Supplements - do they help anyone??

[eurotravel]

I’m on HRT and upside definitely outweighs the downsides but I hate my spare tyre that’s set in round my middle, I’m eating less and less and can’t shift it.
I see so many adverts for hormone balancing supplements. Has anyone tried them? I’m very wary of all the potentially fake reviews saying they get help rid of the weight.

What exercise are you doing?

This.. definitely start weights, mine has disappeared quickly

Could have written this. Though not sure hrt to blame for weight gain put mine on before starting it. BMI 25 now with spare tyre 🙄. Got myself to 22/33 and maintained this aged 45-49. Now 51 still eat and exercise the same yet a stone heavier. Going to have to barely eat! A magic pill would be nice!

Planks really help! No one likes them but start small (in my case seconds) and they have absolutely helped tone that area. Nothing gets rid of fat apart from diet tho sorry 😂

Yes it's depressing! My tdee is so low I can barely say it out loud

From what I know, those supplements are an absolute waste of money - they’re basically snake oil preying on our insecurities.
You are better off spending your money on a gym membership/reformer Pilates/therapy to work on acceptance of the changes you’re experiencing than those supplements. Believe me, I’ve done it all.

Im in the same boat as you, OP. And after 5 years of battling self loathing and trying all the diets, tablets, hypnotherapy, you name it, I’ve decided I’m pissed off at the fact I’ve spent so many good years of my life wasting time and energy focussing on trying to be who I was, rather than who I now am. And it’s a bit of a grieving process, giving up the body you had and living with the one you’ve got now. But actually, after that, once you learn to embrace it, it’s liberating.

For me, shifting my attention to focus on being fit for the sake of being well was a game changer. Taking care of my skin, hair face and body for the sake of looking and feeling as well as I can and nothing else has freed up a lot of headspace. Which I need, because I can’t remember half the shit I should be doing otherwise 🤣

All the ‘noise’ we as women have to listen to and put up with around all things anti aging is utter batshittery.

Hope you find something that makes you feel better too, OP.

I exercise to be strong in my old age, I’ve given up trying to lose weight.
Ive read that you should be doing 3 things at this age. Weights for muscle loss and bone strength, something such as yoga or Pilates for balance, and something for strong legs.
I never use the arms of a chair to get up now, I brace my core and use my legs to stand. It’s a conscious thing to get stronger legs.

This is one of the things that really annoys me about the menopause- adverts for supplements that appear to help you shed weight. There’s one that has Happy in the brand name which I’m constantly seeing. Some of us genuinely gain weight at this stage in life despite ‘doing all the things’ and HRT definitely impacts, as does no HRT, for so many, not everyone of course and genuinely ‘all the best, well done you’ to those who this doesn’t impact because they are ‘doing all the things, and the things are working for them’. Who knew body shaming would still be a thing for those of us who lived through the size 0 or it doesn’t count, years…

Sorry OP, I have no magic solutions- except the same as PPs I do Pilates, walking, lift small arm weights, so I can feel strong for my peaceful years and having no fcks left to give can certainly help a bit 😁but hope you find something that helps you.

I put the weight on before HRT. HRT has given back my motivation to exercise, and it’s taken away the joint pain.

I wonder if your oestrogen dose needs increasing. Holding into fat around your middle is sometimes the body's response to low oestrogen levels

I think menopause specific supplements are a load of rubbish. I take vitamin D3, omega 3 and magnesium glycinate - all were recommended by my menopause specialist doctor but none are marketed specifically for perimenopause

The only way to lose weight is to eat less unfortunately. I did a 7 week shred with a coach off instagram Rob Swaine and his programme worked for me, I lost a stone. I’ve put a few pounds back on but now have the knowledge to be able to lose it. Will probably join it again in the new year to lose a bit more.

It's nonsense to say any supplement can 'balance hormones' - other than HRT.
Men and women tend to store belly fat once they are older if they eat the same amount and reduce exercise.

@eurotravel You'd be surprised at how little food you might need once you're edging towards 60 compared to being in your 30s and 40s.

I do low carb which is lots of protein /dairy/ fruit and veg but only 50gms carbs a day. As an example, a small portion of porridge oats (uncooked) is about 25gms.

That usually means one or two small portions of either bread/ cereals/ rice/ pasta , and things like cake and biscuits are a treat not something I have daily.

Thankyou all. I did feel that all these ads are garbage but easy to think ‘am I too sceptical?!’. I’m not tall so I feel like a weeble. I was eating one normal meal a day much of the time but started eating lunch again, but seems my needed intake is very low. Back to the gym and no wine it is.. I don’t want to be skinny just not feel round

Walking is good for getting rid of belly fat as it doesn’t spike your cortisol like higher impact cardio but you need to be consistent. I aim for 8-10k steps a day, more in nicer weather

Yes that’s it too. I changed jobs and am far more stuck to a chair all day. Long time since I’ve had to walk the DC anywhere too.

I stopped drinking wine, and therefore stopped eating the inevitable nibbles too, and didn’t lose weight. I also go to the gym 2/3 times a week and I’m still overweight.

You need to track your calories, and weigh your portions. Boring I know but you’ll be surprised at how we underestimate the calories in our portions.
i needed to cut back a bit the last week and have been calorie counting, still had wine in the weekend and am 4 pounds down. That’s sticking to 1500-1600 calories a day Monday to Friday. It’s doable.

I’m going to refocus and cut down again as due to holidays, birthdays etc I have had a few weeks eating probably more than I was. Not excessive but clearly I now pile on pounds easily. I don’t snack and don’t eat biscuits cake etc ever but obviously too much