Mindful May

[Octopus45]

Morning ladies, here is the new thread. Sorry its a bit late.

My intentions this month are to carry on with the meditation and daily exercise. I've just ordered some 1.5kg weights off Amazon, tbh my arms and core are quite weak, but planning on building in a couple of quick weights work outs.

Weight wise I'm half a pound down (I think) this month, a bit of weight off would be nice, but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the thread @Octopus45

I thought the personal trainer AMA thread from the other day was really interesting, if anyone's looking for some information on exercise.

I weighed 74.4 yesterday. I was a bit disappointed as I had been under 74kg through the week, but never mind. My weight loss is slow but fairly steady at the moment. I'm going to continue as I am (hopefully eating a bit less so my weight loss picks up a bit). But I'm really happy with my exercise. I ran for 28 minutes on Sunday and loved it. I'm also keeping up with daily yoga.

I am going on holiday for a bit in a couple of weeks, so not sure how I'm going to play that.

Ooh meant to say in the last couple of weeks I've had 2 people notice that I've lost weight, and 3 comment that I'm looking well, which I think is code for 'you've lost weight.' Pretty pleased about that. I've also bought some clothes in size 14 for the first time in years!

Thank you for the new thread!
I stayed the same during April which is disappointing but I’m going to stick with my exercise routine and try to continue to make sensible food choices. I’m wondering if my weight gain last year and current struggle to shift it is age/hormones/peri menopause related

Here you are! I’ve not weighed since August so I am not sure I belong here any more. I’m looking strong, and am in a size 11 jeans, so I will take that!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses that sounds amazing! Is size 11 in between 10 and 12? Or does it mean something else? I think you could still post if you want to.

Lovely to hear from you @Judystilldreamsofhorses! And well done, it sounds like you’re in a great place! I’m similar, not weighing regularly as it was getting me down. I’m exercising regularly and eating more mindfully, I feel a lot better for it! Still struggle to drink anywhere near enough water!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses course you can still post. its lovely to hear from you. You are really inspiring with your exercise. I'm trying to take a leaf out of your book and focus more on exercise. I haven't weighed for a few days, but have kept in the habit of doing a short workout every morning. Eating is very hit and miss tbh, mainly miss.

@ScottishBeth yes, between a 10 and 12 - 29" Levi's in rigid non-stretch denim. @LBB2020 @Octopus45 I've started following a lot of "mid-size" and "body neutral" content creators on TikTok which I think is really helping my mindset. It's okay not to be a size six, and between exercise and stopping smoking I am the healthiest I have ever been, so I need to make peace with now having a peri-menopause tummy!

Morning ladies, hope everyone is doing ok. @Judystilldreamsofhorses I will look on TikTok, sounds interesting. I've been carrying on with my meditation and short exercise routines, I feel that it really sets me up for the day. Unfortunately, I'm not doing very well with food and not quite managing to fit my 10,000 steps in so I'm up a bit weight wise. Nearly three pounds up from the beginning of this month, its hard not to be feel totally deflated by that tbh. Sometimes I'm tempted to stop weighing myself, but I did that in 2019 and ended up at my heaviest ever. Will figure it out somehow, no pun intended.

Morning all! @Octopus45 that is discouraging. But I think successfully losing weight is about navigating these times. Unless someone has half a stone to lose there are certainly going to be plateaus and gains along there. I'm struggling a bit st the moment too. My eating hasn't been amazing bit I don't think it's been that bad. And I was 74.4kg this morning. I don't think I've lost anything in a good couple of weeks. My period is being a bit weird so I don't know if that's why. I might be overthinking but I'm wondering if this is the start of perimenopause.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses that stuff sounds really good. I'm trying to focus on what a good position I'm in. I can run for 30 minutes, I am strong, my flexibility is improving. I'm not on tik tok unfortunately. But might look for some stuff like that on Instagram.

