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.

Morning everyone,

So I weighed in at 9st 5lb last night at WW. That of course is with my clothes on: WW is not ready for me to strip down to my (very fancy) lingerie

That equates to around 9st 2lbs with no clothes on in a morning. It's a good start: not competition weight but not that far off.

So the good work continues. I'm meeting a friend next Wednesday so it'll be two weeks before my next official weigh in. That gives me a decent spell to make progress.

How's everyone doing? I'm definitely feeling the aching joints thing. So I'm hoping, like Pywife2 that it'll pass in time.

Keep smiling. Summer is coming. I think

May I join you lovely people? I've just turned 50 and am sure that I am peri-menopausal.

At 5ft 9" I always hovered around the 11 stone mark (longing to be 9st 7lbs -10 stones ) pre-children and was hovering around 12 st 7lbs for the past year or so. The weight gain is generally down to my diet - although now I don't have dogs to walk I'm nowhere near as active as I used to be either - I cut right back on pasta, bread, potatoes, rice etc to try and reduce what my body could store around my middle and its worked to some extent. But the last few weeks I've lost control of my eating (binging on biscuits and chocolate for comfort etc) and with a boyfriend who often prefers takeaway to actual cooking and an injury preventing my daily trip to the gym I'm up to 13 stones and feel horrid.

My weight has never gone down as I haven't had the willpower to stick to a controlled method of eating for more than 4 or 5 days in a row! I'm hoping that regularly checking in with such an inspirational bunch of people will help my own willpower to increase!

Welcome Blobby10 We're all in a similar boat here. There's lots of support and I'm hoping that this thread will be a permanent fixture for those struggling with menopausal weight gain.

Well done nicelegs! Great effort. My week has been good so far, been to the gym three times.

Welcome blobby!

Had a weigh in this morning and lost another pound. Slow going but at least it's down, not up!

Well done pywife-me to on loosing weight. I’ve now lost 5lb and the best bit is my clothes are not feeling so snug as they were before, gives me real motivation.

Good for you Bringonspring! 5lbs is enough to really feel the difference.

8 lbs down here in just over 4 weeks. When I look at it like that it's not so bad
I would dearly love another 6 off in 4 weeks for my hols but it's slowing right down now. I'm 12 7 and need to be under 11 to feel ok.

I know even when I get there I'll need to carry on weighing every day as I can't stay on track without and the weight creeps back on. The annoying thing is I have nothing obvious to cut out. I don't eat takeaways, chips, crisps or chocolate more than occasionally

@Pywife2 Yes off is off, no matter how small. A pound a week means well over three stones a year (although I'm not sure if you're looking to lose that much)

@Bringonspring It's great when your clothes feel a little looser. Another few pounds and that should be a dress size

@notfromworcester Brilliant. Keep going; you can easily do another 6lbs over four weeks. Promise

Have a fab weekend everyone. I'll check in over the weekend with some inane banter

Thank you @NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

Another 0.5 lb down this morning. I can't believe I let it get so out of control. It it's a relief to see the scales shifting. I actually feel better for eating less too.

Long walk on the coast path today I think as the sun is finally out here. Have a good day everyone.

Lovely to a walk along a coastal path-very jealous!!

I had a day where I wanted to eat everything in sight-I did have at a toffee cake in the end but just finished a gym session so feel a bit better.

I find weekends much harder than work days to be good.

Had a very bad weekend foodwise - just eating anything and everything that comes across my path . I did well over my 10000 steps yesterday and heading towards 20k for today but its not mitigating my food intake any. Can't work out why i'm doing it as its over a week until my next period is due and the overeating doesn't usually start until 5 days before

I am leaving this thread as you’re all scaring me of what my future holds having just turned 40 (scared face).

I’m already a 12/14 apple shape who could do with losing half a stone, all of which is on my stomach. Sounds like I will end up like a beach ball when the peri - menopause hits!

Blobby10 same here, I’ve just had a lot going on this week and not been paying attention to what I eat. It’s just been fuel. I think we just have to forget about it and try again this evening/tomorrow. Well done on all your steps.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken if you are still there?! Age 52 here. If I could go back to when I was 40 I would tell myself to weigh or measure regularly and diet whenever I gained 4 or 5 lbs. What is difficult is having to lose one or two stones when you are older. Just keep an eye and don’t let half a stone become 20 lbs I would say to younger Riddle! Sorry we MFs have startled you.

@Riddleofthesands that is brilliant advice. I took my eye off the scales and stacked on a stone without realising. Wish I hadn't

@Riddleofthesands and @notfromworcester I found that I used to get into 'trouble' when I'd been overeating for a few days/a week and would weigh myself but there wouldn't be a change so I'd be all relaxed about it. I know now that any change in my food intake, either up or down, takes 3 weeks to appear on the scales!! Which is why I'm now two stones overweight rather than one.

