The overconsuming hunger of the menopausal woman...

[AnotheChinHair]

What's up with that?? I am in the headspace to lose weight, but oh my gawd the hunger!!! I've always dieted and once I was in the right headspace I could tolerate my hunger. Not anymore! Why? What's changed? What can I do? what can I take?

And yes this is S&B because I am short and plump with an overgrowing wardrobe of brand new clothes that either don't fit or look like crap because I need to lose at least 1 st, ideally 2.

Help!!

Hormones. Bastards.

Yes bloody hormones!! I am on hrt, Evorel75 plus Utrogestan100.
I don't want to look like this anymore.

It depends on the woman I think, my mum lost loads of weight because she spent 18 months feeling nauseous. I think she would have rather been overweight than feeling like she was going to throw up for a year and a half.

If you are on HRT you can speak to your doctor and try a different type, it might work, it might not, but is worth a try. Also have you tried doing a bit of exercise (not for weight loss, but for symptoms), my mum and aunts always felt much better when they got out and moving, it seemed to alleviate quite a few of the symptoms.

My hrt feels right for me and I am gently exercising most days. Also haven't drunk alcohol in a year, have cut down on sugar massively and keep carbs to a minimum. So so so fed up.

@AnotheChinHair

My hrt feels right for me and I am gently exercising most days. Also haven't drunk alcohol in a year, have cut down on sugar massively and keep carbs to a minimum. So so so fed up.

It might be worth checking what you are eating, when you are eating and seeing if that impacts your hunger in any way, specific foods that you are hungry a few hours after eating, others that keep you full for many hours etc.

As an example (although I am not menopausal) I have scrambled egg for breakfast most days (at around 07:30), I find I am rarely hungry before 14:00, the same with a fry up, although that is very rare. However if I eat cereal, toast etc. I am usually hungry by 11:00.

I think you need more than gentle exercise. I’m now doing slightly heavier duty weight circuits (Caroline Girvan) as I was finding normal, aerobic and non weight bearing exercise wasn’t helping. Including Gillian Michaels! I used to do 30 day shred or ripped in 30 or whatever when I needed a quick tone up, but it stopped making much/any difference. I’ve found the weight circuits to be more effective and I now fit back in my trousers that were getting snug only a couple of months ago.

Also, I have osteoporosis in my family so it was important for me to do weight bearing exercises to keep my bones strong, since I’ve been doing them most of my joint pains have disappeared and I no longer have backache.

What exercise do you do OP? And can you give an idea of diet - might mean more can suggest things that’ll help. You could also look over at the fitness boards and see if anyone can give some advice.

The only thing that makes a difference for me is low carb and weight training.
I can run for hours but it doesn't reduce my hunger or afeect my weight or my shape.
You lose a lot of muscle through menopause, that contributes to weight gain because you aren't burning as many calories when you aren't exercising as you used to.

No advice really but I'm in the same sinking rotten rat infested tub. I lost a couple of stone with Slimming World in my thirties and kept it happily off til menopause now I'm slowly but steadily creeping up two stone on in the last three years whilst trying harder than I've ever tried. I have decided to abandon SW as I just think it's too low fat for my me now and I've started proper old fashioned calorie counting. I can't do low carb I'd genuinely rather be fat but I do try to swop for wiser carbs so wholemeal pasta brown rice sweet potatoes. I find fat fills me up so I've added oil, butter and avocado back in and trying to cut out sweeteners and minimise sugar. I use My fitness pal App and its easy to keep track of calories. I'm pretty active I look after grandchildren 2 days a week do a daily fairly hard core yoga practice and walk my dogs so I can't really up that either. I have Evorel patches and they definitely help as does a daily magnesium and calcium supplement.

@AnotheChinHair

My hrt feels right for me and I am gently exercising most days. Also haven't drunk alcohol in a year, have cut down on sugar massively and keep carbs to a minimum. So so so fed up.

If your weight has become an issue and you're feeling ravenous, then the hrt prescription you are taking isn't correct.

Eat more protein. Eggs for breakfast is an especially good way to start the day. Also, gentle exercise won't really do anything. You need to start resistance and weight training as that will build muscle which in turn will burn calories and fat.

Honestly I think it's stress. Since Covid; my teens are pretty up and down and take out their angst out on me. My husband is stressed and still wfh and I am left picking up everyone else's mess. Meals are the highlight of my day ATM!

I have had some success with Second Nature though.

@Ultraopaque

I would imagine your complaints can be echoed throughout the land by several hundred woman (which I know doesn't help). Just as well doctors visits are like hen's teeth (very rare) or the surgeries would be full of women who have had enough, getting the brunt of bloody covid from their families!

Can you may be go for a walk once in a while (quite a long one, taking in coffee shops but not eating cake?!). Hid in the shed/garage?

Thank you Deathraystare; things have been hard of late. But as you say, no more than for everyone else. I do need to take a more consistent approach!

