sensible thing would be to not eat bread, have I ever been sensible, have I heck?!

I hear you OP. I put on a lot of weight and I was not eating that much. The only way I can control my weight now is to only eat twice a day. Usually breakfast and lunch. I'm now over a stone lighter doing this.

I second going to the GP just to rule out anything nasty.

I was in a similar position in July. I'd 'only' put on 7kg between 40-46 but every ounce was around my middle.

I've lost 6.5kg on intermittent fasting and am now maintaining with a sensible diet and not too much booze.

Cut out carbs !!!
eat protein cut of fat on meats so there lean and eat lots of veggies !!
keep breakfast and lunch small and all portions small !
48 ! menopausal and lost 3 stone in the last year also have arthritis ! If I can do it anyone can ! It’s hard but it’s worth it consistently is key here !
No wine 🍷 no lunches out or fancy frappes until near to target then u have the odd treat same with holidays enjoy them and get staight back on it when u arrive home it’s a lifestyle change that u can’t just stop when you have hit your goal weight ! Metabolism deffo slows down and as we get older we don’t use as much energy as we would in our 20s x

Totally agree with all this. Am 57, don't have carbs often at all, only wine on holidays and nights out which are not every week. Gym with trainer twice a week. Just back from a weeks holiday where I had what I wanted, but strangely I didn't crave carbs at all. Back in the groove again.

We need to build muscle mass, it isn't about running long distances, it is about lifting weight. This helps build and maintain a faster metabolism.