Morning, I’m still hovering around 11st which I will admit is getting to me a bit now as I’m exercising 3/4 times a week and being a lot more sensible and mindful about what I’m eating. I have never been this weight other than when pregnant. I will keep going though as I’m really enjoying the exercise, it’s doing wonders for my mental health (I do think I may be entering peri menopause). Well done for sticking to your new routine @Octopus45.
Hope everyone is doing well

Bloody perimenopause has a lot to answer for

74.2kg this morning. Pretty much staying the same at the moment. I have been exhausted this week with everything so it's been hard.

We're going on holiday today for a few days, and I'm going to relax a bit. Not loads, I'm still going to try to keep control of my eating. But I will be having a few more snacks! But hopefully the break will do me good and I'll be able to come back with renewed vigour!

That's because your weight gain/loss has as much, if not more, to do with your hormones as it does to do with the amount of food you eat.

Are you manipulating your hormones, or just trying to eat according to what the NHS says is a 'healthy diet'?

I'm the PT from the thread mentioned by @ScottishBeth , above. Glad it was interesting!

I'm actually reading this really interesting book called "Next Level" about perimenopause and menopause. It's for athletes/super fit people I think and I've only just started it, but it's really good so far. I'm not an athlete at all, but I think there seems to be a lot in it for women who aren't. Even just the first few chapters has convinced me that I don't need to fear the next few years.

I'm definitely in peri-meno! I always had a completely flat tummy (but big bum/hips) until starting HRT, and now I am so self-conscious, but also kicking myself for not appreciating how good it looked before!

I hope you have a lovely holiday, @ScottishBeth

@ScottishBeth

Any chance you might tell us what the main idea of the book are? I'm always hungry (for knowledge :) )

I've just looked that book up - maybe I need to order a copy. I am finding this whole phase very challenging, and I feel quite lost with it all, not just my body but feeling a bit like I am losing my mind. I feel like a lot of the dialogue around menopause is about moving onto next phases, children leaving home, reclaiming your time, but as a childless (not by choice) person I can't connect with any of that and just feel like a pointless old woman who doesn't fit in anywhere! I felt like I had HRT sorted but having Covid again seems to have thrown everything off and now I am a mess of bleeding and bloating! I got a random period after each of the three jabs so there is definitely a connection there.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Next-Level-Kicking-Crushing-Menopause-ebook/product-reviews/B091JVW6QR/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

That's it @Watchkeys

I read something on the exercise thread the other day about how your calorie requirements drop loads during peri and menopause. TBH the amount some of the ladies are eating sounds really unsustainable to me. It did worry me tbh and made me think that I just need to make peace with gradually getting bigger, depressing but I cannot cope with being really hungry all the time

I've only just started the book, but so far she's gone into the physiology of the relevant hormones and of menopause itself. There is stuff about weight gain in there (apparently the average gain is between 5 and 8 lb, which was a huge relief to read). She's talked about HRT, and where it can be useful.

She's indicated that later in the book she'll go through the specific interventions that will help deal with specific issues, from hot flushes, incontinence all the way to loss of bone density.

I'm really enjoying the book so far. I find it very accessible. I'm 39 and only in the last few months having symptoms which might be related to peri-menopause (but of course might be nothing to do with it and it could still be years away). But I've been sort of dreading it, but reading this I'm feeling a lot more positive.

Always loved these threads and see a big change these says wrt focus on strength, health, exercise etc which is great. I will have a look at that AMA. I'm a big tennis player but could probably do with some toning or weights (though I hate the thought of the latter). I am still sugar and flour free and really enjoying cooking again eating lots of healthy meals with a good mix of meat, veg, pulses, salads, dairy though I need to up the fish. I'm now at old me/ideal weight of 8st8 (I am 5ft2) and dropping the emotional overeating has changed my life in general, fitting into old clothes just one side of it. It's the best thing I've done in a long time and... no hunger pangs, calorie counting or portion weighing!

Hi, hope you don't mind me pooping in, please could someone link the AMA thread as I can't find it?

@mikado1 that it is amazing. Can I ask when you say you gave up sugar and flour, does this include not eating fruit or pasta anymore as well? You must be so happy. On the weights front, I have recently bought some 1.5kg dumbells (not very heavy I know) and have been doing weights with them, following a coupple of youtube videos.

Well done @mikado1 you've done amazing!