Anyone else just decided to make peace with their peri-menopausal weight?

[JaneFondue]

Am 50 and in peri-menopause. 5"7 and 11 stone ( size 12) so not huge but carrying it mostly around my middle. Been trying to lose half a stone for ever. It keeps going off and then coming on again. I am doing IF and watch my calories, reduced carbs to once a day, walk or swim daily for an hour or more, no alcohol or sugar or processed food.

Thinking I should just make peace with it. I could do cardio or Pilates or reduce calories even further, but I don't think it is sustainable because the only exercise I enjoy is walking or swimming. Plus I lead a pretty busy life. Anyone else given up trying to lose weight in menopause?

Try the low carb thread on here I went from 11ish stone to 9st 7lb at 5'6" didn't do any exercises as I can't currently. Age 53.
Obviously if you are happy at your current weigh that's fine but if not I think it makes a big difference dropping a stone or so.

Oh, I know how you feel x . I am torn between balancing the insidious creeping up of fat and the fact that I want to have a bit of fun and enjoy life!
Haven't got an answer, sorry.
I am on about my 3rd try at IF.

Absolutely not. I am not overweight but thought my shape was changing. I also wanted to strengthen my core, and start working out with weights, so earlier this year I started seeing a PT once a week. (I also swim and run and cycle).

It's the best thing I've done for ages! Working with weights is something we should do at our age, and I feel SO much better for it - and look better, with more definition, too.

Don't give up. Busyness is no excuse - I work full time and have lots of children. You are far too young!

No I’ve not given up, I’m like you fairly slim but any extra fat I have goes on my middle. I can’t exercise due to disability/illness, so it’s very hard. I eat chicken salad every day for lunch more or less and I usually go without carbs in evening but I have porridge and toast for breakfast. I also slow myself a bit of chocolate most days I’ve switched to dark. It’s about health for me as fat round your waist/tummy is a huge risk for stroke diabetes etc. if I had a fat bum then I wouldn’t bother as that isn’t a health risk if you have a slimmer waist /are pear shaped, I’ve had to really look at portion sizes and I also make sure I get enough protein so I’m not hungry. It’s very tough OP. I have managed though very slowly to lose a couple of inches off my waist. That’s been the key for me slow weight loss rather than starving myself to loose it quick.

Dammit why haven't you all given up?:) I was hoping to see posts by no-hopers!

Weights: I began the year by buying a pair and using them in front of the TV but stopped. I don't know why except that they are boring and I lost interest, but maybe I will try again.

Low carb: I find this very hard because I am vegetarian, though I try to eat eggs, lentils, yoghurt or cheese at every meal. Could do better. Probably eat about 8 veggies a day though and one small portion of rice/noodles/pasta/bread a day, always for breakfast or lunch, never dinner.

Fat round my waist is indeed a problem. My waist is 29 inches; used to be 26 in my youth:(

29 inches round your waist is pretty damn good for any age ! It’s well under the “danger” figure of 34 I think it if it 36 it varies. I’m the same height as you and 10st 8 but my waist in nowhere near 29. You will more than likely have more muscle as you exercise and I don’t. Seriously I’m wondering how much fat you can have on your tummy with that measurement. If it were me I would be looking to maintain my weight rather than lose it as you’re not over your BMI or waist measurement which is apparently more important health wise

Not giving up but I have thought about it. My waist is 39”, I was a size 8 until my 40s, hit 50 and now a size 16, maybe even 18, all my clothes are elasticated waists so who knows. Restarting Fast800 for the millionth time. You sound as if you have very little to lose, my advice is don’t do what I’ve done and let it slide further and further.

I have accepted that my normal weight will now be about 7kg more than I would like it to be. I have instead decided to focus on regular exercise and eating healthy meals. The issue for me is that I can no longer get away with eating treats without gaining weight, so I have decided to be the 7kg heavier, enjoy the treats but limit when I start going over that.

I have made peace with being a size 14. If I get slimmer for a while the weight just creeps back again. I eat a healthy diet mostly plant-based but I don't like low carb. I focus on strength training and maintaining flexibility.

What is it about the menopause which causes weight gain? Is it metabolism slowing down? Loss of muscle?

