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.

Baysypatsy - does your gp surgery run any funded groups for people who are overweight. Presumably if you're 3 stones overweight, you are categorised as obese with a high bmi. Have you checked in with your gp to see what they advise?

Batsypatsy I started with Jessica Smith walk & talk (on youtube) - each one is 15 minutes long, low impact, no equipment needed, very easy to follow & possible even in a tiny space (I have that problem too!). It is really good way of getting moving when you are unfit/in pain (been there & I sympathise) and I found (eventually) that exercise, no mater how gentle, really helped my mental health.

Batsy I exercise in a space just big enough for a yoga mat using Fitify apps, there's a cardio one that has a low impact joint friendly section, and I use the kettlebells one with a kettlebell I bought from Aldi. I also do it in my pyjamas! I can get quite out of breath wth both, so don't be disheartened it is possible!

Thanks My gp hasn't mentioned funded weight loss groups but as I'm 5 feet 7 my weight is spread out and also my bmi is about 27 I think so not too high, but I weighed about 13 stone last time I weighed myself, definitely need to get down to 10. I'll ask about it though.

The apps and YouTube videos sound good, I'll take a look. I need to cut out the junk, crisps and chocolate and ice cream. I eat because I'm unhappy but it doesn't help.

That's just it, I am disheartened, I'm fed up of feeling rubbish, I don't recognise myself anymore, I'm tetchy, intolerant, sad all the time and hate the way I look. I need to do something about it. It's difficult because I don't cook much, living off ready meals as I struggle to find the motivation.

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

Great to hear. It's helping me too. In fact, I think it's helping me more than anything else. I go to WW every week but this thread is focused on how we struggle with our weight at the time of menopause, rather than just dealing with general weight issues.

As a result of you guys keeping me on track, I've already undone any 'damage' done by my two meals out last week. I've had a great weekend consisting of exclusively good food, by which I mean food that makes me feel well. That is of course different for everyone but for me it means good quality protein, vegetables, fruit — and some complex carbs on the days that I train.

@user1478299641 Well done for resisting the temptation; save your treats for when you really do fancy something.

Keep up the good work all

Barstpatsy-small changes. Maybe just focus on one or two things, eg no ready meals for the week. But you do have to find your motivation.

Could you focus/envisage yourself being 10 stone at Christmas? That is doable. Is there a friends birthday/work party coming up?

Write a list of all the drivers this evening, eg

I have a works party in 3 weeks-I want to be half a stone lighter
Birthday meal in 8 weeks-one stone lighter

My friend who wasn’t that overweight got subsidised weight loss classes when she went to see her doctor.

Nice legs-great going bring back on track following two meals out!!

Baysypatsy - I'm 5 7 and almost 12 stones so you're not far off me. I agree with seeing and achieving one goal at a time. Do you cool anything? I'm a terrible cook but because I have DH who cos a lot I've learnt to cook and feel if I can do it anyone can. I do have some easy meal ideas if that helps

I've also done some YouTube low impact fitness videos because my friend has a bad knee. There are so many on there. If you have a TV with YouTube accessible and enough space to stand, you can do some exercise. Good luck. Baby steps.

I used to weigh 7lbs. I’ve put on a bit of weight over the last 40 years

I used to weigh 7lbs. I’ve put on a bit of weight over the last 40 years

Oooh, I envy you. I was never that svelte. I started out at 8lbs 3oz. I too have put on a bit. Seems to be affecting all us MFs, doesn't it?

So, the weekend was good. I scaled right back in order to compensate for the meals out during the week. I probably overdid it a bit to be honest and woke up with a headache this morning which is almost certainly down to dehydration. Still, a good big glass of water this morning and I'm right as rain.

I don't always have breakfast but felt the need, so I had an egg done on my little grilling hot plate with just a smidgen of oil and a quorn fillet. That has filled a hole.

The temptation this morning seems to be twofold: (a) there is a cake sale in the office down the corridor in support of the organisations's Big Walk which supports our nominated charity. I'll be donating but it would be helpful if I didn't eat cake: sugar really does not make me feel well at all these days AND (b) someone in my team has brought some rather lovely looking homemade sweet treats to share; again, I just need to resist.

What are your temptations today and how are you planning to manage them. Give me some inspiration.