Yes x a million! I need to lose a stone to look good in my clothes and be happy with my body. That's not a huge amount, but can I do it? No! I've tried 3 diets this year and gained weight on each. My new plan is to weigh myself daily and record it in my diary so that at a minimum it's on my radar. I don't eat sweets or drink fizzy drinks, I've massively reduced alcohol during weeks that I drink and I've started up being alcohol free every other week. Yes, I barely move and loathe exercise. Yes I eat well but my portions are large. I'm not going to exercise so the only thing left is to adjust my portions accordingly, but I'm endlessly hungry!!!

Walking fast will shed the weight. I can't control my diet as I am always hungry and used to walk the dog an hour a day in the evening and before holidays I added a lunchtime walk and I have lost tons of weight
I walk very fast though. Haven't changed my diet at all, eating loads and am about 8 stone 3 and 5, 7" now
The only other way I think to lose weight easily when older through diet is keto but I can't do that as it makes my hair fall out

Oh god, I didn't know this was a meno thing, I put it down to cycling more while I was away over the summer but when I came home it never went away.

I get a bag of six apples in every milk delivery, that's 18 apples a week, they get me through meal prep (ie when I'm hungry but making food that I can't eat immediately) and when I'm hungry before bed. That and loads of vegetables - like if you imagine a normal amount of veg and quadruple it - have kept my weight stable so far. I don't exclude any foods but I do eat less bread and pasta in favour of a plate that's 1/4 protein and 3/4 green veg.

Also if you can keep some soup in the fridge it's quick and filling and as long as it's veg and stock and not, say, full of cream or whatever, it shouldn't work against you. Back in the WW points-free days (idk if they still do that?) my friend served a points-free pumpkin soup (onion, pumpkin, stock and herbs, blended) that was a complete revelation, so creamy and rich, I couldn't believe it was so simple.

It's all contingent on having shedloads of time to cook, sometimes I feel like I cook my life away.

Good luck OP!

I agree me will Ed that intermittent fasting is your friend. I m not me to, but I m in my 59s and have lost 25 pounds since April by eating between 12 and 8 and by limiting carbs. I am vegetarian and my serious friends told me my diet actually looks more whole 30 than keto. I am not doing anything super specifically, but no need at restaurants, no rice with Indian or Asian
meals, salads instead of a sandwich, omelettes when I might have had pasta. I eat full fat plain yogurt too and am rarely hungry. I am 52.

Sorry I haven't read the full thread but intermittent fasting is revolutionary! I started by fasting for 12 hours each day then increased to around 16 hours. I never eat a breakfast and have brunch around 12 each day. Have dinner around 6/7 with a snack around 8pm then that's me. I've lost weight and feel great. My IBS symptoms have disappeared. I'm never hungry if I skip breakfast. I feel a bit light headed just before I eat at 12 but not hungry.

If for whatever reason I eat breakfast I'm starving all day! I read somewhere that the research that was published years ago that stated breakfast was the most important meal of the day was funded by Kellogg's. I may be wrong though!

Exercise only is rubbish for losing weight however I think at menopausal age we need to step up the exercise we do and HIIT training is beneficial for us.

I agree with pp about lower carb, eat more protein and some fat, which in turn has curbed driving hunger and allowed me to do IF.

Eating higher fat and low carb has worked well for me.

I'm also more aware of the foods I find more filling like nuts and granola (low carb version) with Greek yoghurt

Intermittent fasting also works well for me.

As an example (although I am not menopausal) I have scrambled egg for breakfast most days (at around 07:30), I find I am rarely hungry before 14:00, the same with a fry up, although that is very rare. However if I eat cereal, toast etc. I am usually hungry by 11:00.

But not many people could eat eggs at 7.30! The thought makes me feel sick!

Definitely a problem - I just realised I need a lot of exercise - walking, cycling or swimming every day, and cutting down on carbs has helped - but also I find more emotional eating - when I'm tired or fed up and grumpy which is often, I crave chocolate and sugar

As an oldie who went through menopause in the days when HRT was deemed to be the work of the devil I do worry that younger women are being sold a pup in the suggestion it is now going to right all wrongs,
Agree with @gi*@Girlintheframe and @Mermaid67* that reducing carks can be a gamechanger

One thing I really notice is being ravenous when I wake up. It makes no sense. I can't lie in as my stomach goes crazy growling and demanding food. Food I clearly don't need.

I try to eat a high protein breakfast but honestly I too am going mad with post menopausal weight gain. I am tall and small boned but I look like a barrel.

Sigh. Double sigh.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have managed intermittent fasting in the past and like someone else has mentioned, eating breakfast makes me ravenous for the rest of the morning/afternoon. However, I get up at 6am and start work at 08:30 and work with people all the time and having a loud rumbling stomach is really embarrassing. I also tend to feel lightheaded and can't see properly, so I end up stuffing my face with something quick.