I'm a bit chunkier than I should be (perimenopause plus stress plus bereavement plus covid yadda yadda) but in the last couple of years I've really upped my gym going: 4-5 times a week, cardio and weights, on top of a daily 6k walk with the dog. I don't feel quite so overwhelmed with self-loathing, knowing my fitness is at least OK, and that makes me more likely to eat better now life is a bit less cortisol-tastic.

Loss of oestrogen causes fat tonne stored at tummy like men typically have rather than hips or thighs etc. metabolism slows down anyway with age but I think for women it’s a huge drop at menopause rather than gradual. The adrenal glands release adrenaline to try to free up what oestrogen is still left in the body and this is what causes anxiety in menopause. Also this fight or flight instinct kicking in causes weight to be stored round the abdomen. I’ve also been told by menopause consultant that lack of testosterone in women can cause weight gain round the tummy and make it hard to shift. Hormones literally affect everything so it’s no surprise there are so many things going on in the body with meno/peri meno

I've just gone for fitness instead and don't pay too much attention to my weight. I do a mix of weights, cardio and yoga/pilates

Thankyou for your response. I’d this why some women take HRT? I have to admit, I’m 41 and teach classes at the gym, and I know it sounds silly but I’m dreading the menopause, hormones really affect me and turn me into a bloody monster, along with all the other symptoms

@Julieup2 the fact that you are fit will go a long way to help you, I have a chronic illness and it hit me very hard, more mentally and mood wise rather than physical although I did feel like I was constantly over heating rather than hot flushes. I didn’t smoke or drink or use caffeine but it still affected me very badly, I actually felt like I was going mad or depressed or both. I think that it had been going on for a lot longer than I realised as I was just looking out for hot flushes and vaginal dryness neither of which I had. It’s possible peri can start ten years before actual menopause. Obviously not everyone has a bad time and you may be fine. I just felt like a different person and luckily my GP was agreeable to HRT patches and not just handing out antidepressants. The patches have saved my life. However they haven’t stopped me putting on weight round my tummy but it’s been a long time trying to get the dosage right. I think if I had started them earlier it might have helped with the weight gain but I didn’t know my symptoms low mood irritability depression etc were caused by menopause.

The day you accept it will be the day you put on a further half stone so no, keep fighting.

I have testosterone that I’m scared to use. Do you use it as part of your regiment? If so can I ask how much and how often?

Nah, weight training all the way for the rest of my life. Never been able to eat so much food.

@RudsyFarmer yes I use testosterone, I use a tiny tube which is 50mg in weight and this lasts me 7 to 10 days. It’s been a game changer with loss of libido !

Can I PM you?

@RudsyFarmer yes no problem

Don't give up! As a pp said you accept the half a stone you will probably accept a another half and its a slippery slopt:
It's tough to accept that you can't eat as before but possible: If you don't drink alcohol that's a good start: I'm 5'8 and 9 stone 4, I do a lot of sport (runing 50 miles a week, cycling, swimming) which helps, but at the moment I'm off training following a foot op and have actually lost weight - t's what you eat not exercise which is most important: I only eat 2 small meals a day, one of which is homemade soup, no snacking, and no refined flour products (bread, pasta etc), processed food etc: It's not easy but I'm happy with my weight at 57 and being active and not overweight helps with the menopause symptoms:

Thats very interesting about testosterone and abdominal fat. Am on hrt but hadn't heard about taking testosterone to support with reduced hormone levels.

I haven't given up trying but I have given up hoping I'll be the weight I was a few years ago. Spent years at around 8 1/2 stone but it crept on gradually and more recently I've gained almost half a stone in a few months!

I'm also veggie so high protein diets are hard. I eat too many carbs and dairy and drink wine most nights. I can totally get why the weight has increased but gently cutting back isn't working for me any more. As a pp said. I might have to try the Fast 800 diet to kick start weight loss again.

I'm quite short and every pound shows. I hate my rapidly expanding waist as it used to be my best feature. I definitely want to lose half a stone - nothing fits me any more apart from anything else!

@LookdeepintotheParka GP’s here in UK are not allowed to prescribe it to women unless a consultant has suggested it, I think this is correct but it may have changed from when I first went on HRT, so that may be why. Lots of GP’s are very wary of it but women have testosterone naturally in the body!

Thanks @667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast that's useful to know!