Ladies who work out, AND those who do not --

What does working out (treadmill, weights, etc.) do to your symptoms?

And please cover them all: night flashes, palpitations, anxiety, insecurity, appetite (I have none), moods.

I'm wondering whether anyone stopped exercising due to symptoms getting worse.

I thought I was getting palpitations just from getting a little exertion in. It *might* have been medicine, Buspar. I've quit it, of course, just yesterday, when I realized this. Now I'm trying to get it out of me as quickly as possible by guzzling water.

The good news is my urge to pee has returned after about a day. Buspar even kills that. They call it "urinary retention".

Thanks. Sorry about the constant switching of topics. But that's typical, isn't it. Who can concentrate anymore?

Working out actually does not do anything to my symptoms. I run but when I was at the worse with my fatigue I had to walk instead. It only made me feel really good afterwards because about half way though I would think "I can't go on". When I did get through it I would really feel as though I had accomplished something I didn't think I could.
All through this I have tried to maintain my exercise 4 times a week. Very hard to do but not impossible!

Kim

Nevermore: Exercise makes my anxiety level go down. It also seems to help a *little* in the sleeping area. However it has done nothing for hot flashes, palpitations, weight gain....

There are definitely times when the symptoms get so bad I cannot exercise. The one that really does me in is shortness of breath. If I'm having "air hunger" then when I climb on my bike, it just gets worse. I end up having a panic attack while exercising. I try to work out 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, but the last two weeks I haven't felt well and I've only worked out twice.

Working out definitely helps with the 'pms/stress/anxiety,' whatever you want to call it. Sometimes I feel so anxious and irritated at the world... but poor hubby is the only one around so he'd get my on slaught if I didn't work out. He makes sure I have plelnty of time for a work out any time I need one!!

It only helps a little on the sleep thing. But a little is better than nothing! If I can fall asleep at 11:00 and wake up at 5:00 I am very happy. If I don't exercise I seem to have a problem sleeping. I can lay in bed listening to my husband snore for hours before I nod off!

Exercising and dieting has got me from 138 to 116 pounds! For the longest time my weight didn't budge. Then I upped my exercising to burning between 700 and 900 calories 4 to 5 times a week AND keeping my caloric intake to 1400 calories a day. I started this last January and here it is November-- less than a year and I weigh less than I did in high school! So, yes I am bragging!!! But it has also been lots of hard work and discipline. I just started uping my diet calories to 1800 a day (with continued exercise) to see if that will maintain my weight. Might have to play with that number, hopefully more, not less!!

It can be done during peri. It's just a whole lot harder. I heard Dr. Oz say that during peri a woman's metabolism only slows down one percent. It just seems like so much more 'cause we're much more inactive than we were in our 20's, 30's and even 40's.

Good luck!!

Rohnda: Congratulations!!!! That is fanstastic; you give me hope!!!!

I work out 5-6 days a week... It calms me, lessens my anxiety, helps me sleep, keeps my blood pressure in check, managing stress well and of course assist me in not gaining weight..


This summer I was training for a marathon, but after hitting a snag, or rather, several snags I spiraled down to 1 many 2 workouts per week...

The increase in meno ailments creeped up on me... landed me right back in the docs office...

prognosis: adrenal fatigue... glucose up, thyriod low...
prescription : exercise, change of supplements, and more exercise...

within two weeks ... I'm feeling excited about life once more..

It was scary to experience that change in routine and how quickly my woes returned...

sorry so long-winded...

Be well
La*la

I try to exercise at least 30 minutes 5 times a week. I have maintained a healthy weight for nearly two years after losing excess weight. The last few months, since my periods have become very heavy and twice monthly I have been having much more trouble keeping up with exercise. I really push myself to keep going. I have put on a couple of pounds (I think around my middle) even though I have been quite strict with sticking to healthy food and exercise and I am determined not to let weight creep on.
Sometimes exercise helps me sleep but when my palps and pmt symptoms really kick in nothing seems to help.
I am determined not to give in though. I am determined not to let peri symptoms rule my life.

I will come out the other side of this phase in my life a stronger and happier person!

Excercise has really helped my anxiety. When I feel the anxiety coming on, I get out and walk really, really fast or do the treadmill. It has also helped with sleep and stamina. I can do more than I did in my 30's since I never exercised much then. I have stayed the same weight for some years now (124) and that weight is good for my height. It hasn't helped with any other symptoms I may have (like migraines). Oh, it also has helped keep my blood pressure in check. My BP was starting to creep up a little but since I uped my routine, it is staying at a good number. So, I am hoping that continues.

Mopsy

In April, I weighed 135.

My insomnia was so bad, I could barely move. After getting some sleeping tabs, I felt a little more like moving.

I try to get the dogs out for a walk 3 weekdays, and at least once or twice on the weekend. We're out about 1.5 hours a time, and there's a wicked hill to contend with

The more exercize I get, the better I sleep. The better I sleep the less I need meds and the happier I am.

I do not exercise at all on days when I know I'm going to be plagued with hot flashes/flushes. It makes it worse. And I know by 10am what kind of day its going to be.

I weighed 126 this am. I've been sat here for 10 or 11 days, but it will go down again, or I will do more exercise.

I just wanted to mention that I took Buspar a few years ago, and couldn't stay on it - it made me dizzy/lightheaded when I stood up, sort of queasy, just didn't like how it made me feel.

I think a sensible (and regular) workout program is beneficial. Of course, everyone's different, with differing issues and so forth, so working out has to be tailored to the individual and you have to consider what you can and cannot and should and should not do. The adrenalin rush, though, does give a boost and I think it can help with mental/emotional attitude.

Exercise does nothing to stop my symptoms, but what it truly does is distract the heck out of me and keeps me happy, even if it is for half a hour. I exercise with my daughter, and we laugh and act stupid as we exercise. I forget about the stupid hot flashes, the brain fog, and all my other problems for a little while and act downright foolish, which is what I think I need a lot more of these days. I wish I could be more helpful, but if you're going to exercise, do it for the health and the joy of it, and not because its going to stop your menopause symptoms. Find and exercise dvd that you really like, like a dance-exercise dvd that you can swing your body to. You don't have to be perfect and get the moves right, but you'll be amazed after a time when you see that you have more stamina and strength. I hope this helps you.

Getting rid of those meno symptoms *is* a part of health & joy. I'm so disappointed, though, I did a perfect circuit at the gym yesterday, then, BAM, palps (after about 4 hours). