This is a daily thread for women 40+ who are: losing those middle aged pounds, dealing with hormonal issues, family issues or just plain losing their minds! I hope my friends follow me to this new thread and I hope to make more friends along the way - all are welcome.
Cheryl :)
I think we all feel that way sometimes, like it's just futile and why do we bother, because we're going to be this size forever now.
But we have to remember it's just a *feeling.* It's our own negative self-talk giving us trouble. Logically, we know that it's not true. If we work hard, eat right, exercise and get healthy, it may take longer than we'd like, but eventually we will get in shape!
We will! I think part of the whole "losing too slow" thing that we're all struggling with is just part of our whole culture's unrealistic idea of weight and weight loss. I lost 1.5 pounds last week and 1 pound this week. And I've been angsting over that all morning. Why only 1 pound? Will I ever be done? etc.
But you know what? That's dumb of me to think that. How many times have we been told that REAL weight loss happens slowly, .5 pound up to 2 pounds at the absolute most is how REAL weight loss happens. We're all used to hearing the "biggest loser" stories and advertisements of people losing 5 pounds a week and we think that's what we're supposed to be doing.
But we're not! Those are not typical results for regular people like us. We are doing it the right way, it's working, and it's working the way it's supposed to. We all need to take a step back, remember the goal is to get healthy - not be thin in a week - and keep that goal in sight.
Believe me, I'm really bad about this. I've been bitching to my boyfriend all along. "Only half a pound this week! Ugh!" He's probably sick to death of hearing it.
So as of this moment, I'm reminding myself - any weight loss is good weight loss. I didn't put on 50 pounds in a few weeks and it's not going to come off in a few weeks. My weight loss has been slow but steady and I WILL get where I'm going.
And so will you all. We can do this!
I understand weight loss is slow but even in the 40's thread people are loosing closer to 1 lb a week.
What I mean is I'm a size 14/16. Have been for 5-7 years. Not really watching what I ate, no exercise and I stayed that way for that long. How is it I eat right, exercise and I lose 5 lbs in over 12 weeks? It just makes me feel like size 14/16 is my new normal.
I don't know. I'm trying to stay positive but with everyone doing so well on this site I'm very frustrated and a bit beat down.
deamarie,
I sometimes wonder the same thing. I used to be an 8, and now I'm a 10 (sometimes 12). I know it's not that big of a size change, but I'm only 5'2" so I notice it big time.
A few months ago, there was a news show that had identical twins that were separated at birth (they never new the other existed) and then they reunited them. There they were, something like six sets of twins and guess what...each one had the same body shape/weight. No one mentioned this on the show, but I sure noticed (instead they focused on how much they were the same in other ways). Anyhow, this made me think that no matter what we do, we are genetically disposed to a certain shape. Yes, we can fight it tooth and nail - or we can opt to just be as healthy as possible (what really matters).
Cheryl
bjben,
I highly advise that you read What You're Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, by Dr. John Lee. He says that hormone imbalance is b/c we have too much estrogen and not enough progesterone - thus the hot sweats when you don't ovulate (you're not realeasing progesterone) - but you do get estrogen from your fat and the environment (estrogen is easily mimiced). He also found that when his patients used natural progesterone cream, their bone density increased. He admits that he never did a controlled study on this, but he he stands by his findings. As for all the bone stregth meds out there (like Boniva) - that is a temporary fix and it hurts you in the long run. The best thing is NPC, exercise and getting plenty of calcium.
I'm in meno 2.5 years now and at my bone density test I was 10% denser (my bones that is, lol) than the average woman my age (41 - and they aren't usually in meno). Don't know if it's the cream, or just me...
Cheryl :)
Bjben, My Dr. did a bone density test on me nearly a year after my periods had stopped. he ordered the dexa scan to get a "baseline" to keep watch since I was post meno. Unfortunately, my test showed the bones of a 90 yr. old woman. I have had dairy allergies (dairy triggers asthma for me) since birth so I think that is a big part of it. I wish I had listened to my mom all those years that she told me to take calcium supplements. A dexa-scan isn't very expensive (mine cost around $150, compared to my hip x-ray that cost $1000...I am self employed with minimal insurance, so my insurance doesn't cover any of the testing) and could give you a baseline (as well as peace of mind). Be sure to get lots of calcium and walking is good exercise to strengthen bones.
Original Post by digigirl:
I think we all feel that way sometimes, like it's just futile and why do we bother, because we're going to be this size forever now.
But we have to remember it's just a *feeling.* It's our own negative self-talk giving us trouble. Logically, we know that it's not true. If we work hard, eat right, exercise and get healthy, it may take longer than we'd like, but eventually we will get in shape!
We will! I think part of the whole "losing too slow" thing that we're all struggling with is just part of our whole culture's unrealistic idea of weight and weight loss. I lost 1.5 pounds last week and 1 pound this week. And I've been angsting over that all morning. Why only 1 pound? Will I ever be done? etc.
