Menopause - For those on the other side...

Netta

Netta

Cathlete
I'm 49 and starting to fight the ab weight. Always was fairly satisfied with my mid-section before but now it seems like it's getting so much tougher to keep the weight off there. Wondering if those who have gained weight during perimenopause and menopause ended up losing the weight after getting through it. I'd like to think that it will happen and that this is just a phase. I like having something to look forward to.

Any thoughts?

Jeanette
 
I have good news and bad news.

I lost a lot of weight after going through menopause, but the hardest place to lose, by far, is in the abdominal area.
 
Jeanette...I am right with you!!! My sister does say like melrose that weight comes of thru or after menopause but this perimenopause is killing me!! Wonder if we can speed up the process???...:)
 
Carol, wish we could speed up the process. By the way, I was in your neck of the woods (Redding) this week for a business meeting. Nice little rain on Monday night.

I have no other symptoms, still pretty regular on my periods, but water retention is bad at times. No hot flashes yet. I hate to think of having to exercise really hard and longer for many more years. According to my Mom and Grandma, menopause was not really an issue for them in as far as any awful symptoms. Neither one of them exercise so I can't really ask them if they lost weight afterwards. Grandma is 93 now and Mom is 73, both in excellent health. Good genes for them.

Does anyone know why the weight goes on and why it comes off afterwards?

Melrose, glad to hear that it came off for you. Were you one that didn't struggle with weight issues until peri/menopause?
 
Hi,

I'm curious to know something. How early did each of you start this process? I'm only 39 but my Mom went through menopause early from what I understand - she was completely DONE at 46. I am wondering if some of the weight gain and listless feelings I've had lately - not wanting to work out, not interested in much of anything are related to that????

Grasping here.
 
Jeanette...I had just got home from Las Vegas Monday night and came home to that rain!! You should let me know when you might be in Redding again and maybe we could do lunch...:)

I started having perimenopause issues in June of 2006, I was 47 then and gained some weight that has been incredibly hard to loose! I think my Mom went thru menopause in her mid 40's, but she was not an exerciser. I have a sister that had a hysterectomy at 42 and then about 50 something had some weight trouble but it seemed to pass after a couple of years.

Reese, it could very well be perimenopause for you, but I am certainly no expert!! I got this book and it helped alot with some of my questions and told of the symptoms of perimenopause: http://secure.annlouise.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=15

I guess just time will tell and I know I will not stop exercising...:)
 
Jeanette,

It is harder to lose the weight. Stay as much as possible on a clean diet, work with weights, cardio and yoga/stretch, and you should be OK. Yet another wonderful thing us ladies have to put up with in life.;(

I do love working out though.

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible

http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
 
Janie,
Love your pictures, by the way. So your experience has been that after menopause the weight is still hard to lose? I've read that for some, the weight came off once they were done with menopause. Maybe it just varies. Sure doesn't seem like it should be this difficult, as hard and consistent as we work out. Not fair that our bodies are fighting our desire to look good. I should be thankful that my body is healthy enough to perform workouts and enjoy life. Could be a lot worse. I'll count my blessings.

Jeanette
 
Reese,
I don't even know if I'm in perimenopause yet, haven't been tested but I'm 49 so I'm assuming so. Seems like Mom told me she went thru it more in her late 40's too, but my sister who is 50 hasn't gone thru it yet either. It's been tougher for me the past 2 years, more water retention issues. Really haven't had any lack of motivation feelings, though I don't work out as intensely as I used to. I'm more into enjoying my cardio workouts (Christi Taylor's a favorite, Tracey Staehle, Cathe of course) and biking. Hope you can find something to get your enthusiasm back. How about joining a checkin?

Jeanette
 
In my experience, my periods became less and less until there were none. I was 46 when I lost my periods. That is the only plus for me. Doctors say this was very early. They told me It usually begins in your 50's.

You get night sweats, hot flashes during the day, moody, dryness not only your vagina but your skin as well. I got very hungry all the time, but that might be because I wasn't exercising at the time with bad food habits.

I had it very rough, and most people I know do not have it that bad. It lasted for me 15 years. I think the norm is from 3-5 years. I was greatfull for the cooling off period. I had to use HRT, but used the organic plant kind , for me it was safer. Still though not proven to be safer, but better than using the kind with mare urine.

Trust me, most people will not go through this as I did, but perhaps somewhere in-between. Just wanted to list the possibilities of symptoms to look for.

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible

http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
 
Everyone's experience is different. My periods stopped in June and I assume I am in it becuase I started getting hot flashes (I am 50.) They were really bad at first but got better with soy milk and flax seeds. Then the flashes stopped a few weeks ago. Maybe becuase of cooler weather? At any rate I lost weight with the hot flashes. Maybe they were revving up my metabolism. Now I have gained back 2 pounds, all in the abs. A book called "outsmarting the midlife fat cell" is helpful in explaining what is happening to your abs, but doesn't give a lot of helpful advice on fixing it.
Beth
 
>>Does anyone know why the weight goes on and why it comes off
>afterwards?


