I don’t understand why I’ve put a stone on!

[Oldcrockpot]

Over the last 2-3 months I’ve gained a few pounds a week for no apparent reason and am a stone heavier! I can’t be pregnant as my periods have been heavy, very irregular and all over the place (this is not new, but they haven’t been as heavy as this since I had the coil about 18 months ago). No notable changes in routine or diet.

Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone and what was it? All my clothes are tight and I feel like a bloater!

(I am 39 and a healthy weight- but now getting to the top end of that! Have the coil and no new medication etc)

You’re heading towards peri menopause age, so I’d suggest that

You’re eating more and moving less. You can ask for a blood test see if it’s your thyroid but ultimately yes you’re eating or drinking more.

@Lastonightadjsavedmylife just about to post exactly this!

you mention bloating. Is it mainly around your pelvic/abdominal area? I would see GP to rule out ovarian issues. They can present like that. I doubt peri would cause such a huge weight gain in such a short space of time....

A stone in 3 months is around 1lb a week, slightly over. That's say 3700 extra calories a week, or 528 a day. That's 2 chocolate bars or equivalent. Can you identify where you've eaten that equivalent of extra food on average? Or drunk?

You're heading into perimenopause - unfortunately that tends to mean you can't get away with eating and drinking the kinds of things you used to!

What's your diet like? Exercise?

Peri doesn’t mean you suddenly gain weight like that, and to do so you still need to eat and drink more and move less.

For me, this was Type 2 diabetes. I now fast from 7pm to 11am and avoid sugar and white carbs. I have dropped 16 kg in 11 months and got my levels down to pre-diabetic stage (will still need to keep to my program as eating sugar or white carbs spike my sugar levels)
See you GP for a blood test. I now eat so much food and feel so well!

Yes, you gain weight in peri. But not as suddenly. I’d see s GP.

It could be a thyroid issue too. I think you need to see a GP to check your thyroid levels and sugars.

Agree with others, if you rule out medical issues then you're eating more than you are burning off.

Have you had any other symptoms or lifestyle changes?

39 does not necessarily mean peri. But if your periods are horrendous you can get help? You shouldn't have to suffer.

39 does not necessarily mean peri. But if your periods are horrendous you can get help? You shouldn't have to suffer.

Yes, for all the talk about perimenopause (and obvs it can be early), I was over 50 before I got any real signs. Most people I know were mid/late 40s.

If your periods have changed, see a GP. Eg, I had issues from fibroids.

You only gain weight in Peri if your symptoms include increased appetite and fatigue. It's not like peri causes weight gain by itself.

Average age for menopause is 51. Peri can last for 10 years, so she's not too far outside of those stats to potentially be perimenopausal.

However, I'd definitely consider seeing a GP to rule out a medical cause, as peri in and of itself shouldn't have that effect.

peri menopause I would say. I started putting weight on about that age, 3 stone over about a year.

Although, I would maybe mention the heavy periods to your GP

Do you exercise?

When you get older your metabolism slows, so you need to lower calories or exercise to maintain to compensate for the slower metabolism.

Try writing down or taking a photo of everything you eat, your portion size or snacking may have increased.

Perimenopause can start as early as your thirties and many women have symptoms for years before they realise what's going on.

There was an article recently saying you can be in perimenopause for about a decade.

But you still need to eat more and move less. Peri doesn’t magically make you put on weight very fast. Why do folks keep positing this.

Which coil? Hormonal ones can affect your weight

The impact of aging / menopause is around 200 calories a day so it's not a normal aging / perimenopause effect here

See the doctor

Have you had your thyroid checked recently?

Peri doesn’t magically make you put on weight very fast. Why do folks keep positing this.

They're not really saying that - more that peri has more of an impact than many women realise. It's also quite common for people with young children and busy to focus less on themselves (in terms of diet and exercise) which also contributes.