21 replies to this topic

[dsprte4thin]

Is it possible to stay thin/get thinner through peri and menopause or does that seal our doom?  I keep hearing that you will gain around your stomach and there is nothing you can do about it but I, have a thyroid condition and I don't want that to seal my doom...there is hope right?  

[WashingtonRain]

I never had a peri menopause because I had my ovaries and uterus removed and had to go cold turkey off estrogen, starting two years later with estrogen patches when the MDs thought it was safe to do so. My experience though, was that losing the estrogen didn't hinder my weight but restarting it did. There are obviously other life factors at play, so I'm not blaming the hrt, but I do find it harder to behave myself and slower to lose. I found I have cognitive issues without the estrogen though, and my skin looks way older without it... plus two years of no sleep due to hot flashes that never stopped... so I'm staying on the hrt anyway.

[thesekidsdrivememad]

I'd love to know too.

It plays on my mind a lot, as age is getting on, definetly finding it harder to lose my winter blubber this year.

I've looked into it a lot, things that help and hinder an all that. Think as long as your aware of what your body is doing, you can help it through, hopefully without gaining, from what I've read it seems it's possible.

[JoceyCat]

Hiya, I hope it’s okay that I’m answering this—I saw it on the main forum because it was the most recent post.

My oncologist uses chemical castration in younger patients when it’s possible to postpone radical, definitive surgery. I’ve had my ovaries shut off for about 12 years. I’ve only just recently begun having periods again because one of my medications needed adjusting. It’s different for everyone, but for me, controlling the oestrogen has been helpful on loads of fronts, weight loss included. I got to my LW while my oestradiol levels were clinically undetectable.

The only caveat is, if you have thyroid issues, you may need to monitor your levels and have your labs done more frequently. I’ve been treated for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis since uni, but when we began to manipulate my hormones, I could really see the interplay between the two (HPO axis and HPT axis).

[FatGrandma]

I did gain during that time (past it all now, than goodness!), but I was also depressed and comfort eating. I think it's possible not to gain much if you eat a little less and keep active. I am losing now that it is over, so that can be done, too.

[thesekidsdrivememad]

I did gain during that time (past it all now, than goodness!), but I was also depressed and comfort eating. I think it's possible not to gain much if you eat a little less and keep active. I am losing now that it is over, so that can be done, too.

Think thats the key to success, being aware, aware that metabolisms slow down, aware that hormones are all over the place, causing cravings and water retention.

Plus losing the girly hormones, puts testosterone in a higher ratio in our body's (it's always been there) makes us more likely to gain like a man ie belly fat.

[FatGrandma]

Think thats the key to success, being aware, aware that metabolisms slow down, aware that hormones are all over the place, causing cravings and water retention.

Plus losing the girly hormones, puts testosterone in a higher ratio in our body's (it's always been there) makes us more likely to gain like a man ie belly fat.

 

Oh yes, the belly fat! Weight shows up there now, where it used to go to my butt and thighs. I never had belly fat when I was young!

[Mindful Lady]

I haven't gained a lot of weight (still BMI 23, not skinny), but I've gained fat in places where I didn't use to...Arms, knees, inside of legs and generally all over my limbs, lower back, the back of the neck. Folds, flabs and cellulite all over, I feel heavy. Got estrogen overload, so water retention is crazy too.

 

I've become somewhat insulin resistant to a certain extent, my body metabolizes carbs and fat differently, general metabolism has slowed down, hormones fluctuations are affecting hunger and fullness signals as well as everything else. For you it may be different thou, I've got BED. I see a lot of slim middle age ladies around, if you are able to eat a balanced diet, and possibly restrict, can't see why you should gain weight. And considering what many people of a certain age have to cope with healthwise, a bit of belly fat is not the end of the world (not pleasant to get thou, I can totally understand that).

[viofem]

i lost 80 pounds when peri, very hard but i did it. My body is different than it used to be though. My stomach and breasts are bigger, my legs smaller. But it is possible to stave off the weight.

[Fatcat1971]

I am going through it now. It can be done, just be patient.

[thesekidsdrivememad]

I am going through it now. It can be done, just be patient.

Are you doing anything different, than you did when you were younger?

Are you peri or full on menopause?