Good day everyone

Hi, stuck to it over weekend but am still up a pound, the fat does not want to budge. I know I should exercise but I procrastinate. Sleeping v badly too and have that awful feeling of doom hanging over my head. I will try to force myself to get on cross trainer. Hope everyone has a good day.

Good afternoon all MFs,

So ..... I managed to keep yesterday under control. I had a couple of small treats as my colleague had made them as part of her Eid celebrations. They were lovely — not over sweet — but still the sugar did have an adverse affect on my system (which I know to be the case, so it's my own fault really ) later that evening. I really do need to eliminate processed sugars from my eating: they just make me feel unwell.

Today has been good. Eggs and spinach for breakfast and a homemade Thai quorn curry and salad for lunch. I feel a lot better

How is everyone else getting on? It's weigh day for me tomorrow evening. I will update here on Thursday.

Have a good day everyone. Don't know what it's like with you but I've dug my winter coat out again today. In JUNE. Pffft

Well done nice legs. I also love processed sugar.

I’ve been really good yesterday and today! Fingers crossed for weigh in

I’m going to join you. I’m 47 and was diagnosed as post meno a few months back after going to my doctor complaining of rosacea, low mood, lethargy and flushes. I had a coil so no periods. It’s been a wake up call. I’m 3 weeks into HRT after trying to manage my symptoms myself with lifestyle changes but the symptoms were overwhelming. Since starting HRT I’ve lost half a stone taking me to 11 stone 1. I really want to be 10.5. I want to up my exercise for my bone and heart health. It really has been a time for taking stock and reflecting how I want this new stage of life to go. It’s in my hands.

Welcome iammummy! Totally in yours hand-I love that. I often think of myself in the third person when I think of this

Hi all - just a note of hope for the achy sufferers here - I had that too at the start of meno - swollen joints and aches: investigated for rheumatoid arthritis even, then GP finally said 'oh it could be the menopause'. It must have bee,n because about 4 or 5 years later it died down. Of course I'm not the sprightly thing I was 15 yrs ago but the aching definitely eased

No I haven't got my figure back, sadly, (about 1/2 to 3/4 stone heavier than pre-meno I think: not too hideous I suppose, though I am quite short) but I did at least stop getting fatter once I took up jogging and gave up toast. No-one could accuse me of trying too hard so I like to think if I made more effort, maybe....!

Totally chuffed. I’ve just weighed myself and I’ve lost another 3lb.
Now 13 stone 7lb.
If I can get back to 10 ish I’ll be quite happy, 9 and a half would be even better

My DD is losing weight with me; so we’re each other’s support.
What’s helping us is we plan our meals out for the week ahead. We are still eating food we enjoy, roast chicken on Sunday, but with celeriac instead of potatoes then Monday we had a soup with the leftover chicken, carrots, onions, lentils and korma paste. It was bloody delicious 😋.
Today is pasta (the brown whole grain stuff) with roasted tomatoes, peppers, garlic and a tomato sauce.
I’ve found I’m not craving sweet stuff as much (we’ve not got any in anyway to avoid impulse eating)

@GenuineKlatchianPottery Nice going Keep up the good work. You'll soon be back where you want to be.

Well, I had an intense meeting this morning. It was scheduled to last an hour but went on for two. Still, it did give me focus and direction, thanks to my lovely line managers.

Lunch was very simple: boiled eggs and spinach. I'm going to have a coffee and an apple now. I should be weighing in at WW tonight, subject to my 'Fat Club' buddy being available. I know that I'm not where I want to be but I'm definitely heading in the right direction.

Update to follow tomorrow.

In the meantime, happy Wednesday everyone. Be good

I lost some weight and felt really amazing and I've started to put it back on and not liking feeling bigger. I am going to have a big push over the next few days.

Just loosened a crown on some granary bread - it's still there but definitely not quite right. Now too scared to eat - this is the way forward!

I definitely had the same experience as Candycane. Aches and pains in the joints and I was filled with despair, thinking it would only get worse as I got older, but it didn't. It just wore off as I travelled through the menopause. I hope it will be that way for some of you as well.

I've been using an app where you monitor what you eat and discovered that although my calorie count is not too high, I'm eating too many foods in the red range and not enough green ones. I think that's probably accurate, I would have sworn I ate more fruit and veg than I do. Funny how the mind plays tricks on us!