Rapid Weight gain/menapause?

[dihog]

I am a 43 yr old. women who has always exercised and has always had to watch my weight.  Over the years I've successfully stayed at a healthy weight by following a low-calorie (sometimes low carb) way of eating and have always exercised.  In the last year and 1/2, I have gained 25 lbs. (15 in the last 6 months) while continuing to diet and exercise the entire time (I have changed nothing and in fact have increased my exercise).  This rapid unexplained weight gain has me going crazy.  My thyroid has been tested and is well within normal range---my Dr thinks it's all just due to menapause--but this seems SO excessive especially for someone like me who is SO disciplined with my diet and also with exercise.  WHat else could this be???? WHat tests should I have done and/or what kindof dr. should I see? an endrocrinologist???

[specialmom]

I am really sorry that this happened as things are hard enough as you get to this age, weight gain just makes it worse!  So, I personally had to make a change.  I am not on any specific diet but did a combination of things that has helped and I've lost weight.  I looked at my own diet and where it needed to change.  Examples for me---  I drank pop.  I put sugar and cream in my coffee.  If we had sweets in the house, I ate them.  I ate too much in terms of portions.  I ate a lot of fatty foods.  Etc.  

So, I gave up all pop.  I gave up coffee.  I drink a lot of water now.  For my drink that is tastier than water---  I do drink some orange juice and some apple juice and I drink a cup of tea or two every day.  Earl grey tea doesn't need sugar.  I don't buy any sweets that I'd be tempted to eat.  I don't eat anything processed but I do eat tortilla chips.  I watch portions.  Here is a typical day's food for me.

Wake up.  Eat something small--  hard boiled egg OR a bread thin half with a little peanut butter on it or Oatmeal that is 100 cal a serving.  I pick one of those three and eat that in the morning.  

I may have a banana mid morning or an apple.

Lunch---  I eat either a salad (lettuce w/ some spinach thrown in there, usually seeds such as pumpkin or sesame, maybe some hard boiled egg, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, a few croutons and some lite dressing), OR tortilla chips and they make these 100 cal packs of guacamole--  I'd eat two of those packs with the chips and it fills me up, OR the bread thins with 2 pieces of lunch turkey and lettuce.  or Occasionally a heart healthy can of soup but you have to watch sodium.  That's maybe once a month.  

Then I may have another piece of fruit or some tortilla chips and salsa.

Then dinner, I either eat lean protein, vegetable, and a grain or just a small portion of whatever I make for my family.  

Then I have a piece of fruit before bed or my special treat, a 40 cal fudge pop.  

Sometimes I have a Kashi trail mix bar---  those are pretty tasty.  I might have a low fat yogurt.  I might drink some milk.

I take a good multi vitamin too.  

But then I also exercise.  I started going to classes.  I do classes at my OWN pace with no worry that I can't do everything---  I just do what I can and keep moving.  I have gotten stronger and can do more and more.  I do go 5 times a week.  Classes you may like are zumba but I really like boot camp classes because they are done in small segments so the time flies by for me.  I take a step class, there is kick boxing classes, spinning (bike) classes, I do strength classes but prefer them to have cardio mixed in.  It's important to have 30 minutes at least a day of where your heart is pumping.  So, I do a class 5 times a week or 'something'.  If I can't do a class---  I do the treadmill.  If I do that for an hour, I burn 400 calories!  I know that I also have on demand channels with my cable system in which I can turn on various exercise classes to do at home.  I don't do that as much but it is an option.  Or you can go to the library and get exercise class dvd's to do at home.  Or walk briskly for 30 minutes outside.  But the key is at least 30 minutes a day.  To really kick start my weight loss and keep it going----  I do about 50 minutes in a class and then walk on the treadmill at a fast pace for 20 minutes after about 3 times per week.  Do what you can.

Weight loss is 80 percent diet though.  The exercise definitely helps tremendously and helps with the ability to eat a bit more as you burn calories and lose a bit more burning those calories!  

Now, when I started, I didn't have a cheat day really.  Now I do.  One day a week I eat what I want.  I have a sweet or whatever sounds good.  So, I never feel deprived.

I've lost almost 20 pounds since mid January.  And I'm in the premenopausal time frame of life----  but this formula is something that my body responded to and the weight did come off. good luck to you and here to help if you need encouragement or ideas!

[ANG4704]

THANK YOU!!!!

[specialmom]

Hi ANG4704.  Are you in a similar situation?  Tell us what is going on with you.  It helps to talk to people and we want to hear!

[weightgain74]

Hello,
I just turned 40 in December and since 39.5 I have put on 15 pounds.  I know it is hormone related. I have tried everything to lose the weight.  What diet are you following?  I am so desperate.

Thank you.

[specialmom]

Hi there. Okay, so, I recently had a weight loss when all my hormones were working against me.  The things I did were to cut down on sugar, eliminate all sugary snacks/sweets, pop, cream/sugar in coffee, processed foods, chips, all the c rap.  No fast food, ate lots of  lean protein, whole grains, super grains (like quinoa), lots of vegetables, fruits,  Eat nuts, low fat dairy, avocado, wraps with black beans and vegi's in them, lots of salads.  Basically overhauled my whole diet.  After the first month, I started having one cheat day a week.  This is where I have what I want.


I started an exercise routine.  Five days a week, I do a cardio/weight mix for an hour.  If I can't do an hour, I do at least 30 minutes.  

I've lost 15 pounds over 3.5 months.  Nice and slow and I am never hungry.  I don't crave sugar as I used to and don't have that cycling of wanting bad food.  If I can maintain this ----  then menopause will NOT kick my butt.  :>)  

I'm happy to help in any way I can.  I also am the community leader of the healthy cooking forum.  Let me know if you need the link---  it is a med help forum to share healthy cooking ideas.  :>)  Come join us!  

good luck all

[donnasforza]

Im a 52 year old female I consider myself a tive on the go .. 5 dogs plus a 5 yearold granddaughter that we are currtly raising and I swear if I walk by the cookies I gain 6 pounds im hating life not sure what to do .. can someone help or suggest soemthing to us....***@****. let me know please open to just about anything at this point and time..

[4myshasta]

BUT....now that I'm "happy" as misery does love company, 134 POSTS stating the SAME EXACT THING!
I KNOW it feels good to express but is there no answer?
We just keep getting heavier?
This can't be a new phenomenon so why hasn't anyone posted a solution of some sort?
I am grateful I was somewhat under weight prior to this weight gain so I can accept this new normal body and get new pants.

MY question is.....When do I buy them?
Do I gain 10 pounds every month?
If so, how MANY months?
I refuse to revert to jogging pants and be slumpy on top of fat but I hate to have to buy a few pairs of pants each and every month.

[4myshasta]

Thank you, there IS a God cause I thought I died and went to Hell!
I have gained 20 pounds in the last 6 months.
Granted, we've had a harsh winter but I always hibernate and do NOTHING in winter and this has NEVER happened.
My inner thighs are rubbing and my fat pants don't fit.
It has made me incredibly depressed (which I have been my whole life) but this is over the TOP depressed.

I say thank God there's a God because I thought I was all alone and with this many posts, that's all it took to make me feel so much lighter!
Maybe I WILL look like a pregnant Grandma like I swore I'd never do, but at least I know, I'm not alone!!

Thanks to all the top button un-buttoners previous to my rant!!
:)