But you know what? That's dumb of me to think that. How many times have we been told that REAL weight loss happens slowly, .5 pound up to 2 pounds at the absolute most is how REAL weight loss happens. We're all used to hearing the "biggest loser" stories and advertisements of people losing 5 pounds a week and we think that's what we're supposed to be doing.
But we're not! Those are not typical results for regular people like us. We are doing it the right way, it's working, and it's working the way it's supposed to. We all need to take a step back, remember the goal is to get healthy - not be thin in a week - and keep that goal in sight.
Believe me, I'm really bad about this. I've been bitching to my boyfriend all along. "Only half a pound this week! Ugh!" He's probably sick to death of hearing it.
So as of this moment, I'm reminding myself - any weight loss is good weight loss. I didn't put on 50 pounds in a few weeks and it's not going to come off in a few weeks. My weight loss has been slow but steady and I WILL get where I'm going.
And so will you all. We can do this!
I lost 5 pounds week before last but only 1 pound last week. I too have been crabbin about it...why only 1 pound? I did the same thing I did the week before...why the difference. It can be discouraging. But your right...any weight loss is good weight loss. At least we're headed in the right direction! *thumbsup*
deamarie,
you mean what to do about it - meaning the twins that all looked the same? I really don't know...it has me wondering too. Some were thin, some were over weight - but they were all the same as their siblings! I do recall that there was one guy that was in much better shape than his twin - he lifted weights. But they were the only two who were different. My guess is that in this small sampling, none of the other twins did anything different than the other - they ate similiar and probably had the same activity level - but I don't know. It would have been interesting for scientists to do a study on this since it is was a unique situation that they could have learned a lot from.
Cheryl :)
Not about the twins directly, but the whole healthy eating journey. Most of it I really don't mind. Like I said I have always liked all food groups, but to say "no" more than yes and to work out with such little result messes with you. I thought starting the beginning of February would have been a safe bet to be down 10 lbs by now. I've lost 5.
5 pounds in twelve weeks averages out to .42 pounds per week. That's pretty close to a half pound per week, which all the nutritionists, etc. say is normal weight loss. So, perhaps your meno is slowing you down a little, but what you are doing IS working.
Yes, it's slow and it's frustrating and it's a pain in the butt. But it IS weight loss. You are moving in the right direction.
Also, another thing you might think about is - have you taken any measurements of yourself? I measured myself when I first started and now I measure myself just once a month. After I had been dieting for about 6 weeks, I was fairly discouraged, hadn't lost as much as I thought I should, etc. Then, when I did my measurements, I discovered that although the numbers on the scale didn't move that much, the measurements sure did! I had some significant changes in waist and thigh that made it all worth it.
Sometimes, positive changes can happen in your body with diet and exercise that don't necessarily show up on the scale. Try to see if there are some other gauges of success you can use besides your scale - measurements, how your clothes fit, etc.
I know it's really frustrating and you feel like you are depriving yourself for nothing, but in the long run, I really believe improved health is worth it.
It's obvious you are feeling pretty down about this, so maybe you need to try to change things some in order to improve your outlook. Try adding a few calories per day (did you know that if you eat too few, you will lose slower?) so you feel less deprived, or change your workout routines (your body can get used to what you're doing and become less effective) or even just take a break for a week and then start again!
I have "zig-zagged" my calories to help with my body not getting too use to a set amount of calories.
I haven't taken measurements. I should do that. I know I need to turn around my thinking about this. I guess I'm surprised that not even the first week a 1lb lost. I didn't lose anything for the first month. It just seems backwards to tradional dieting methods. I can see it slowing up after a while, but to start off with nothing seemed weird.
I'm going to stick with it. I don't know if I really want to skip it for a week. Going back to the "dark side" is too easy. :)
Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Cindy,
All I can do is recommend that you read the book by Dr. John Lee -What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause.
When I started the hot flashes (REALLY BAD - all day all night) I ended up on womantowoman.com - and bought their package (I don't normally do that, but I was very desperate)- which was vitamins, progesterone cream & a diet book (the Schwarzbien Principle). After using the cream, my hot flashes were gone. Then I started reading about it, wondering why it worked and how come I didn't know about this cream. That lead me to the pioneer of the natural progesterone cream (Dr. Lee) and his book - which I then bought. It was a real eye opener.
As for the diet- I trashed the calorie counting a few weeks ago after getting very discouraged and now I'm following the Swarzbien Principle (which is mainly no sugar and low carbs - you can eat anything that is found in nature - not processed). I haven't lost much, but I am full, I'm not spending my time fretting about calories and I can go out to restaruants (not restricted).
