News letter on Menopause & Weight gain

[cottagecheeks]

Weight Gain During Menopause: Is It Inevitable?

It’s possible not to gain weight as you go through menopause, but it’s important not to skimp on exercise. In one study researchers followed 500 premenopausal women for almost 5 years as they entered their menopausal years. One group followed a 1,300 calorie a day diet and burned 1,000 or more calories a week through exercise. The other group didn’t change their diet or exercise habits. The results? Women who exercised and controlled their diet lost 0.2 pounds, while the women who made no changes gained around 5 pounds on average.

So if I watch my diet and exercise carefully for five years I can loose 0.2 pounds.
If I just eat whatever I want and not exercise I will gain only five pounds in five years.

Wow. I am so underwhelmed.

 

[melagras]

I bet a man wrote that article.

I was ballrooming dancing 4-5 days a week (2-3 hours) plus working out at the gym 3 days a week (hour or so weightlifting) and I still gained 20 pounds. I used to wear a size 2. I finally managed to get down to a size 6.

In other words, you'll have to work your ass off to keep the weight off! I'm exhausted.

 

[ElleJay]

I started peri-menopause in my very early 40's, and that is when I started gaining weight. When I hit 49 it started coming back off. I am still exercising and eating the same way (yes, I track religiously), the only difference is that I quit a job that was driving me nuts and had me so stressed out - ugh.

Now if only the insomnia would go away

 

[complik8td]

Menopause & weight gain

In other words, you'll have to work your ass off to keep the weight off! I'm exhausted.

ROFLMAO! YES!!!! I am SO exhausted that I need to have "tennis elbow debridement" surgery done in a few weeks.

 

[Trixoo]

Cottage cheeks -

Is that your cat? Adorable....

 

[Fembot40]

1300 calories a day? Is that what I have to look forward to? I'm hungry just thinking about only consuming 1300 calories. When it hits, I'm just going to workout more. What did Kate Hudson reveal she did to get rid of the baby weight? Was it 6 hours of workouts a day? That sounds better than 1300 calories.

 

[cottagecheeks]

Yes Trixoo,
That's my spoiled little kitty. Thanks.
Are those yours in your avitar?
They look adorable too.

 

[cottagecheeks]

If I cut down to 1300 calories for five years and lost only 0.2 pounds, I be so mad I would,. I don't know what I wold do.

 

[Trixoo]

Yes Trixoo,
That's my spoiled little kitty. Thanks.
Are those yours in your avitar?
They look adorable too.

Yes, those are my kitties....they're spoiled, too!

 

[lioness]

Don't believe everything you read. I am 51 and lost 17 pounds in about 6 months just by making a few simple changes to my diet. I was already eating healthy but I made a few small changes and the weight came off. I didn't change my workout schedule. I don't count calories I just try to eat good lean protein, veggies, fruits and some complex carbs. I cut out sugar completely. I do allow myself 1 cheat meal a week that includes dessert. It can be done.

 

[maddiesmum]

6 hours working out per day? Please. Exercise is supposed to enrich your life, not BE your life.

I do not have time for that!

Clare

 

[JeanneMarie]

Don't believe everything you read. I am 51 and lost 17 pounds in about 6 months just by making a few simple changes to my diet. I was already eating healthy but I made a few small changes and the weight came off. I didn't change my workout schedule. I don't count calories I just try to eat good lean protein, veggies, fruits and some complex carbs. I cut out sugar completely. I do allow myself 1 cheat meal a week that includes dessert. It can be done.

Good for you! I was about to post the same thing... don't believe everything you read. Everybody is different. There is no one-size-fits-all for how your body will react to menopause.

I am almost 56 and have gone through menopause. I haven't gained a pound. My waist is still 25 inches and my shape is basically the same as it has been for the last 35 years. I guess my chief complaint would be the changing texture of my skin.

I work out and run and eat what I want, although I watch my portions. I don't count calories and never have.

I had some insomnia related to menopause for about a year and that was probably my only symptom.

So don't go into it thinking you're doomed. You absolutely are not.

