weight loss during menopause

I am a 42 yr. old female who is prematurely going though menopause. I am having a very hard time losing weight even though I am eating very healthy. Has my metabolism slowed down because of the menopause and what can I do to jump start it? I am the heaviest I've ever been in my life. I'm 190 at 5'6".

My wife is 53, had her ovaries (and I don't know what else) removed several years ago and gained a lot of weight. She carries all her overweight on her belly and almost looks pregnant. My advice to her is eat right, count your calories, and get some exercise. But other than that, there are no shortcuts to losing weight. Some folks have an easier time than others losing weight.

The only way I know of to increase your metabolism - in theory - if you can add muscle mass, the extra muscle uses more calories than less muscle mass - so start a walking (aerobic) program, and maybe start investigating using dumbells (strength training).

Good luck to you, it's not hopeless it's just difficult to lose weight during menopause. You have chosen the right path!!!

Nice of you, nubiker, to support us gals! I'm 58 and underwent surgical menopause at 48. Seems like I'd been steadily gaining weight ever since. I'm only 5'3" and have joined the Nautilus after failing at Curves (the 30min just wasn't working). The secret to wt loss after menopause is 'slow & steady.' yes, eat right, but eat enough! DO NOT starve. This only activates the female homones in your fat cells and they will never let go. You have to fool them by slow steady exercise. Sometimes I will read on the treadmill & walk 2 miles! I use the Nautilus machines to strengthen my muscles - I'm sure that you, like me, do not want to increase your muscle mass by much - but what nubiker says is true about the increased metabolism of muscle. But to thin down the fat - which is a must! - go slow & steady at least 15 minutes a day gradually increasing. Eat wholesome meals up to 2,000 calories/day.  some days only 1600 but never over 2000 and try to avoid going under 1200 more than 2-3 days in a row - keep those darn fat cells fooled! Count those calories and choose wisely. I used a list last time to make sure I ate enough. Happy new you in the new year!

Hey does all of this sound soooo familiar!!!.....I know how the 30 min. at Curves isn't enough,ktu, and just about everything else you said! It helps to have someone else put it into words too....and one great thing about this age,,,,experience is a great teacher,,,,,our own and others....Thank you.

Yeah hun, here's the deal:

metabolism is pretty much a fancy word for how much your body requires to maintain itself.

Muscle tissue is a very needy tissue. It needs a lot of calories to stick around. Fat tissue, on the other hand, just sits there (and don't we just love fat).

When they say the metabolism slows as you get older, this is true, but what they're really saying is you lose muscle, and therefore need less calories to maintain your weight and therefore are able to gain weight without changing any other factor in your life.

You can bring your metabolism back to normal, and even INCREASE it, by doing some strength training on a regular basis, and adding more protein into your diet, eating at least every 3 hours. You want to train your cells to be more sensitive to their own insulin, it aides muscle growth.

Good luck!

shakti, thanks! that's the best explanation i've read yet.  i keep hearing about "slow metabolism" but it's quite hard to understand.  now i think i get it!!

yes, thanks shakti, the part about more protein I needed to be reminded of,,,I tend to not eat enough of it or the right kind,,,  I have been watching my nutrition more closely the past few months because I broke my elbow and sprained the wrist on the same arm in Oct.  I upped the calcium for healing, and the protein during that time and noticed a change in the way I felt.....after the cast came off I went back to my old ways and whoa...I can really tell. During recoup my nails actually grew and were pretty, which is a constant struggle for me to have them be healthy. I gained weight during recoup though because the dr. had me sit and prop the arm alot because a sling aggravates the discs in my neck. I have never weighed this much, even when 9+ months pregnant, or felt so mushy.....I am counting on SI6 to help with that,,,,,I really like forum, it is helping me so much with motivation and SOLUTIONS!!!

I'm having the same trouble. Never in my life have I had a weight problem.  After 4 children, I was just 107 pounds just 10 years ago.    I'm 56.  I've steadily gained over ten pounds in the past 6 years and it keeps on coming.   Currently, I'm gaining about 1/2 pound a month.   No matter what I do, my body wants to put on that weight.  I eat between 1500 to 1800 calories per day.  I dance--ballet, jazz, salsa, swing, hustle, plus I do weight training twice a week and yoga once a week.  According to the charts on this program, I'm using almost 900 calories per day in exercise.  However, my weight never stays down longer than ten days.  Every time I think I've found the solution and I think I'm losing weight, that changes seven to ten days later.  My body goes back to the high weight.  I've tried not exercising for a few days, I've tried over exercising, I've tried eating only protein, no breads, rice, pasta.  No matter what I do, my body keeps wanting to put on weight.  The chart says that I have a healthy weight and body fat, however, I'm rounding in the middle.  My waist is gone, my hips are widening.  I've reached the end of my ropes.  I feel hopeless!  I honestly don't think that you can control your weight when you go through menopause.

Boy do I feel your pain, Lacatrina. Poor you.  We are stricken by the menopause monster which sabbatoges EVERYTHING we do to be slim.  It makes you hungrier than ever so you either give in and eat more or starve yourself and deprive yourself in hopes that you'll lose weight and then you put your body into starvation mode so it can't burn calories.  I don't know about you but I constantly have to fight the carb and sugar fairy.  She visits me every night around 2 am. To make matters worse, the menopause monster steals your sleep and breathes fire on the back of your neck (hot flashes) all night so you are too tired and exhausted in the mornings to exercise.  Exercising in the morning burns more fat.  During menopause, you lose muscle mass, thereby decreasing your metabolism even further...sigh.  I guess we're lucky we don't weight 500 lbs.  I'm 47 and dealing with this.  I'm an amatuer dancer and up until 3 years ago, I was ballerina-thin; not emaciated mind you, just very slender.  You know what I mean.  I've gained 10lbs and the scale doesn't budge either.  10 lbs distributed nicely might look good but mine does not. I now own "bra fat" and "bat wings".  I also have little saddle bags and could carry a small parcel of Christmas cards on each of my hips if they had pockets...YUK. Right now, I am working with a trainer on my upper arms and back to get rid of the upper body flab.  I figure the dancing and leg presses are enough for now. I am only past week one so I'll let you know how I progress.  I eat about 1600 calories a day and guess what????  I AM STARVING.  I hate this.