Apart from the scales though, I've now developed a ring of fat just under my bra on the front that wasn't there before.

Good afternoon MFs,

Hope you're all well. I have my heater on in the office I don't think that I can attribute that to the menopause: it's just that the weathers' sh*t!!!!

The weekend passed without incident, which was just perfect. I didn't see anyone for any substantial length of time but I definitely felt the need for a bit of solitude. Eating wise, I did OK. I took myself to the cafe on Sunday but managed to stick to something vaguely sensible.

Just checked my diary for this week and, despite me trying to plan just one dinner date per week, my scheduIe seems to be:

Tonight: dinner at Bill's restaurant – can choose a light option
Wednesday: takeaway Indian at my friend's
Thursday: Out for an Indian with a friend (it's her birthday meal), her husband and my ex (who's remained my bestie)

I'm quite sensible with the Indian food these days as the oh-so-lovely sauces that I used to indulge in just don't sit well these days; I opt for chicken or lamb tikka and a vegetable side dish usually which limits the damage somewhat.

I'm still on it. I've set myself a target of reaching under 55kg. I still have unopened Christmas and Valentine's day presents, which I know are fancy underwear (which I love). As an incentive, I won't be opening them until I meet my target; that gives me something to work towards.

So what are your targets and incentives? Love to hear all about your holidays, wedding invites or whatever else is spurring you on.

Until tomorrow, have a great day

Well I was a bit rubbish yesterday-ate some of my husbands father days chocolate (I say some-quite a bit). But back on it today. Just finished at the gym

That’s great advice on weighing yourself and working at it if you only put in 4-5lb rather than leaving it.

Nice legs-I love an India-good advice on what to order.

I have a holiday coming up in 4 weeks so need to think of a target for that.

I’ve lost 1lb and am starting a new week tweaking aspects of my intake. I worked out I was having 10g too much porridge so I’ve reduced that and replaced a full cup of milk with half milk half water. I was still full till lunchtime so that was great. I’ve reduced my snack to one under 100cals. I need a bit of something with my after work cup of tea and 2 lotus biscuits at 74 cals was enough. Hoping a few small changes will take me to 10stone 12 and back within healthy BMI before my holiday in 2 weeks.

I read somewhere that we put weight on round the middle during menopause because fat is a natural source of oestrogen and so helps relieve some symptoms naturally.

My incentive is holiday in Cornwall in 5 weeks. Want to be able to do the zip up on my wetsuit and join in with the family. We go to the same place every year, rent the exact same cottage, eat in the same restaurants. If I suggest a change everyone says noooo!

@Riddleofthesands I'm dying to know where you go. I know Cornwall very well

Just remembered I've name changed 🤦‍♀️

Well, yesterday I had afternoon tea and it was massive, with lots of cakes. DH and I ate the lot! It was a Christmas present and the voucher was about to run out, so that's my excuse.

I've been doing a lot of exercise and we skipped lunch and dinner, but somehow I don't think that will have compensated. In the past I have found that exercise doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to my weight, although it makes me feel a lot better in myself and I'm sure it has overall health benefits. So I'm sure I'll pay for the afternoon tea when I when I get onto the scales. I'm putting it off for a few days

@Pywife2 Ah, these things are sent to try us. One afternoon tea doesn't spoil the party. Just get right back on track and the scales will move in the right direction.

Relevant to the Big M, I was unwell yesterday afternoon. It's a condition, that I strongly assume to be menopause related, whereby I get severe stomach cramps which severely restrict my ability to function. I can walk but it's slow and painful. I was referred to the Walk-In Centre the first time it happened but they checked me out and there was nothing obvious so I think it's just one of those things. Subsequent incidences have proved that a lie down and a hot water bottle is the way to go.

My bestie kindly came by the office and drove me home to save me a very long shuffle. He even took me via the shop so that I could pick up a ready meal. I rarely eat processed food but I really wasn't in a fit state to cook. I just wanted to let you all know that I picked a low calorie chicken option, even though I felt like having something exceptionally lardy . I then promptly fell asleep on the settee with my hot water bottle on my tummy and woke up around 1am and took myself to bed.

So ... hopefully I'm still on track. Indian tonight and tomorrow but plans firmly in place for a small portion of tandoori chicken/lamb and a vegetable side dish – no cheese

Keep up the good work. We will soon be Menopause Slenderistas and I will soon be able to open my Christmas presents

Have a good afternoon everyone