Is HRT stopping me lose weight?

[RedPandaFluff]

Hi everyone - I posted this in weight loss but actually on reflection it probably sits better here.

I'm 40, had my first baby in December 2019, and I've been back on HRT for the last three months (oestrogel, utrogestan and testosterone) which I take due to premature ovarian failure and early menopause (baby was donor egg IVF).

I've got about a stone to lose to get back to my "happy" weight. For the last two months I've been running 6-8km three times a week, and on two other days I've been going on hour-long brisk walks (covering about 5kms). I've been religiously sticking to 1200 calories per day - calorie-counted on MyFitnessPal, so I'm not deluded about portion size or calorie content and I'm quite clued-up when it comes to nutrition. I fast from 8pm to 1pm.

And yet . . . I've not lost a single pound. My legs look a little more toned, but not massively so. Why am I not losing weight? My gut feeling is that it's the HRT - has anyone else struggled with losing weight on HRT? I think eating any less would be really unhealthy and I certainly wouldn't have the energy to go running! I'm gutted

*sigh - that should be "Is HRT stopping me from losing weight?"

I'm also really tired

It's possible, but also don't get too hung up on a target weight and what the scales say. I don't know how much you weigh now or your height but 1200 seems really low. You will most likely find it difficult to sustain that and if you're running, more calories would be better. Do you do any weights? also take photos and measurements, your shape might change without weight reducing.

I had the combined patch. Before I started I had nearly lost 2 stone (I'm 43) whilst on it I put on 3lb and nothing would shift it. Stopped patch after the end of first month and weight going down again. GP says I really should have HRT for heart and bone protection so she's prescribing another but I'm not rushing to pick it up!

Yes! Some people will come and say that hrt doesn't make you put on weight and that it's just the menopause itself and you just need to adjust your diet.

Like you, despite being extra careful, limiting my food intake and increasing .y exercise level, I kept putting in weight as I started hrt. After 3 months, no obvious improvement in my symptoms and feeling fat, I stopped and sure enough, the weight dropped off with no effort.

It was one of the reason for staying off it. Saying that if you went into the menopause early, you need to discuss the risk on bone density.

I had a dexa scan that showed excellent bone density for my age which my doctor said was likely to be as a result of regular runs and daily walks. I'm due another one next year.

@RedPandaFluff I'd say it was unlikely because at 40 you are simply replacing your natural estrogen. Gel is identical to our own estrogen (it's not a synthetic formula) and the same for Utrogestan.

What is your 1200 cals a day made up from- a typical day?

I've used that combo for 12 years (post meno, not early.) Not put on any weight other than a a couple of pounds lately through not going out as much.

No testo though.

It would be unwise IMO to stop because the risk to your bones is high.

I have a thing about this as I was diagnosed with almost osteoporosis at 48, not even near menopause. I've made big improvements to my bones with exercise, diet and HRT.

Ugh. I'm so tempted to come off my HRT, from reading some of these replies. But the reason I went back on it after having the baby was because the symptoms came back with a vengeance - the hot flushes and night sweats were horrendous.

@JinglingHellsBells a typical day involves two meals, one snack and one treat. Something like:

Lunch - 3-egg omelette with 50g cheddar, or beans on toast, or chicken breast on wholemeal bread with a small amount of butter. Not usually more than 500 calories.

Snack - cereal bar (100 cals)

Dinner - grilled chicken breast with a small portion of boiled potatoes/veg; grilled fish, stir fry etc. Not more than 500 cals.

Treat - small Mars bar from multi-pack (120 cals).

That's literally it - and as I said, all portions measured and scanned/recorded on myfitnesspal so I know how many cals I'm eating.

There's nothing to lose coming of it and seeing how it goes, but get a dexa scan, and arrange to have one every couple of years, ensure you do much walking/running, possibly cycling although not as good, and make sure your diet has enough calcium.

If you are doing enough exercise to burn 500 calories a day, you should be able to eat 1800 calories, and lose weight slowly in 1500.

@RedPandaFluff] Could you replace the Mars bar an cereal bar with fruit or plain yoghurt? You aren't getting many of your 5 a day and are low on calcium if you are breast feeding. Your typical day is low in nutrients and fibre.

@RedPandaFluff I'm worried about this too.

Had been loosing weight and started HRT on Tuesday. The patch.

I weigh myself every day and gained a lb already. If I gain anymore and can't shift it I'm taking it off.

What's your daily deficit @RedPandaFluff with your current food intake and exercise using MFP?

It's possible your body has gone into starvation mode and is holding onto fat.

You should have 3 meals a day , no snacks. If you must snack, make it something nutritious not junk.

Are you breast feeding? On your current diet you are heading for loss of bone; you are getting almost zero calcium other than the cheese you might have. If you are BF you need around 1000mgs a day.

