Just started on HRT - weight disaster

There was new research out about 3 weeks ago which said all of the things we thought we good about IF may be wrong. Research done in the US.

Dr Swirski said: 'The study shows that, on the one hand, fasting reduces the number of circulating monocytes, which one might think is a good thing, as these cells are important components of inflammation.
On the other hand, the reintroduction of food creates a surge of monocytes flooding back into the blood, which can be problematic.
Fasting therefore regulates this pool in ways that are not always beneficial to the body's capacity to respond to a challenge such as an infection.

I put on 8 lb during first month of use, a further 7 lb in second month and after putting on a stone I gave up and went without. I've never lost that stone again either but I could not risk putting on more weight as was overweight before I went on to HRT. About a year of menopause symptoms then they gradually eased off.

@otherwayup I’m the same. I’ve always been very slim and hate putting on weight to be the point I won’t go near HRT if it makes me fatter! I’m also coping ok so far too so don’t feel the need, despite what people on here say (does seem very pro HRT)
It would have to be really really bad for me to risk putting weight on - nothing makes me more miserable. (No shade on anyone else btw, I just like being thin!)

But there are many women who don't put weight on.

See the post here from @Schmutter - 15 friends and none put weight on.

I am slim (low end of normal BMI) and I have not put weight on with HRT although I do put weight on easily if I eat what I did 20 years ago.

I'd like to see the detail of the research into weight gain on HRT because my personal opinion is that some types of HRT might not suit some women (perhaps the older, tablet forms), too high a dose to start with, and the type of progesterone used.

It's a nightmare. I'm in two minds about continuing tbh.

And just because it doesn't make ALL people put on weight, doesn't mean it doesn't make SOME people put on weight!

🙄🙄🙄

To redress the balance as suggested by another poster I am another one who hasn't put weight on with HRT. Been on it for a couple of years and just upped my dose as my periods were back to two a month and I was getting murderous again. I do put weight on really easily but I put that down to age and a slightly underactive thyroid although not enough to medicate (and a very slow pulse).

It can't be fat i would suggest, it must be water - I know that's no help if you see the scale and it ruins your day of course.

@otherwayup And me!
GP told me several years ago I didn’t need it but I think I have a number of symptoms

Replying to this message!

I know that from posts here, BUT the scientific research says it doesn't and even the NHS ( which is woefully behind on some meno and HRT stuff) says it doesn't.
Some drs will tell you that there can be a small increase such as bigger boobs or water retention which should decrease in 3 months once your body settles down.

I agree with this (sorry). You should aim to be doing at least 30 mins brisk walking every single day. Download the active 10 app and it will help track how many minutes of brisk walking you’re doing.

Saying that, I put on half a stone with HRT. I know it is definitely the HRT because when I’ve come on and off of it for various medical tests (I have a lot of chronic autoimmune issues) the half stone exactly has come off and gone back again. No change to diet or exercise.

I don’t really care about the half stone because I feel better generally on the HRT. So I just ignore it but I do find I need to work harder to stay the same weight- I do a LOT of brisk walking, put my headphones in and some good music and off I go. I do an hour of brisk walking most days. I know not everyone can do that but it’s really good for your health, and helps keep the weight down. It’s a struggle for me as I have a lot of pain from lupus and my other issues but I just take painkillers and push myself to do it.

I've also put on a stone and experienced increased appetite on HRT. Mood swings wise I experienced anger and irritability not tearfulness, but perhaps that's individual tendencies related 🤣

I halved my dose and the mood swings went but the weight didn't, though it stopped going up. I'll have to get back to intermittent fasting to lose the stone.

For me it's been worth it as insomnia and hot flushes at night combined with brain fog were my main symptoms and I really don't need that breastfeeding mother of newborn level of sleep deprivation now my children are all teens! Work is easier when you can sleep... The HRT sorted out those three symptoms and gave me the weight gain in return... 🤔

I also put on weight on HRT. No other reason for it given my diet/exercise levels. Very depressing and I came off it. I want to go back on it for the long term benefits but am reluctant.

My dr says that the reason the studies say that their is no evidence of weight gain is because there are many people that lose weight on HRT (as their energy levels increase) and many who gain, and they cancel each other out. (And many who stay the same).

Anyway, I definitely put it on due to HRT. There was no other explanation for it.

Not put on any weight in 8 years.

@MrsMullerBecameABaby @SybilWrites

What kind of HRT were you on?

I found a research paper just now which says that oral estrogen can cause weight gain as it changes how the liver processes food.

It's a US paper and the URL is so long I couldn't copy and paste, but it's out there.

I was on oestrogel.

I found the opposite. Perimenopause saw me and my friends gain weight. HRT put us back closer to the way we were before menopausal weight gain. HRT gave me my waist back too.

OP meant kindly but your exercise levels are low. You shouldn't be eating extra food to support the small amount of exercise you do. It sounds like you've upped your food intake and this will obv add weight on. If you were heavy Lifting 5 days a week and walking an hour a day you might need a slight^^ increase in food to build muscle but at your level of activity yo really don't need extra

I tell you what has happened which I forgot to mention. My bust is now humongous. Honest to god I must have gone up three cup sizes. I look like Dolly Parton. My waist probably is a bit bigger but not by that much. It feels like the beginning of a pregnancy in terms of boobs. Just bonkers.

That doesn’t sound great. Is there anything it is helping with?

I will admit my boobs have grown. I am not happy about my 32DDs. I hate how booby I am in clothes. In gym bras, I’d give a serving wench a run for her money.

I long for my nice small Cs to return and I am so grateful I did not have big boobs until a year ago.

I haven’t put on any weight (fluctuate a kg either side of my normal weight I guess) but my cup size increased & I hate it - so much so that I’ve just reduced the oestrogel dose in the hope they shrink again!

I've put some weight on since starting HRT but found it manageable (and was so grateful for improvement in other symptoms). Last summer I had to switch to Evorel patches from Oestrogel for a couple of months while the gel was out if stock and within a couple of weeks I looked and felt like I had been inflated. I was much better once I could go back to the gel. If I'm ever offered patches again I'd rather do without HRT at all. It's hard, isn't it, when we can have such different reactions to the same meds.

I’m glad I’m not losing my mind and these suckers have GROWN. Honestly if page 3 still existed I could easily interview for it.