Any menopausal fatties out there?

[LewisCarroll]

I have been slim all my life and then the menopause hit me and my waistline.

I really don't know how much I weigh, I last weighed myself a while back and I was 11 stone. I need to lose around two stone to get back to being me. I will be brave and weigh myself later on.

Motivation is going to be a massive problem for me so I hope that there are other menopausal fatties out there to keep me company.

Thank you for my birthday wishes Riddle. I had a lovely day, went to Carluccio's with DH and they gave me a glass of Prosecco! I did have one or two treats so it's back to healthy eating now, and a long walk today, looks like the rain has stopped.

Scales finally moved below 10 stone 7 for me. It’s been such a barrier (I started at Christmas but just couldn’t shift it). Thank you OP and all for giving me the motivation

Just weighed & I’ve lost three lbs last week - 4lbs above the next stone barrier so that’s good I guess. Feeling unenthusiastic!

Hoppity. Ooh yes, Melon. Love Melon. Love the summer fruits and how nice a fruit salad they make.

Morning MFs,

So I'm hosting a short breakfast get together for my team today. I've just phoned in the bacon buttie order and ...... I didn't order one for myself Under normal circumstances I may have done but I'm going out for dinner this evening and so I'm just trying to get some sort of balance.

Looks like we're on this and there's some very positive stories going round.

Please do share any simple recipes. I'm not a good cook so any simple, healthy things I can try would be fab.

Have a great day everyone: it's lovely and sunny here

I wonder how many of us are not eating what we would ideally like to as we're prioritising the needs of other family members? It's just me and DD but I would definitely eat quite differently (and more healthily) without her, not that I'm feeding her crap, but I would eat a much more plant-based diet on my own. I'm also struggling to get to the gym as I'm providing GCSE support (though will have no excuse in a week and a half!)

Tabby yes that's definitely true for me. Also a family of two (although I'm a year ahead of you and still recovering from GCSEs last year)

Dd is quite a fussy eater and is not a fan of vegetables. If she's not at home I usually have a tuna or halloumi salad but most nights we have a big meal involving potatoes or pasta.

Well done to all those who have seen movement on the scales. I'm still stuck at 11 4 but not really surprised given the junk I've been eating.

Just spent croissant, Freddo Frog and Diet Coke money (say nothing, I know it's shite) on a Euromillions ticket! Hooray! I can't eat it and I'll spend the £114 million I'm bound to win living in expensive spas around the world having fat busting treatments while eating crisps. It will be ace. You're all welcome.

I am off to Greece with 4 bikinis.
I have never worn a bikini before.
But now feel confident. And no one will give a toss what I wear.

Supporting 2 dc through exams here too. Fortunately they are adventurous eaters. Dinner is not such a problem. Although DH cooks more than me although still too much a fan of the potato. My main problem is trying to keep snacks in the house available for hungry teenagers who are doing GCSEs / other exams but which I won't raid. My worst day is the day I work from home. That's when I raid the cupboards and the foods I even hide from dc, like the mini marshmallows for hot chocolate treats

I love a freedo frog

Hi everyone,

So, it's been a tough couple of days food wise as I've been out to eat twice. I went Italian last night, which was lovely. I had some soup to start, a risotto (which was quite creamy — but lush). And then it came to pud. My dining friend wanted some ice cream. I don't like sweet stuff but was tempted by the cheese board; trouble was I knew it was huge. So I asked if they could do me a smaller version —suitable for one. And they did, so I didn't fell all stuffed and horrid .

I'm very much back on plan now and will weigh in at WW on Wednesday — and post on here — after missing last week due to having some work to catch up on.

Wishing everyone lovely weekends. What are you up to?

