Best weight loss program for post menopause

[Sofafor2for1]

Hi
I'm turning to you lovely mumsnetters for some help.
I've recently been told, after numerous blood tests, that I am now post menopausal, had an early onset menopause at 38. The weight seems to just sit there, I hate my stomach so much, that's where the weight gain sits, my DH & DC say it's not that bad, but it is to me!!

What is the best diet to follow post menopause?
I've tried so many, the ones where you only eat once a day, the eat only so many calories one, WW, SW etc I've looked at Noom, but that seems really expensive and I don't have time for calorie counting every day. I liked the sound of the Atlantic Diet, read an article, but can't find anything about it.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated, as its getting me down.
TIA

Are you on HRT?

I’m post menopausal and lost weight by sticking to a calorie target of 1,500 calories. 4.5 stone off, and kept off, by logging and tracking on My Fitness Pal, currently size 8-10 down from squeezing myself into a barely fitting 14.
No food is off limits but, for example, if I choose to eat a snickers then that’s a couple of hundred calories less I have for dinner. I eat whatever I like but adjust calories to make sure I stick to target.

After the first couple of weeks it doesn’t take any time at all to calorie count. It’s 2 mins tops of logging stuff, and sticking your plate on the scales whilst you portion out your food takes no time at all. Consistency is key.

Intermittent fasting might not be a bad place to start- it is supposed to get rid of 'brown fat' which sits around the organs in the abdomen.

No scrap that. It doesn't get rid of brown fat but is suooosed to help with belly fat.

Hopefully you are on HRT having hit menopause so early. This will help with all menopausal symptoms including weight gain.
I'd maybe ask your GP for thyroid bloods as I think menopause and hypothyroidism can often occur together (it did for me!).
I think any 'diet' will work as long as you are consuming fewer calories than you are using. And boringly, the only way you'll know this is if you start calorie counting. I use My Fitness Pal which does take a bit of time at the beginning but once you're used to it it's fine. You need to be really honest though and count cooking oils and sauces etc.
This is just a way of life for me now and not really a 'diet' as such.
I had to massively cut down my food intake once I hit the menopause at 43. My weight is pretty stable now and I'm a size 8.

I’ve been cc with a pt for months and barely lost anything. If you are bmi 30 plus look at mounjaro thread on here, I’m still having to work at it but I’m finally losing.

Forgot to say intermittent fasting really works for me too. I don't eat until about midday and stop eating around 8pm. It was tough to begin with but I now feel stuffed and nauseous if I eat breakfast early for whatever reason.

Thank you all very much!
I'm going to try mu fitness pal and calorie counting to start with, might be easier heading into summer!! Never heard of Mounjaro but will read the threads

I’d recommend the human being diet. I’m 50 and lost 3.5 stones last year and have kept it off - unheard of. My SiL age 55 and MiL age 75 are both doing very well on it. Big hbd community on Instagram who are very helpful and supportive

I'll have a look at that. Thanks

Low carbs is the way to go.

Check how many calories you burn in a day. I was shocked to see that I only burn 1600 since menopause which means to lose weight I need to eat significantly under that.

Having tried everything I have lost weight eating around 1100. In the past I'd lose on 1500.

Ps I agree that noom looks like a rip off. I already know that you don't have to clear your plate. I already know what tempts me most, how to stay strong. I think room might seem insightful for somebody who has never before thought about weight management. But how rare is that?!

Yes, this is so true, I'm only 1.56cm and I was maintaining my weight at a mere 1450 cals per day so everything I choose has to be nutritious. I do have pizza occasionally though. It's harder when you're short. You need less than the average portion, so you always have to have less than what our eyes tell us is one portion.