Done to death - Weight gain?!

[dinodora]

I feel I've seen lots of threads but now can't find any!

Towards the end of my first 3 mo on hrt I started to loose some stubborn lb that had hung around since peri started.

Then caught covid badly. A lot of peri symptoms came back. Upped hrt very slightly (37.5 to 50.) this was about a month ago.

I've put on a lot of weight in the last two weeks. Whilst not eating any differently. I was wondering if it's due to covid (it definately affected hormones) or does hrt do this?

ive had more energy in tbe last two weeks (took 6 weeks after covid) but piling it on for the first time ever, when not pregnant!

Im prementrual at the moment. I do take prog vaginally and wondered if progesterine actuallu helps woth fluid retention?

Any other advice ?!

Just bumping this for you OP x

In my experience, peri-menopause and menopause are responsible. I'm 5 years post-menopause, not on HRT of any kind, and it's just more difficult to lose weight and avoid putting it on.

It's absolutely not impossible - I lost 4 stone last year and am now a healthy BMI - but the slightest over-indulgence will start the lbs going on, and if I put on 3lb overnight it then takes 3 weeks to shift them.

The only answer is to be very careful what and how much you eat.

Aw thanks Liam!

I've been thinking actually that I don't react well to oral steroids for asthma and also was once tested for Addison's disease as I was struggling to maintain weight and a few other issues, which I now do think were start of menopause (post partum though.)

I get horrific insomnia and then sluggish and blow up like a balloon afterwards.

Same happened after addisons test where they stimulate your own cortisol (which I don't have thank god) and also the same type of insomnia for a little while after covid. So I'm thinking it may be linked.

I think "all that" starts to slow as we age too so probably linked.

Ffs!

I've actually lost 3 lb since I posted this

Clarice, 4 stone is amazing!

I'm not that careful about what I eat. Just before covid though I found that I wasn't constantly craving stuff. So I'm hoping I can get back to that.

Glad to hear you are 3lb down now. Steroids are notorious for causing weight gain so that might well be a factor. Insomnia can also cause weight gain (and make you more likely to crave sugary foods).

I hope you can get back to normal and see your weight go down again. You shouldn't have to starve yourself, just eat sensibly and be mindful that if you indulge, you'll probably need to cut back afterwards for a short period to compensate.

I find making a conscious effort to get my 'five a day' really helps, and I minimise consumption of processed and refined food, and avoid ultra-processed food and added sugars altogether. That way of eating was enough to see off my surplus 4 stone though it took the best part of a year.