to ask how you lost your menopause related weight gain?

[clippie]

The weight gain seems to have appeared with not much difference to my regular diet. It doesn't shift like it used to. Trousers feel tight and I have developed some rolls around my stomach.

The usual tricks I use to lose weight are not working. I would get rid of any weight gain with intermittent fasting but it is not working this time. I walk at least 10k steps a day and do weight training 4 times a week.

I feel like I am fighting with my hormones which do not want me to lose weight.

Hrt

When u figure it out. Let me know. Seriously. Let me know. Ur supposed to count macros apparently. But due to a restricted diet I cannot do that. Sigh. Isn’t getting older great.

Ozempic

In summary I ate more protein and stopped snacking.

I was 2 and a half stone overweight - menopausal. I lost a stone and a half (slowly) by cutting out the crap (no snacking) and having a decent protein filled breakfast, home made soup for lunch with beans or lentils (no bread) and for dinner protein, some carb and lots of vegetables.

I make a point of eating far more vegetables than I used to and fibre.

I still have a drink - but only when there's a reason for it - like out with a friend or eating out. Not just a drink at home because I'm bored.

I also joined a gym (I'm not a natural gym goer) and started a weights class - 2 to 3 times a week. I don't think that's made any difference weight wise but I feel stronger and have changed shape.

I walk in and out of work - about 40 minutes a day and there's usually a dog walk on top of that. I walk more at the weekend.

I've still got a stone to go - and for that I'm going to be looking at smaller portions of carbs - but not no carbs.

@clippie I hear you! I am doing everything “right” and was near to tears this morning when I stepped on the scales! I actually googled “doing everything right but not losing weight” - every suggestion that came up, I’m already doing!

I really don’t know what the answer is. I am absolutely not going to take the injections as I’m not morbidly obese and I have concerns about the long term impacts of them - a risk worth taking if you’re so overweight you are at risk of stroke/heart attack/death but I know many people are taking them as an easy fix.

So I’m at the gym every week day doing weights and cardio (on a program devised for me by a PT), cooking everything from scratch/following a healthy meal plan, not snacking and no alcohol (I’m in recovery anyway) but no weight loss after a month. But….my clothes do feel ever so slightly loser, I am sleeping so much better, my mental health is so much better and my blood pressure is no longer too high (a lot of this probably also due to stopping drinking). So I’m going to keep going as I am and just trust the process so to speak. 🤞🤞

This, basically.

You have to completely rethink your food intake (I won't say calories because that's a personal choice to assess by calories) You simply cannot eat the same amount of food as you have been used to, you have to cut down. Your body doesn't need or process it in the same way anymore.

I don't eat crap anymore, everything I eat is decent, proper food with a benefit to me to eat it. I don't snack unless I have to (out for an extended period) and even then it would be healthy choices. I don't eat again after my evening meal, very little alcohol and I try and be as active as possible.

I think it is (sadly) down to eating fewer calories (look up BMR) and really sticking to this 7 days a week..the reality is I can eat very little without putting on weight.

Low carb diet.

Lots of protein.

No snacking.

I haven’t yet hit menopause but I’m eating a lot less than I used to, to stabilise my weight

I gave up trying to stop the weight gain. I’ve gone from a size 6 to size 8 and put on 3kg in the past 2 years. I eat healthily, 10k steps a day and don’t want to cut out my post lunch biscuit and post dinner small dessert.

I'm post menopausal and accidentally let my weigh creep up after a lifetime of eating what I liked. Thanks stretch fabrics!

I'm down 2 stone since September with another 7lb to go before I hit my upper target.

I've dropped breakfast, lunch is home made soup and I aim for around 600 calories for the evening meal. Heavy on protein and vegetables.

I'm mourning the old me but have accepted I simply can't eat like I used to.

I can virtually live on air alone now and still not lose weight 🙄

The only positive i can think of is that come the zombie apocalypse i'll be able to exist on no food .....