Like I said, everybody is different and I know there are women who have struggled. My heart goes out to them, but I don't think anybody needs to dread menopause thinking it's going to be so awful. It isn't always.

 

[SNM Videos]

Interpreting Fitness and Nutrition studies

After reading everyone's comments I see that a lot of people are interpreting the the results of the study in this article incorrectly. Studies on exercise and nutrition on humans are very difficult to conduct and control since you can't precisely control what people actually eat and do when not watched. The overwhelming number of people in studies of this type will not even come close to following the guidelines they're supposed to. This is especially true of a 5 year study.

The only thing this study shows is that the premenopausal women group who exercised really didn't gain any weight over 5 years and the group that didn't exercise as much gained weight. This only proves that for premenopausal women it is possible to control your weight when exercise is part of your life. This study does not say anything about the actual weight gain or loss you will experience if you were to actually and precisely follow a 1300 per day calorie diet.

 

[Fembot40]

6 hours working out per day? Please. Exercise is supposed to enrich your life, not BE your life.

I do not have time for that!

Clare

Sorry, I was trying to be funny. I had just been reading Kate Hudson bragging about losing her baby weight by working out three times a day for two hours at a time. Seriously though, 1300 calories or 6 hours of exercise a day both sound extreme, I'd rather be menopausal and bloaty.

 

[maddiesmum]

Oh, don't worry Fembot: you have nothing to apologize for! All is good.

Clare

 

[Stebby]

Don't believe everything you read. I am 51 and lost 17 pounds in about 6 months just by making a few simple changes to my diet. I was already eating healthy but I made a few small changes and the weight came off. I didn't change my workout schedule. I don't count calories I just try to eat good lean protein, veggies, fruits and some complex carbs. I cut out sugar completely. I do allow myself 1 cheat meal a week that includes dessert. It can be done.

I'm 51 too. I was kind of lazy all summer and ate whatever I wanted. (Exercised like a fiend, but still out-ate my workouts!) On Aug. 31 I got my act together and started tracking my food again. I am eating 1600-1800 calories per day. I am already 5 lbs down and I am seeing less belly and back fat (I would like to lose 20-25 more). So yes, as lioness says, it can be done - just takes some attention! And 1300 calories is way too little for someone who works out, over 40 or not!

Stebby

 

[Jann]

Everyone is different. Really.

I am 5'1" and at 56 post menopause. I can not eat over 1400 calories with out gaining. Proven over and over -- I eat between 1200-1400 a day to maintain. And what I have found when I gain it's all right around the middle.

 

[cottagecheeks]

Don't believe everything you read. I am 51 and lost 17 pounds in about 6 months just by making a few simple changes to my diet. I was already eating healthy but I made a few small changes and the weight came off. I didn't change my workout schedule. I don't count calories I just try to eat good lean protein, veggies, fruits and some complex carbs. I cut out sugar completely. I do allow myself 1 cheat meal a week that includes dessert. It can be done.

I like your style. That's so reasonable and doable. I cut out sugar for a year once.
I was like one of those people without a weight problem. I ate everyting else I wanted when I wanted. I lost weight. Then I got pregnant and ate junk. Boom! 64 pounds!

 

[Ivy]

I can relate to all of these comments, and I find that if I stick with 1200 calories a day I can lose some weight, although it's slowly, I do work out and I am very small boned, however, I do like sugar, I have to admit that. I try not to have a lot of sugar, a small treat at the end of the day. I don't know, being perimenopausal just kind of sucks. It is definitely more difficult for me to take off the weight and I have worked out all my life. I think there should be a few more indepth studies done on women with perimenopausal weight gain.

 

[fit44]

I like your style. That's so reasonable and doable. I cut out sugar for a year once.
I was like one of those people without a weight problem. I ate everyting else I wanted when I wanted. I lost weight. Then I got pregnant and ate junk. Boom! 64 pounds!

I've learned the older I get, the quality of food has more of an effect on my weight vs. calories. I know it's been said, calories in vs. out, but it is not true for me. Sugar makes me gain weight. My body is less forgiving of a cupcake vs a bowl of oatmeal.