Cheryl :)
I am definitely going to try it !! I'm ordering it today!!:-)
deamarie,
I hear your frustration over doing all the right things and not getting to enjoy more satisfying results - but I would chime in with the others and encourage to keep going. It can be a long and painful process, but your body will respond with time and you'll be glad you stuck with it. Is there something kind you can do for yourself today as a reward for your hard work?
Regarding the progesterone cream advice,
Thanks for letting me know your experiences with this. I have tried it before, several years ago and ended up so irritable and sad I had to stop. I'm wondering if it was too early. I may give it another go now. Where can one buy natural progesterone cream? Thanks, too, for the info about its effect on bone density - didn't know that.
The progesterone cream made you sad??? That's unusual since progesterone normally makes one in a better mood - was it progesterone cream mixed with estrogen (they sometimes come together)? You also have to make sure its UPS (I think that means United States Pharmacudical) progesterone cream. Also, don't confuce the natural stuff with the stuff the doctor prescribes - now that has been known to make women irritable. My mother was on it (when I was a teen) and it was like living with a monster (she even admits it...now).
Cheryl
Yeah, it made me sad and really irritable. I've been doing some reading on it in the past couple of days and I think I was using waaaay too much!! Maybe it was a bad brand, or maybe my chiropractor didn't know what she was talking about, but I was using 1/2 tsp. every day and from what I'm reading, one is supposed to use 1/16 of a tsp. every day!! Yikes! I'll have to try it again.
Does it do anything for weight loss? :)
Also, does anyone else struggle with eating too much on the weekends? I try and stick to my three meals and snacks, but it's very difficult. I think because the structure isn't there that exists on work days I end up nibbling and snacking more than I should. Any ideas or suggestions?
I use two pumps (about 1/16 tsp per pump) twice a day (morning & night). It says to use 3 pumps a day, so sometimes I add a little more. As for weight loss, sadly, I don't think it helps. I do think it keeps you from being bloated though. I used to get so water logged right before my period and it was all hormonal. Now, I don't get that anymore and I read that the cream acts like a diuretic (sp?). I also noticed that when I am water logged, I am a monster - soooo irratible!! A few days ago I must have eaten something b/c my rings were so tight on me and I was crazy mean! Maybe that's why women are preceived to be b*&chy when they get their periods - b/c of the water.
As for weekend eating - I work from home so I struggle with that every day! I snack all day long and it doesn't help. Maybe I should put a check list on my fridge to remind me that I already had a snack.... either that or put a pic of myself in a bathing suit (ugh).
Hi everyone! It's good to be back from Mossouri. I had a great week and cooked for 12 people who I went to New Tribes Missions with. They all worked on cars for the week so the missionary students can drive around to their home churches this summer in safe good running cars. It was alot of work to cook for that many people every day but I absolutely love to cook (which is why I am overweight :) ) and it was a fun group.
While away,I took a break from counting calories but I tried to be careful to eat only when I felt hungry. I also tried to get moving each day by running walking, sit-ups, push-ups etc. I forgot to weigh in this morning but I will check tomorrow. It's back to counting though because I know for me, I get a little more liberal with each meal when I don't count. I've lost 15 pounds so far and don't want to screw it up.
I wanted to comment on the progesterone cream...
I found that you have to experiment a little with the amount you use. I also have found for me if I use half my dose in the am and half in the pm I feel more "even" emotionally all day. I would experience extreme anxiety if I took too much also .
For those of you that are loosing weight slowly if your not using Progesterone cream you might really want to consider it because being estrogen dominant will tend to slow your metabolism as well. I feel like that is one of the keys to my weight loss this time. I really want to second Cheryl's reccomendation to read Dr Lee's book as well. I also have looked into the "Woman to Woman" web site and found very sound information.
I'm not ready to accept my current size (10) as being my "new normal" I quit smoking 9 years ago which will dramatically change a person's metabolism and to further my gaining I have replaced smoking with eating. So now I think I just really need to get some perspective on amounts and cravings. Being done with "the change" has also contributed to a lower metabolism that feels like it is changing and improoving with all the exercise I have been able to do.
I really became committed to loosing weight when I began experiencing joint pain all the time in my hips. My concern was that my frame wasn't built to haul around an extra 35 pounds all the time and it was time to loose. Since I have lost 15 pounds the pain has really gone down to just an occassional stiffness.
Between decreased pain and increased libido I am sticking through until I'm at least a size 8 but even better a 6! I want to encourage you all to keep up the hard work.
I look at it like spending money vs. saving. I never regret when I choose to save money but many times I have chosen to spend it (epecially on a want) and not always but I often later regret it later because of a different need arising. It's the same with my weight concerning eating and being diligent to be healthier. I don't think I've ever regreted turning down an extra serving or taking time to exercise. I know that I have regretted lacking self control in my eating or choosing to loaf rather than move.
Have a great day everyone!
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