Menopause Hell and now OBESE

[boatymcboatface]

Just did my BMI. OFFICIALLY OBESE. So angry that there is so little help to deal with this menopause slow down/weight gain. Over 4 stone in 5 years. I honestly don't eat or drink differently than when I lost weight and kept it off for years! Fed up! Wine tonight and I'm not feeling guilty about that! I'll start counting those calories each day again.

Back to the Fast Diet from Michael Moseley on Monday, too busy travelling to think about what I am going to eat when I'm driving for over 5 hours tomorrow and again on Saturday.

Please someone tell me that they cooked their own meals, avoided "diet" food and ate whole foods and have lost this level of weight?

Monday I take my life back. More exercise, running, weights and forget about a social life.

[RoseyTB]

Hi boatymcboatface, I understand your pain. For a long time I used to be a lovely weight, clothes fitted nicely, but like you the menopause came and boom, I have put on 2 1/2 stone and cannot shift it. I don't sleep well either which doesn't help. I have tried to decrease my meals, eat more healthily and less fats sugar etc etc. All to no avail. All the doctor gave me was some anti depressants last year to try and get me to sleep at night, but they didn't really do anything. I get fed up some days as I don't eat alot, I walk everywhere, but my metabolism seems to be non existent. Some days I just think why do I bother, but because of the weight gain, I feel awful about myself. It is a horrible feeling, so I do know where you are coming from. I have bought some dance dvds, but to be honest, I don't have the room in the house to do them properly, so that doesn't help. It feels like a merry-go-round at the moment, that doesn't know when to stop. I want to get off. I am waiting to go back and see the doctor, maybe she will be able to help me. I hope you find your happy place and things feel a little better for you. Take care of yourself and enjoy that glass of wine. 🙂

[Swangirl40]

Hi there boatymcboatface, Oh I understand!! I have gained weight in perimenopause too. I do not like carrying the extra weight. I also have hypothyroid (on levothyroxine) and pcos which compounds things.

What I am trying is healthy eating, essentially a low carb, low fat , low sugar, low GI then lots of veggies, salads, fruit some dairy and protein. Rarely any alcohol. We cook most things from scratch and never have takeaways etc. Hubby has joined me which makes it easier.

Also watching portion sizes and exercising. I do get frustrated and sometimes down with the huge amount of effort and tiny progress but I will continue. I shifted my focus from losing weight to getting fitter and healthier and building stamina and muscle tone. That seemed to help. So I do pilates several times a week which I love to do , walk for an hour a day and do a dance video which is fun and lots of gardening. So far I have lost 4 kg over 6 months but it is taking a lot of effort and restraint!! However I do have better muscle tone and I feel more positive. BP and blood work is all excellent !

I do allow myself a treat night when we have film night at home and I do still buy clothes that make me feel good in them. I know it will be a long haul to lose the weight and keep it off but I feel its got to be a healthy lifestyle choice for a long time.

Take good care of yourself and sending big hugs.

[Wales99]

Totally understand- six years ago I was eating healthily and exercising regularly when menopause hit! I started getting post-exercise migraines and was told to stop exercising whilst it was investigated- I then started getting daily migraines. Eventually I saw a Neurologist on the NHS and was prescribed propranolol (one of the side effects is weight gain) the daily migraines stopped but not the post exercise ones. I haven’t been able to exercise properly for six years. I’m now trying HRT to see whether they can stop the migraines. I have put on a stone and sometimes get so depressed about the days I was a dress size smaller and fit. Its just so unfair. I don’t follow faddy diets but I have always followed the Slimming World plan - it’s more of a healthy eating plan and works for me. I am trying to walk as much as possible as well. Don’t forget that BMI Is largely discredited now - when you think rugby players come out as obese! Don’t get too down about the numbers. If you are eating healthily and exercising when you can then you are doing your best. Don’t beat yourself up. 😊