My doctor says that fat tissue helps to produce estrogen, and at a time when your pituitary gland is instructing your body to produce LESS estrogen, and your hormones are erratic, the rest of your body fights back and wants to store some fat tissue to keep the estrogen level fairly constant. She also told me that she does not think that 5 to 10 lbs. gained during this transition is dangerous, providing it does not put you at a medically dangerous weight (i.e., BMI of 25 or above), because it seems to be the body's way of easing the transition. I am 50 and have gained 10 pounds in the past few years, and I can say I feel SOOOOOO much better now than I did then -I'm happier, I'm not hungry all the time, my workouts are so much easier, sex is better, sleep is better, I just feel better all around. Curiously, most of the weight went straight to my bust. BUT I will be curious to see if it does come off naturally after menopause, as many say it does. I guess after menopause, when your hormones are calmer and leveled out, you do not need extra estrogen stores and many women slim down naturally.
 
Netta - No, that wasn't me. I've always struggled with the scale.

Reese - I'm 55. I was 47 when symptoms began. They lasted 5-6 years. Really rough - hot flashes, cold flashes, sleep was a distant memory for a while. I went on the natural estrogen, but it didn't seem to do much. My doctor put me on Premarin a year ago, but I have regular bouts of nausea, so I'm weaning myself off it. I'm down to twice a week now, and am apprehensive about what will happen when I'm off it completely.
 
I will be 52 on Friday. It will be two years in April, since my last period. So, in my opinion, I have already been through menopause. The odd thing is, is that I have never experienced the hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness that women complain about with menopause.

But I must add that when I do gain weight even if it is only 5 pounds it ends up in the abdomen area. I have been able to keep a flat belly after each of my 10 babies - but it is becoming more and more difficult in this area. I do find this very frustrating.

I work out faithfully everyday - I watch my food intake - I feel like this will be a constant battle. But as another poster stated, she gained most of her weight in the bust, well, I have also gained in my bust.

I am hoping that down the road that my fat won't settle in this area anymore.

I am just thankful that I came out of menopause so lightly. Both of my sisters have experienced horrific symptoms during their change of life.

I don't know if this information helps you or not.

Cheryl
 
Not too much I can add here that others have not said. I have not had a period in 4-5 years. I got hot flashes and night sweats pretty regularly for a while. They have subsided now, but I get a hot flash every once in a while. I think they are brought on by stress. What I found really helped me was taking calcium with soy, and vitamin E. Regarding the weight gain, yes I gained at least 10 pounds all of a sudden and all in my abs! I went from flat hard abs to something I had never had in my life! I am losing weight now but not because of going through menopause. It is because I started really watching my portions, cut out sugar, and workout 6 days a week. I wish the weight would come off from finishing menopause! ;-)

Deb
 
I believe I'm in peri-menopause, but it's hard to tell what's what symptom-wise. I don't exercise as often or as hard as I ought to, but my weight stays pretty constant. I pray I never have to use any pills - the natural are the only option I would ever consider. Premarin is obtained in the most inhumane manner! What they do to those poor animals should be illegal. It's despicable!!
 
I started peri at 42 and menopause at 52. Like Janie, it was an extremely tough transition for me. Weight gain, acne, anxiety, memory loss, depression, insomnia...and these are just some of the symptoms I experienced. I thought once peri was over, it would get better but once I was post menopause, the symptoms became more acute.

I'm happy to say that over the course of the year and on bioidentical HRT, I am doing much better. But, just like exercise, I had to find the right HRT and dosage for my body in order for the medication to be effective.

As far as the weight gain. Yup...it's all in the belly where I've never had it before. But, as long as I eat clean and do a combination of cardio and weight lifting, I look pretty darn good, I think! I like to keep my waist at 26.5" and sometimes it's a struggle but not impossible.

BTW, the bio-identical hormones are plant based and deemed not as powerful as synthetic HRT.
 
This thread is so timely, thank you for it. I'm in peri. I've noticed the mid section is the worst while everything else looks great.
My problem is my lower core/abs.
 
Thanks for all the responses.

Well, it doesn't look too promising waistline-wise. I've always had a pear shape so maybe it'll hide my wide hips? One can only hope. It is somewhat comforting to know I'm not alone in this. As I get older, I'm really not wanting to work out longer and harder. I flip-flop between thinking "hey, enjoy life a little more, eat that piece of birthday cake with the grandkids, enjoy more golf instead of century bike rides" or thinking "don't give up, keep working hard, it'll come off".

But for now, that little roll above the waistband on my underpants is really bugging me.:eek:

Jeanette
 
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