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?

Definitely got the belly fat and high up with menopause but been on hrt for last couple of years and have reduced ultra processed foods and have seen a big reduction particularly in my thighs which are same size as when in my 20s

When you are through menopause you are dead. Menopause is the time in a woman's life when she no longer has periods. Perimenopause is the transition, where most of us in 40s / 50s find ourselves.

I said it on my previous post and I say it again, we have to lift weights. Big weights and they will help the kgs stay off.

@GuestWW fair point about being dead. Thank you.

I think if I was asked for my no. 1 tip for dealing with the menopause it’d be this:

Exercise the shit out of it.

Crude sorry!

When I was about 48 I was ready to jump off a cliff. It was PCOS meets menopause. You would think years of infertility and heavy short cycles would give me a reprieve, but no. I went to a private gyno and they told me my perimenopause were some of the worst she’d seen. HRT made me feel worse.

Once I got the Mirena coil and my cycle was shut down, I just went for it on the exercise. Even when I felt shit, I forced myself first thing. I ran, lifted weights, went to yoga and did classes.

At some point I started to feel better. I’m 55 now and I’m running half marathons when I’ve never run in my life and I’ve got people telling me I look great. I feel fit and calm.

I know it’s not for everyone, but that’s my tip.

Exercise like a demon.

@AngsanaFlower fully agree. I will never forget doing my caroline girvan workout with 8kg dumbells and tears running down my nose because I was sobbing so much on utrogestan.

But I never ever didn't do the exercise.

(am 4 months post surgery at the moment and crawling the walls desperate to get back to my weights).

BUT be careful - I developed tendinitis when I became menopausal, do the stretches too!!

I played as much tennis as I could through mine and the exercise and break from my head made such a difference to my stress level and it somehow curbed my emotional eating.
Exercise is definitely worth trying.
Increasing nuts and tinned fish is good too.

If you have gained a lot just on your abdomen in a short time you really should see your gp for a pelvic exam to check your uterus and ovaries.

Following. So many posts here resonating with me! I’m aware I’m having a lot of sugar (chocolate or wine- cutting down on wine but have been using chocolate as an alternative 😬) and am also very hungry at the moment- seasonal?? But pictures of me from 4 or 5 years ago make me sad because I’m so much bigger now, and it’s all on my front- like the pregnant belly the dad makes Bianca wear in 10 Things I Hate About You!
lifting weights helped, but I’m busier now and finding it hard to fit in. I’m active for work and usually walk 7K steps a day (I know the target is 10K). I’m intrigued by this Manjouro thing. Have the dr for something else soon and plan to ask about HRT. In the meantime, sending solidarity!

I've started Zoe. It's brilliant if you can afford it. I managed to get rid of stubborn 3kgs in 2 months I've not been able for 8 years!. Am 43. It's essentially been bread for me, even if home made sourdough, and any white carbs for me (rice/ pasta) plus not enough daily fibre. I'm such a conscious eater now and sometimes blowing 2000 calories!. Their app is so slick and easy (truly Apple standard)!

Yes - the idea that one's hormones can change so drastically and have an effect on every part of your body - brain, bone composition, etc - and yet have no effect on metabolism or fat distribution seems counterintuitive.

Going to go against the grain. Was in peri for the last 2 years. Now post menopausal. Stayed the same weight, same size 8. Just continued to be mindful of my eating.

Actually, since I went into meno, my body seems to have lost all interest in keeping me alive, and is saying 'Nah mate - if you want to haul this carcass through another couple of anno domini, you'll have to take care of it yourself like a vintage car - I'm out...'

😄

Take it from someone who has always tended towards the plump - it's ok.

Yes to lifting weights and building muscle and eating good, nutritious food and staying an reasonable human shape. But the real game changer is breaking out of the mindset that fat (and it is the concept fat here that is the problem) is the worse, worse thing to be.

You are not lazy or greedy. You are measuring and taking care. You are going to rule out anything sinister with the dr. You are going to consider all the unconscious judgements you applied to others (and now yourself) and reason that it was a lot easier for you before menopause. And then you can decide which restrictions or measures are worth taking without harming yourself mentally.

@Soupwithstring your post resonated, I quietly sobbed through the relaxation session at the end of a body balance class last week, thank god the lights were off! Combination of just about to start my period, dealing with grief from losing my mum in June, and perimenopausal hormonal peaks and troughs created an imperfect storm for a few days. Had HRT for a couple of years, I'm convinced it's helping.

Totally agree with @AngsanaFlower about exercising the arse off perimenopause - great for mind and body, but ppl need to do things gradually if they're not used to exercising and not leap into too much too soon and risk injury.

Having been effortlessly thin my whole life, the weight crept up in my late fifties. It was round my middle. Nothing fitted. Eventually, I cut out junk food and alcohol. The weight has slowly come off, very slowly.

Thank you for this. The 'unconscious judgment' bit made me wince - I came from a family who were the 'Ministry of Thin' and though I tried to reject their shallow judgment, I know I applied it to myself and others when I was younger...

Age, life-changing illness and just plain growing up has taught me that people's weight is the least interesting or important thing about them! I agree - daily exercise, eating well and checking on any new symptoms are all good sense and self-care. But I will also eat the damn biscuit now and then, and allow myself to love myself in the comfort of an elasticated waist...

I quit alcohol for over five years and didn't shift a pound (though puddings became more important to me without booze); now I will have the odd drink, but make sure I enjoy it when I do. Having a laugh with friends is more important than competitive self-denial.

Fun times

Me too, after decades being under weight. A year or two maintaining a healthy weight now i have all this extra chonk and its hard to deal with. Especially when nothing works like it used to