Struggling with peri menopausal weight gain

[HangryPants]

I’m 39 and peri menopausal. I put on two dress sizes in about 8 months and am the largest I’ve ever been in my life.

I decided not to beat myself up, buy the new size clothes rather than be uncomfortable and eat for health. I’ve quit junk sugar and given up my long time Diet Coke affair. I only drink water now, quite happily. I play netball weekly and lift weights three times a week.

Now even my larger clothes are feeling tight. I feel terrible. I feel fat, hot and even bending to do my shoes is an effort. I don’t want to diet, but I feel like this isn’t my body. Is this it for me now?

Sorry, nothing useful to add except I am in the same boat. Tried several 'diets' but nothing seems to help. It's really tough, as I was slim all my life and this is not me at all 😔

Yes this is it til menopause is over. It's fairly well documented. I didnt gain any weight but my God it's not going anywhere either.
I have cut down by over 1500 calories per day and still naff all weight loss.
Just embrace, there is no other way.

Hello just coming on to say there is hope on the other side! I gained 3 stone through a combination of giving up smoking and the menopause. Lost it through a calorie controlled diet once the worst of the storm was over and ended up the same weight I had been in my early thirties. Slowly regained a couple of stone through sloth and greed but am back being sensible now and have already lost a stone.
TLDR:, Chin up it doesn't last forever!

HangryPants are you taking HRT? Just wondered if this was the cause. As 39 is early to start menopause x

No, no HRT. The doctor suggested it but my understanding is that it just delays the menopause. So my feeling is I should just go through it now..?

It’s the barrel-like shape that is hard after being pretty svelte all my life and the only thing that has changed is I’ve improved my diet.

How do I embrace this? Just buy the next size up after just replacing my wardrobe already??

And thank you for your replies, I’ve felt quite lonely in this.

Awful isn't it, especially when people who haven't been through it don't understand.

All I would say, is make sure you have your thyroid checked if you haven't already, and some general tests to make sure it isn't anything else. Two sizes in 8 months is quite a quick change - I'm putting on around 2-3 kg every 6 months? I know it's different for different people, but just in case.

I am very short and have the metabolism of a drugged up sloth on a bad day and so am really careful about what I eat. But nothing on this earth could stop that extra stone galloping on during my menopause. Most of my female friends are the same age as me and even the ones who were effortlessly slim all the way up to 50 have gained noticeable weight around the middle. But this all happened when we were 50 to 55, I'd say. Not 39. Are you sure its hormonal? You seem rather young for that.

Yes I’ve had this too. I put on two stone and Tried very hard to lose it over several years.

I did all sorts of calories controlled diets and eating healthy and exercising. I took up running, went to the gym and even trained for and run a marathon. Even when I was running 25 miles a week, I didn’t lose an ounce.

The only thing that’s working for me now is intermittent fasting and LCHF. I’ve lost 1.5 of the two stone so far. If I go off the rails even a little, I put weight back on.

I’ve just been away for a long weekend and I allowed myself treats of one or two chocolate biscuits and a glass of wine a day plus I’ve had 3 meals a day rather than two ( all meals LCHF).

I’ve gained 4lbs in 4 days . I don’t know how this is possible but the scales don’t lie.

This is why I didn’t lose weight for years I guess. The amount of food I need to maintain my weight is very small. Fucking hormones .

Just a side note - are you sure you shouldn't be on HRT?

I'm the same age and was pushed into menopause a few years ago due to cancer treatment. My consultant told me I'd need HRT for many many years to offset the very high and real risk of osteoporosis in later years due to going into the menopause so early and missing so much vital hormones. I'd think you'd be the same - it's very early at 39.

The doctor suggested it but my understanding is that it just delays the menopause
No it just helps you through. It appears a common myth that it delays, I wonder why. After all taking paracetamol doesn't delay your headache. I mean it doesn't work for everyone, but it can help so much.
Weigh up the pros and cons and try it if you feel ok with the risks. I would have had several years off work without HRT, the symptoms were very debilitating.

I am fairly certain I heard that on Woman’s Hour.

As a result of this thread I’m going to get to the doctors again and ask for thyroid checks.

I've really struggled to control my weight after the menopause despite doing a lot of running, and going to the gym 4 times a week. I was just about to just accept it until I decided to give it one more go.

I'm keeping the calories to 1600 a day, having giving up cereals, bread and pasta and I've started to do HIIT classes, focusing on strength rather than cardio and to my delight it is working.

The weight is not going down massively but is replaced by muscles. My clothes are feeling loose and I definitely look slimmer.

It can be done.

OP you really must consider HRT very seriously. You will be at massive risk of osteoporotic fractures in later life - spine/hips etc which can be life changing.

Also age 39 is very young unless there's a related reason such as chemotherapy... You definitely need to get thyroid bloods if not already done.

Good luck.

This is me; depressing - I have put 5 stone on over the past couple of years, which seems ridiculous, then you work out that if a pound a week or so creeps on it's very easy.

I've cut sugar and wheat out - tried low carb, tried drinking lots of water. I'm too bloody fat to exercise much without it hurting, so I need to lose some first, but having always been a size 12 - and now being a size 20 - it is depressing. I don't feel like myself.

I’ve gone low sugar, and it feels good, but VLC leaves me absolutely wiped out and my weightlifting really suffered.

AFAIK it doesn’t delay the menopause. If that’s what’s happening to you, it will happen anyway . There’s no way of stopping that clock otherwise we would all look like 30 years olds!

It just relives some of the symptoms for some of the time. Of couee there are risks and your doctor should discuss these with you. Generally the advice is to use the least amount of meds for the shortest time. It’s worth reading up about it and chatting with your GP.

I’ve read three books so far but have chosen ones that advocate lifestyle changes and generally being positive and accepting and embracing the next chapter.

Lifestyle changes are good. Drinking less, eating better, being a healthy weight and exercising are good for anyone of any age.

Being positive is also good for your mental health but it will do bugger all for your symptoms. All the positivity in the world doesn’t protect against osteoporosis or heart disease . What did you doctor say about that ?

I’m 44 and I’ve decided to fight tooth and nail to get the extra stone off. 6 weeks and 1 stone gone. My stomach has disappeared so I don’t think it’s inevitable that your waist has to go. I’ve done all this through intermittent fasting, it’s honestly been a game changer for me.

OP I could have written your post word for word. I am doing more exercise than ever, eating less and better than ever and yet seem to be more barrel shaped with each passing day. I am so depressed.

I'm 47 and at the beginning of the year I started to gain a pound per week. So, I cut right back on my food and was shocked at the effort required just to stop gaining! I've managed to lose 8lb now. It was tough. I don't drink alcohol at all any more which really helps.

@sheshootssheimplores
Can you explain the intermittent fasting please?