Weight gain despite dieting?

[Solo2]

Is this a sign of perimenopause? I'm actually gaining weight since I began dieting over the last 3 weeks. Feel and look bloated all the time and the minute I even drink a glass of water, I visibly swell.

I feel on subsistence level food intake and yet have lost absolutely no weight at all despite really cutting calories and only eating healthy things. No alcohol either.

HELP!!!!!!!!

(BTW, I've tried three times to post a message here and nothing has come through...weird....

Have you had your thyroid checked? This happened to me and i had it tested and am on Thyroxine now (and Slimming World )

No haven't had thyroid checked. I'm not feeling lacking in energy generally nor depressed.

But I have now realised I seem to have loads of other perimenopausal symptoms: explosive rages and irritability; shorter periods; massive massive water retention; no weight loss at all, no matter how little I eat; ever worsening Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; memory lapses; sleep disturbance (though that never bothers me really).

The worst things are the terrible temper and the no weight loss.

I seem to have a very slight lull in the massive bosy weight/ water retention thing on the frist day of my period - ie yesterday - where I seem to be about to lose quarter of a pund and then....by the next day, it's as if my body is already preparing for the next period and swelling hugely again!

It's SO annoying!

This forum seems v quiet. Why aren't there more on MN writing about Menopause? Has hardly anyone else reached it yet? Am I juts one of the oldies here? I'm not quite 47 yet and feel ancient!

I'm here! I think most MNers are youngsters!

I'm 43 and seem to be having similar perimeno symptoms too - pretty much all the ones you've described, especially the CTS and stiff fingers. Bummer eh? Have bought some books and will try and control it with a healthy diet and possibly some herbal products.

Remember that you need to be eating a certain amount of food/calories, otherwise your body thinks you're fasting and will store any calories you eat as fat. Don't deprive your body of calories if you're hungry. The same goes for not drinking enough water as the body doesn't function well and the fat stays where it is!

From what I've read (do as I say and not as I do ), you should try to eat 5 small healthy meals a day. This keeps your energy levels up and will hopefully stop you craving quick fix snacks to stop the hunger.

Another tip is to only eat when you're really hungry, and not just at a prescribed mealtime. As soon as you feel hungry, have a glass of water and wait for 20-30 mins. Then re-assess if you're still hungry and, if you are, have a healthy meal.

Incidentally, I came across a menopause cake yesterday. Sounds bizarre but I'm going to bake one and will try it for a few weeks.

Good luck with menopause cake! I feel ancient now at 47 on MN! Of course I still feel only about 21!

Some weight came off the day after my last period but has crept back on a bit and I feel like my body sort of wants to settle at this higher weight now....V frustrating!

My elder sister, aged 48, has NO perimenopausal symptoms!!! It's NOT fair

I want to be healthy rather than chase an unreasonably skinny shape and weight but I do miss the ease I had at losing it round my waist. This used to be the only slim part of me!

Forget the menopause cake! Tasted how I imagine a bird fat ball would. I really can't get on with linseed. Urgh!

How many times did you have to have this checked?