menopause pounds- have to go!

Hey there everyone,

I am 43 and have started pre-menopause.  I have always worked hard at keeping somewhat in shape. The past 6 months has been impossible for me.  I feel like a pear now and want desperately to do something about it. I found this site and now I'm very excited to start my new regiment on eating healthy and working out.    I know I'm not alone when I say that it is so hard to know exactly what I should be eating Or NOT eating for that matter!  This site is really going to help :)  good luck to everyone that is in this boat :)

Lisa

I am in the "throws" of menopause myself.  I have actually been going through menopause for the last 2 years.  I have gained 20 pounds since this last December and I thought I ate pretty reasonable.  I am a nurse and have never really had weight issues before.  I would cut back on my diet anytime I gained 5 pounds and would drop the weight fairly quickly.  Now I cut back and I continue to gain.  It just isn't fair.  I could use a buddy to help keep me on track.  Are you interested?

Susan,

I am very interested! Sorry it has taken me a while to respond, I am on vacation for the next few weeks. I will be back the first week of August where I will need to get back on track more than ever!  Where do you live?  I'm in Kitchener, Ontario :)

I will be back!

Hi I know what you mean about gaining weight it seems like once I hit 42 my weight started coming on quickly. I am now 47 years old and I can't take this weight any more. You know it is sad to be larger than I have ever been pregnant. So I weigh 222.6 pounds as of last Saturdays weigh in. I have lost 5 pounds so far.

As if all the other menopause things weren't enough - the weight gain is a bear.  Four years ago, when I was only 37, I had a surgery, and then I had to go through six months of treatments designed to send my body into menopause. 

Yvette, I can relate to your comment about being larger than when you were pregnant.  As of the end of June, I had 60 lbs to loose, and that was 30 lbs heavier than when I was 9 months pregnant with a BIG 10 lb. baby.  I was mortified.

Of the 60 lbs I need to loose, the first 20 lbs were due to aging life style choices over 4-5 years, but the next 40 lbs came on over the past 4 years following the onset of menopause.  It feels like your body just revolts on you.

Thankfully, I have found this site and a lot of motivational support.  I've been at it for just over 3 weeks, and I'm down 10 lbs.  I know that the rest will come off more slowly, but that's okay.  Personally, I'm managing my own expectations at 1 lb/week so that I don't get discouraged.    If I loose it a little faster, it's just icing on the proverbial cake.

By the way, HOT FLASHES SUCK.  I feel like I'm living in an oven.  I hope that a red flushed sweaty face is the next fashion fad.  If so, I'll be so hip.

I too have been having "power surges" for the last year and HATE it. Waking up at night soaking wet with sweat ruins an otherwise good night's sleep. 

I've always been overweight and struggled with it so the thought of gaining what I've been working so hard to lose is a scary thought. I'm 48 and determined not to be a fat 50 year old. Changing my eating habits and exercise now will help me to be in maintainance when I hit the BIG 50. I am losing weight consistently but hope those of you who are losing it through menopause will share some of your secrets to success with those of us in the beginning stages of dealing with it.

THANKS everyone for sharing!!  

Hi,

I have been down this road and can say after several years post menopause I am finally getting back to normal. Each time i tried to diet I gained weight---so i gave up and lived with the 15-20 pound gain. I can say that I now have lost 10 am hoping to lose the next 15. Good luck everyone!

i am pre-menopause as well - it seems i look at food and the weight attaches to my body.  i have tried everything.  my best pal michael thurmon's program works the best for my body type but if i eat any more chicken, salmon, or turkey i may just go crazy.

i premade all my meals two days a week - ate 4-5 small meals a day and the pounds just melted away with about 20 minutes of walking a day. it was great and all was good.

now it's like every day is a carb - fest!  all i want is bread and something sweet as my little blue furry friend said it best - "C O O O O K I E!!!!"

oh i hope this website encourages me to make it through this.

hello,

i guess i am in pre-menopause too. my doctor has put me on a low dose of birth control pill so i will not killed everyone in my family. i walk and i do the calorie counts program but i have gain 10 pounds  and can't seen to lose it. the birth control pill are not helping with the hot flashes and the mood swings.  

Hi,

I've been thrown into menopause at 44, with just having a hysterectomy last week.  I was already in the "pre" mode before the surgery.  To top it all off I have recently quit smoking....3 months and counting!  The weight gain is unbelievable from both things.  Right now I know I have to take it easy, but come Thanksgiving time...I am hitting the exercise ball with everything I've got.  I am watching what I am eating and trying to walk the dog 15 minutes a day.  Hopefully next week we can ramp it up to 20 minutes.

Living in the frozen tundra doesn't help.  Its snowing/raining today and all you want to do is watch Food Network and eat more.  I hope someone is near the St. Paul area that can possibly help me get through this.  My short term goal is to lose 15 pounds.  Long term is to lose 22.  But for now, I'll take 1/2 ounce!

Keep up the good work folks! You all can do it!

hi,

I feel your pain, I am going through the same thing. if you can find a answer to gaining weight please tell me. how I am coping with it is I bought a sauna suit and I walk everyday in that suit. also I am staying away from the scale, it depress me. I know I am losing inches with the sauna suit. good luck.

Hi

     I am also in pre menopause or menopause, I don't know the difference and I hate it. I am trying all the natural stuff, like omega 3, etc. but I am feeling depressed. I also have 70lbs to lose. My 25 anniversary will be this summer, august and I want to get in to my wedding dress. I know it sounds stupid but this is my plan. I also need to do it for medical reasons. I don’t understand why I don’t have the will power to do this. I stopped smoking and I quit drinking. Why can’t I lose this weight. I quit smoking alone and I quit drinking alone. Maybe I can’t do the weight thing alone or maybe I am depressed because of menopause. It was just nice to be able to say all these things to others that understand.