Am through the menopause now and continue to have to work hard to maintain weight. Just can’t eat as much as I could before. The only thing that works for me is to be pretty disciplined as much as possible. So if I have a day (or longer) of overeating, I have to get right back on track quickly or the weight just piles on. I try for smaller portions, less carbs (especially bread - although I didn’t do well on MN low carb as a vegetarian, too restrictive without nuts and pulses), very little alcohol, no snacking in the evening, trying to wait until I’m actually hungry before eating something. Much of the time, I track my food on MFP, with a daily allowance of 1200 cals, plus I eat half of my exercise cals. I do a lot of exercise, which has huge benefits - I feel so much better, and it allows me to eat a bit (not a huge lot) more. Earlier this year my weight had crept up 12lbs but I’ve got it back on track now. I’ve accepted that I can’t be as slim as I was in my 20s (not without restricting my food so much that I’d be miserable) and also that I can’t eat and drink anything like as much as I used to, if I want to be a healthy weight that I’m happy with. I find that a focus on healthy eating, and not much processed food, helps my willpower. I’m more likely to stick to it if I ask myself “is this a healthy choice?”, than if I start to think about weight specifically. But it’s not always easy. I also find it helpful to do other self-nurturing stuff if I feel like snacking... sleeping, yoga, walking, are really helpful for me.

Hi everyone, weighed in at 9st 9 1/2 lbs, down 4 1/2 lbs, goal is 9 stone. I expect the rest will come off slowly if at all! Not finding it easy. Basically eating a lot of veg with some protein. Today is an easy day to be strict as I am very busy and out until 9.30 pm. Mackerel fillet and roast veg for big lunch and probably that’s it. Saturday night we are eating out, I will have a steak and veg.

Daisy62 I found your post very helpful. I am 52 and feel like your lifestyle is where I am heading. If I relax I add a stone very quickly, all on my middle. I hate it. I am pretty sure I will have to weigh regularly and measure my waist regularly to keep on top of it from now on. I don’t want to be in the position of needing to lose a whole stone again, it’s just too hard.

Nicelegs you always sound so cheerful in your posts. Hope you have a lovely rest of day.

@Daisy62 I could have written your post but no need as you've done it for me I have to work pretty hard at it but that just means being a bit organised: it doesn't render me miserable or anything.

And it really is worth it; I feel well and get more out of life when I make healthy choices

Day 5 over and 4lbs down. Feeling good too, I don't feel as bloated.

How is everyone else doing?

I'd rather be a bit chubby than spend my life on a diet. I eat healthily and exercise, but no way will I skip meals or go hungry to be thin. I don't care what I look like, I'm past 45 so nobody is looking at me anyway.

I don't massively care what I look like (within reason) but I do care how my body feels, and also want to keep my weight down for health reasons.

Still coping with GCSEs, one more week to go then I'm going to try to do more early morning gym sessions before DD has even woken up.

Weeweed that is amazing. Well done you. Great for motivation

I woke up early-pre children so headed to the gym. Then have avoided all of the brunch type food I would normally eat!

Well done weeweed and well done tabby and bringonspring for making it to the gym.

I'm recovering from a couple of days of a virus so having a lazy day today. The weather is awful so I might get the radio on and do a load of batch cooking.

Has anyone got any good freezer meal recommendations? I'm a bit bored of my usual Bolognese and soup.

Congratulations all the weight losers! I haven't had a weigh-in but I'm feeling good about having done more exercise this week. It will have to be the cross trainer today, it's freezing cold and raining. Lots of healthy food in the fridge ready for some good meals next week.

I’m following here for inspiration and well done everyone so far. I’m 36 soon and I’m definitely peri menopausal. I also have a sedentary job and am gaining so much. I feel exhausted by the time I’ve picked up from childcare and then just pick and binge and gorge 😓

I started having cravings for chocolate/crisps in the last hour, so I read back over this thread.
I am now going to have a glass of sparkling water and have dinner later. This thread is really helping me to keep on track😌

Can I join in? I'm menopausal and 3 stone overweight. I wasn't sure where to post as my mental health is poor, but I think this is due to the menopause too.

I struggle physically due to aches and pains, but my biggest problem is motivation. I don't cook much, eat a lot of ready meals or easy things like jacket potatoes, rice, toast and crisps. I don't exercise due to the pain, although I'm trying to walk everywhere instead of driving. I've no room to exercise in my tiny house and no money to join a gym even if I could make myself go! But I'm desperately unhappy being the size I am and need to do something about it. I was considering shakes but don't think I'd manage to stick with it for long although it might be a way to start. I don't want to risk low carb as I'm paranoid about bad breath anyway. Any ideas?

I have found if I crave a snack then get distracted for 10 minutes I forget all about the snack. I just have to find a way to purposely distract myself. Something motivating.