Are you not hungry on that diet? You have no food from dinner time to 1 pm? But you have a 4 month baby?

It's really not healthy the normal intake you've posted.

sorry- feel quite worried for you.

I'd suggest you see your GP, have a blood test for thyroid disorders and ask to see a dietitian because you need advice on healthy eating.

@dontdisturbmenow cycling does nothing for bone density.

sorry- see your baby is 8 months- but still not a healthy diet as it lacks variety.

@JinglingHellsBells I'm walking minimum 20,000 steps a day. Running 4 miles 3 times a week whilst recovering from treatment.

When I'm back to my 40 plus miles a week will this be enough to protect my bones without HRT? I'm 41.

Chesneyhawkes1 WOW! How do you get the time to walk over 10 miles a day every day??

The answer is no. Exercise alone will not build bone because you also need the right amount of calcium and estrogen. It helps new bone cells be absorbed as old bone breaks down, which is an ongoing constant process of old and new cells.

Also, putting on 1 pound of weight is not a sign that HRT is causing it. Most people's weight varies by 1-2 lbs on a daily basis for all kinds of reasons .

Also, osteoporosis is a long term disease- it happens over a period of years with most bone being lost in 2-5 years of loss of estrogen.

cycling does nothing for bone density
There was study caeried out recently that compared bone density of people running, cycling and those who did nothing. Those who ran had the best bone density of the three but cyclist were still much ahead of those who did nothing.

Of course, that's one study so could be disputed but no different to many similar studies.

Oestrogen protects your bones, but it doesn't mean that not taking hrt will I enevitably lead to osteoporosis.

My mum started the menopause at 43, right after having my brother, never taken hrt. She is now 73 and has excellent bones. She was never a run we but has akways walked.

I did 21,717 steps yesterday and 14.3k, so under 10 miles according to my Fitbit.

I take a multi vitamin and calcium/vit D supplement as well, as I know my diet isn't as nutritious as it should be.

I think the only "bad" thing I have daily is the mini Mars bar (120 cals) - and actually, realistically, giving up my one treat means that I would find this difficult to sustain, so I'm sticking with it

From the studies I've read, fasting from dinner time through to 1pm the next day should actually prevent my body from going into starvation mode.

MyFitnessPal is telling me to stay under 1200 calories a day, and according to a "how many calories do I need" calculator, I need 1800 to maintain my weight. So I'm 600 in deficit. I sometimes have an extra snack on the days I'm running, for example I'd have a banana and a slice of wholemeal toast, but even then that's only 200 cals whereas I'm burning almost 600 cals on an 8km run.

I just don't understand it. I've done a bit more reading and the only thing I can put it down to is my oestrogen dosage being too high, so I'm reducing my dosage by 1 pump of gel (doc says I should use 2-4 daily, I was using 4 so going down to 3).

@dontdisturbmenow - that's a good point, I had a Dexa scan three years ago so I'm probably due another; thank you.

@JinglingHellsBells . . . hmm. My sister has thyroid issues. That could be a possibility . . .

Just one thing to mention, each half decade I diet, it seems to add a few more days before I start to see the results.

This last time, it took 3 weeks of dieting with a deficit between 2500 and 3500 a week before I finally started to lose the 1st pound but after that, it usually goes quite steady.

In my 30s, I would have lost 2 or 3lbs by the second week, the first week in my 20s.

@RedPandaFluff The starting dose for estrogen gel is 2 pumps (though i started on half a pump and built up gradually to what worked for me.)

It's not usual to start on 4 pumps, though there is a chance younger women need more if they have POI, but even so- start low and see if that works.

Also- you need a diet high in fruit and veg to help prevent osteoporosis. There is a theory that more fruit and veg helps the alkaline balance of the body which prevents bone loss.
Drinks like Coke which contain phosphoric acid are terrible for bones as it makes them leach minerals.

@JinglingHellsBells I'd read that women with POI (which I have) should be on a higher dose of oestrogen, which is why I went to the higher end of the prescription instructions. Maybe I should go down to two, pumps then . . . okay, will give it a try. Thank you for your advice - you sound very knowledgeable.

I was on patches before all the IVF attempts (four) and pregnancy but that seems like a long time ago. A lot has happened, hormonally-speaking, since then!

Oh and I do drink Coke Zero . . . better knock that on the head, then

@JinglingHellsBells I'm off work and have nothing else to do 😂

Plus I have 3 dogs. I'm walking loads to make up for the fact I can't run as far as I'd like. Just takes bloody ages 😂

@dontdisturbmenow - I definitely agree that I might have to adjust my expectations due to my age (40) . . . when I was in my twenties and early thirties I could eat (and drink) as much as I liked and stayed whippet-slim.

I miss those days