[Fatcat1971]

I am hormonally menopausal and have not had a period in 3 months. I do lowing carb omad and that is working for me.

[dsprte4thin]

Thank you all...I am writing all of this down   I had put on 80 lbs due to having pneumonia, sepsis and the flu last year ..went on steroids for only a week but enough to shut down my adrenals ...then I got pneumonia again in December and had to take steroids again ...again only for a week but it was that or can't breathe...had no choice.  Then due ot being sick for nearly a year (only 6 week break from first recovery ) ….then my thyroid plummeted.... so its taken 5 months to get it back to where it needs to be. I have lost 14 lbs since two weeks ago due to IF It worked for me so many times though my dietician will kill me for this but I will tell her once I lose it all I did the same thing three years ago and dropped it all in four months. 

[Mindful Lady]

Thank you all...I am writing all of this down   I had put on 80 lbs due to having pneumonia, sepsis and the flu last year ..went on steroids for only a week but enough to shut down my adrenals ...then I got pneumonia again in December and had to take steroids again ...again only for a week but it was that or can't breathe...had no choice.  Then due ot being sick for nearly a year (only 6 week break from first recovery ) ….then my thyroid plummeted.... so its taken 5 months to get it back to where it needs to be. I have lost 14 lbs since two weeks ago due to IF It worked for me so many times though my dietician will kill me for this but I will tell her once I lose it all I did the same thing three years ago and dropped it all in four months. 

 

That's a great result, congratulations. Not many people managed to bounce back after a course of steroids, but you have made it and in balanced way. Well done 

P.S. Are you saying that you have lost 14 lbs in two weeks just by intermittent fasting...?

[Reeta Jane]

I’ve put on a few pounds over the years thanks to peri... Someone mentioned changes in hunger signals and such. I was having a lot of stomach issues over the years and sometimes I would eat whatever I could to settle my tummy. Sometimes, I was nauseous and starving at the same time. Now that I only get a period every few months, and I am on some bio identical hormone therapy, I feel ready to get strict with my diet. I also notice that I will feel changes in how my clothes fit long before the scale even budges! Anyone else notice that?

[shannie]

I was able to lose weight while peri but it was much slower and I doubled my workouts.

I’m post menopause now and it’s even harder to lose, but I know it’s possible.

[thinstrument]

Hmm. I had blamed a new anti anxiety med for my latest gain, half of which I am still trying to lose. But certainly hormones are not helping.

I also try to do a one minute plank 4 days a week. It does help but....

I’ve never in my life had a flat stomach so I don’t know that it’s worse but I do get more bloat for sure. Also have more moment of “I’m old and gonna die soon so who cares” haha

[Fatcat1971]

Are you doing anything different, than you did when you were younger?

Are you peri or full on menopause?

I switched to omad high protein lo carb. I am having spotting every 6 months and FSH levels almost menopausal, so any time now I should stop.

[Mindful Lady]

I was able to lose weight while peri but it was much slower and I doubled my workouts.

I’m post menopause now and it’s even harder to lose, but I know it’s possible.

 

Are you kidding me?! In perimenopause here, struggling to lose fat and weight and hoping that once the hormonal rollercoaster stabilises I'll be able to lose more easily. I've had enough of this, been alternating dieting and bingeing all my life, I give up

[Chkinut]

I’m 52 and haven’t had a period in 18 months! Hooray! I’m thrilled! I’m 5’4 and I use to stay around 112......but after menopause I got up to 140 which is the highest I’ve ever been in my life! I did NOT feel good about it......I jiggled whenever I walked, I had a belly that was getting in the way of even trying to clip my toenails! I allowed myself to go up 2 pant sizes......but even they were getting tight. I thought I was doomed......that menopause caused it all.....then (with lots of prayer) I finally got control over my appetite. I started replacing meals with Slim Fast. I did that for about a week....and that helped me kick it all into gear......I am now doing OMAD and cutting most bad sugars out. Over a month I’ve lost 10 lbs.....which is slower than how I use to lose. I’m also restricting a lot.....but when I was in the eating mode and gained all this weight, I felt food was controlling me!! I didn’t see HOW I could snap out of it! But with prayer, getting back on proana and also discovering the OMAD plan I’m doing so much better. I’m down to 127 now.