Anyone managed to lose weight during peri menopause?

[Glamourgal1989]

I could do with some success stories ! I know it will be hard but I’m really determined!

Yes, lost a stone and a half. Now 8.5. No magic formula, I just ate less and exercised more. I have no idea about how many calories I eat, how much is fat/carbs etc, I find all that a bit boring if I'm honest.

I just eat mostly healthily and fast once or twice a week. I walk between 5 and 10 miles a day. Lifelong strict vegetarian/vegan but I don't know if it makes any difference.

You can do it OP. Just keep remembering how you want to look. Buy some clothes in your target size and leave them out to remind you. I did this with a gorgeous dress, I found it hugely motivating.

Good luck, or more appropriately, good willpower.

I’ve managed to maintain for 6 months rather than the pounds creep on like it has been. Started HRT a few months ago and I’m sleeping much better which is helping me get a handle on the carb grab and have more energy. I’ve cut out booze starting this week and walking more. I don’t want to make it all encompassing as I know I just rebound to bad habits.

So baby steps and celebrating my maintenance just at the minute.

Hi @BettyfromBristol. If you don't mind sharing, how long are your fasts in the week? Thanks

I did, I ate less and exercised a lot more. I really enjoyed it. and kept it off for 6 years then covid came along and it all came back through boredom eating and lack of exercise.

I'm two weeks in and lost 4lb so I'm hopeful

SheepInFog it varies, depending on what I'm doing but either all day, or from after lunch to a late brunch the next day normally. I never eat after 7 pm.

Also don't drink calories. Water, black tea or coffee or a herb tea are all you need. Alcohol is simply wet calories.

Yes, I lost it through intermittent fasting or time restricted eating. I still have a long eating window, but I wait 2+ hours every morning before I eat and get active during that time. It reduced my appetite and improved my migraines, and after being fatter for 2 years the weight melted away and my digestive system started functioning better. I was so bloated before. I still eat my normal foods and am increasing the amount and variety of plants I eat.

Yes, basically due to lots of exercise in triathlon training (over 500 intensity minutes per week including strength training). I eat a fair amount to fuel all this, eating plenty of fruit and veg, avoiding highly processed food and trying to minimise blood sugar spikes by making sure carbs come with plenty of fibre and timing them around activity. HRT may also be a factor, it has definitely helped my sleep which supports good recovery.

I'm doing slimming world and exercising - I've lost 1.5 stone since October.

Yeah, lost 5 stone (at 52) from a combination of diet, lots of exercise and giving up drinking. Although was also diagnosed as diabetic quite recently, so I think the medication from that has helped too.

I got my BMI down from 25 to 22 last year (9 st 12 to 8st 6) & have maintained it. I'm 48 now & have been on HRT for a couple of years. Pretty basic method of losing - calorie counting & aiming for 15k steps a day plus three long walks a week (I used to run but got injured).

In my case (older, short & not masses to lose) I had to accept that if I wanted to lose weight I had to MASSES of exercise or stick to a low calorie limit (I never went over a 1000 & did a couple of 800 days a week). I didn't stop booze completely but the low calorie limit limited how much I could have. It wasn't fun & I don't want to do it again so I weigh weekly & do a couple of weeks of being strict again if I go above 8st 7.

Reading all of this making me scared I won't be able to lose any weight unless I literally torture myself..
I dont know if I'm peri but based on my age I must be (44).

Currently 62, over the last year my BMI has dropped from 38 to 25, which is just in the overweight category.

Most importantly I did it without suffering any feelings of deprivation or even any great amount of exercise.

Delighted to pass on a tip about the low carb high fat bootcamp here on Mumsnet, a very supportive and knowledgable group of people.

Yep - low gi food, and stopped eating in the evening (so a longish fasting period).
I followed mealplans from the diabetes uk site. Didn't worry about calories/low fat/WW as tried that and it didn't work for me anymore in peri. It's all about getting that insulin stable!

Thank you so much everyone for your positive stories ! I’m doing a mix of slimming worlds and intermittent fasting, I have 30 kg to lose and I’m 44. I just want to be healthier really.

Any exercice to recommend?

No, my body has adapted to 1200 so I'm merely maintaining this fat physique not losing a gram.