I am the same, always could easily manage my weight with gym classes, running and cutting out the snacks. Since 'ive been on HRT its been great for eliminating the hot flashes and sleeping better but is it worth it if I feel so porky and none of my clothes fit? Its depressing :-(

Keto. It really is just amazing.

My mum has thyroid issues, is 69 and has struggled with losing weight over the last 20 years. She would be sticking to minimal calories and exercising like crazy (not an exaggeration, she did the Camino at 65).

Anyway, a good loss for her on WW or another diet would be 300 grams in a week.

She tried keto for the first time whilst living with me and she lost 6kg in 8 weeks and her arthritis is so much better and she feels amazing.

Keto can be boring and I know people love to hate on it here, but for hormonal issues and belly fat, cutting carbs and sugar is a miracle worker.

Mounjaro plus cal deficit and low carb, coupled with a lot of exercise.

This worked for me but very low carbs - I don't eat pasta, limited bread, very rarely potatoes, just protein and veg, and took up cycling. If I snack now it's nuts, figs, dates etc.

Running and giving up alcohol & sugar

😭😭😭

I don't believe in diets as such (WW and SW etc). But I do need to consider what I'm eating now I (think) I'm through the menopause. I always used to be able to eat what I liked without putting any weight on (but I have always noticed that other people seem to eat much more than me before they feel satisfied). But I've always been able to have stuff that was bad for like crisps and bisuits and cakes in as many quantities as i've wanted without too much change to my weight. I have never done regular serious exercise. Don't really weigh myself regularly.
But in the past year I have noticed a real ramping up of the "thickening" around my middle. The excess fat on my buttocks wobbling as I walk around, can't fit into clothes I used to fit in.

It's clearly the hormonal changes of menopause doing it. I've tried to listen to my body as much as I can, as that's what I've done all my life with food intake. Eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full. So I've tried to analyse if anything is different now, and I think it is. It's most definitely taking less food for me to feel full, BUT DH and I are putting the same portion sizes out as we always have, through habit. And I don't like leaving food uneaten as it's a waste. So I eat everything on my plate even if the last few mouthfuls are making me feel too stuffed.

So for me, personally, I think I'm going to have to make a conscious effort to reduce portion size. Maybe smaller plates are the answer? Modern dinner plates are HUGE.

Blood pressure tablets and Furosemide. Never had high blood pressure up until I hit menopause, then bang, eating less and less but banging weight on. Not saying that's going to be everyone or even common. I don’t know but be aware of the possibility.

I gained 1/2 stone on HRT.
Have cut out snacking. I'm a crisp monster so that's been hard!
And I power walk everywhere as well as doing Pilates

Mounjaro. And accepting that I can’t eat even 1200 calories a day and not gain weight.

And oh yes, I just don't feel like alcohol much anymore. Really not like me, I used to love a gin and tonic after work most nights. Glass of wine with my evening meal a few times a week. A bit more a the weekends. But I definitely just don't have a hankering after it much now at all. When I do drink even a small amoutn it literally makes me feel like I've just ingested a toxin. I feel headachey next day, face is puffy and red, I just feel out of it.

So I think that's my body telling me not to bother.

I think similar's happening with sugar too. I persist with that though 😂But it must be putting the weight on more than it used to, if I'm not even craving it.

Overall, I agree with others in that after menopause we just need less fuel to keep the body going. But as most of us have access to plenty of all types of food whenever we like, there is no conscious effort to make sure that those in our house who are the most naturally hungry get the most. Like maybe would have happened in the old days when money was v tight and there was a large household to feed, with maybe young manual workers or growing teenagers literally ravenous.

Hard to tell which is peri and which is COVID. I am back to pre COVID weight this week after two years of WL drugs. Ryselbus for 18 months and Mounjaro latterly.

Oh yes, good point, I avoid pasta and bread now as it gives me heartburn and makes me feel bloated and sluggish.

Why do our bodies change so much with menopause?? It spoils all the good stuff......