Is weight gain inevitable?

[suckingonchillidogs]

Fairly sure I'm in peri-menopause and have gained around half a stone (I know, not the end of the world). Lockdown didn't help but I'm back to the gym now and back to the office a couple of times a week - I walk there and back - so am pretty active. I cannot shift one sodding pound of weight though. I eat pretty healthy most of the time and watch my portions. If I do lose a pound then it goes right back on again.

Is there a point where I just accept there's no point getting irritated and this is just the way it is?

@suckingonchillidogs

I've started weighing cereal and cutting out starchy carbs. I think things may improve in the Spring when I can get out more in the evenings. Maybe a bit of chub is ok in the winter!

Maybe try some small changes like eating soup for lunch (home made) and cut out the bread or pasta.

Or make an open sandwich with 1 slice bread but lots of salad.

And increase the veggies in your plate and reduce the refined carbs?

I'm well past the menopause at 66 and would say that my body has changed shape quite drastically. I have developed much larger breasts than before - 34G. I've also gained quite a bit of weight... around a stone. Having said that, I know that my breasts alone count for a fair bit of that weight gain. I've been fortunate in that I like my figure as it's now a classic hourglass shape and I'm size 12 - 14.

I read somewhere that the metabolism starts to slow down after the age of 60. Based on that it would appear that there should be no reason for weight to change prior to and directly after the menopause. That may well be the case but I think that women's shape does change at this time.

Most of my friends are a similar age to me and they've all changed shape in various ways.

@Squills

I'm well past the menopause at 66 and would say that my body has changed shape quite drastically. I have developed much larger breasts than before - 34G. I've also gained quite a bit of weight... around a stone. Having said that, I know that my breasts alone count for a fair bit of that weight gain. I've been fortunate in that I like my figure as it's now a classic hourglass shape and I'm size 12 - 14.

I read somewhere that the metabolism starts to slow down after the age of 60. Based on that it would appear that there should be no reason for weight to change prior to and directly after the menopause. That may well be the case but I think that women's shape does change at this time.

Most of my friends are a similar age to me and they've all changed shape in various ways.

Mine seemed to slow after the age of 40s, and then I had menopause at 42 due to TAH/BSO and it slowed even more. I was an 'apple' anyway but my inverted triangle shape has got even more pronounced - current measurements of 39/29/33. Used to be 36/26/34 in my heyday!

that's great! well done you!

Thanks, I feel great for it!

I would say just keep on keeping on. No matter how slow the progress. Something really is better than nothing if you keep it up.

I'm 57 now and although my weight hasn't changed (8.5 stone at 5'4) but my shape definitely has, I have a thicker waist and a larger tummy
I only eat once a day, which suits me as I have less appetite these days

I think things may improve in the Spring when I can get out more in the evenings. Maybe a bit of chub is ok in the winter!

I find dieting and healthy eating much easier in the spring/summer. Fruit, salads, yogurt, fish... A lovely Mediterranean lifestyle.

In the winter I just want stew, dumplings, soup with doorstep bread, crumble, custard, stodge

HRT seems to have stopped me wanting to eat non stop. I reduced my calories a bit and lost a stone just before Christmas. Before HRT I felt hungry constantly.
So I don't think it's inevitable

In the winter I just want stew, dumplings, soup with doorstep bread, crumble, custard, stodge

You can do it, just have to change the stodge/non stodge ratio. I would have beef in beer with a small Yorkshire, a potato wedge and half a plate of greens. (Plus a glass of wine, coffee with cream in and a chocolate from a nice chocolate box but then I do run everyday )

Intermittent fasting and exercising at a MAF level (Maximum aerobic function) helps. The body seems to get more efficient at utilising fat for energy.

I kept gaining weight little by little in the past three years. 25 pounds, while I was watching desperately my scales. I tried a number of diets, even now I am on a low carb diet, trying to stop the gain. I take bio identical hormones, but I don't exercise, because I have very low energy. I cannot drink coffee, it makes me angry... so I do only the things that I absolutely must do. I miss the 40s😊

.I take bio identical hormones, but I don't exercise, because I have very low energy.

Have you had your thyroid function checked? Weight gain, low energy sounds like thyroid issues.

I started to put on weight very quickly after the menopause - have now managed to take off most of it with gradually reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing exercise. Cardio and light weights.

What's frustrating is that I was already eating fairly healthily and exercising but I have to be much more disciplined now. I have a pair of jeans that I wore easily only four years ago, a year ago they would barely go past my knees, now I can fasten them but they're not really comfortable to wear. That's probably as good as it's going to get.