Are you perimenopausal and have managed to lose weight?

[GarnishWithALemonTwist]

how?

I don't have the answer but share the desire to know!
Someone give us some hope please?!

I'm 49 and very peri. Myfitnesspal and a lot of uncomfortable (but actually mildly enjoyable) exercise - spinning, circuits, weights, running (very very slowly), returning to team sports I'd given up. Sorry it's unoriginal. Have lost 13kg so far, over about a year plus.

Placemarking!

Meeee. I just lost 24 lbs (or 27 if I go on tonight’s scales) on the famous mumsnet lowcarb bootcamp.

Oooh. How long has it taken you itchyknees?

Watching with interest!

I am 53 and postmenopausal. I am very skinny, not through choice. My physio asked me if I had a plate put in my arm! However my stomach makes me look pregnant on a bad day. It's ok but a bit shit as you end up with a very different body.

I'm a bit younger (mid 40s) but with very slow metabolism and always found it very hard indeed to lose weight and have hormonal issues.

I have managed to lose a large amount of weight this year, happily and gradually (and confident I'll lose more) by following bright line eating which I modify during holidays and tweak a bit. I particularly have found it helpful to write down each evening exactly what I'll eat the next day, that is not to meal plan for the week but for just the day. That one small habit change (meal planning in detail for one day) plus following the bright line eating introductory 2 weeks and then continuing on my own with the programme have been life changers. Plus I am part of a small healthy eating accountability and support group.

I've managed to lose just over a stone doing low-carb, cutting out snacks and eating loads more veg/fruit. I've also stopped drinking coffee apart from 1 cup of decaf in the morning. Mostly water the rest of the time. Seem to be stuck now, not gaining/losing, am at the top end of 'normal bracket now, excess weight is all round my middle.

I'm 49 in October and peri. I'm a stone and a half overweight and have started doing slimming world. Am finding it quite easy. I've lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks.

I'm also using my Fitbit and trying to generally be more active. (Very difficult in this hot weather!)

Bootcamp is 8 weeks. Most of it came off in the first 2 weeks and has stayed off with a steady downward scales movement. You can eat pork scratchings!

@Keeptrudging I think low carb is crucial as is increasing fruit / vegetables. I eat quite low carb but not totally, I have porridge for breakfast each morning and lots of fruit both morning and lunchtime. Then protein and vegetables for dinner

I'm finding carbs really bloat me/upset my stomach now, which is sad for me as I love crusty bread.

But what about the HUNGER??? As in H U N G E R??? No matter how desperately I want to look and feel better, one second I'll be determined to crack this being healthy for life thing and the next I'll be scoffing down some toast because I'm ravenous!

You won't be hungry due to the protein, fibre and fat. Toast makes you even hungrier.

I'm almost post menopause at 47 (early, runs in my family) and have lost 3 and a half stones this year with Slimming World. Still got quite a lot to go, I'm still obese.
I find I'm not too hungry and fill up with lots of veg - luckily I love things like raw carrots as a snack. I miss bread the most, but I can still have a glass of wine.
The discipline of weighing in each week keeps me going, but the best bit is dh is doing it too and so we can keep an eye on each other and eat the same meals. It's definitely easier if you have a buddy! He'll reach his target waaaaaaasy before I do but is going to come along with me anyway.

I hear you Garnish! For me there are trigger foods which turn me into a demented, insatiable, ravenous beast. These tend to be high sugar, highly refined carb foods. I’ve just restarted tracking my food in take withMyFitnessPal and have lost 2lbs in 3 days while eating 1500kcal a day.

I'm post-meno, 61. I have crept on 2&1/2 stone over last 5 years and have just got motivated to do something about it due to knees and other health issues.
It is hard work but have to recognise that I can't eat the quantities I used to when younger. I have managed to lose about 1lb a week, so 7lbs so far.

Here's what I'm doing:

Track everything using Ultimate Food Value Diary app (like WW but not IYCWIM). I think it costs £1.99 download but no other costs. It works for me as I did WW points in the past.
Reduce carbs (I love bread so this is a biggy).
Increase fibre - lots of fruit & veg plus high fibre carbs eg porridge
Protein - chicken, fish, eggs, pulses
Lots of water
Reduce tea & coffee
No alcohol (have managed 8 weeks!). Use to drink 1 or 2 bottles of wine over a week. Problem with alcohol was that even one glass would affect my willpower & I would end up eating a lot more so made sense to cut out completely.
No snacking
Treats are treats so not often
Setting myself lots of mini goals and treating myself when I reach them.

I'm hoping I can stick at it but I know it's going to take time.

Yes, by eating less.

Really measuring portion sizes, and sticking with it. Checking TDEE by age, to make sure target consumption was likely to lead to reduction. Logging everything, so find out things like when in the day I was hungry, and working with that, rather than to a generic plan. Seeing what left me feeling full, and what made me want to eat more.

Cutting out the booze - empty calories plus finding it easier to give in to temptation to nibble was a double whammy worth avoiding.

Rediscovering that hunger is a normal sensation which means you shouid eat something soon - not a reason to have a snack as soon as it's first noticed.

And joining a congenial MN weight loss chat thread. There are usually a few on the go, so quite likely there'll be one where you think you'll 'fit'

I only really took up exercise when I was getting near target, and realised I needed to tone up. That's done great things for my confidence.

I'm almost 48 & after having relatively mild perimenopausal symptoms for a while, have now not had a period for 6 months. A recent diagnosis of a health condition has forced me to lose the weight I've been talking about losing for 3 years!
I've lost 21 pounds in 3 months on slimming world, drinking a lot of water & swimming 60+ lengths 3 or 4 times a week. For me the illness has forced me to be strict & have strong willpower.

Gosh you are all doing so well. There goes my excuse. Right no more self denial/delusion. Great thread OP thanks for posting. I have lain around the house all day snacking on garbage. Any wonder I'm overweight.

Thanks for the kick in the backside!

I lost 28lb 3 years ago by doing unlimited veg plus some protein, no carb. Im 55 and was menopausal then. So 0 fat yoghurt and honey for breakfast with fruit, salad and fruit for lunch, grilled salmon or steak for dinner plus unlimited veg or variations of this. Fruit or veg for snacking. Took around 4 and a half months. I have a maintenance month in spring each year if I've put any back on, which i tend to do over winter.

I'm doing Weightwatchers and the pace of loss is glacial

@GarnishWithALemonTwist there is a big difference between cravings and hunger.

Mild hunger is totally bearable. You can just wait for your next meal.

However in my experience food cravings (for me a result of eating sugar and refined flour) lead to overbearing and can't be managed. For me cutting sugar and flour almost totally (and just planning some exceptions very very occasionally) has meant no cravings whatsoever.

Keto has helped me lose 9lbs and 2 inches of my waist. I am peri menopausal and feel so much better in myself. Its become a way of life for me now. I will keep losing hopefully.

I still have alcohol at the weekend on 1 night though. LC alcohol usually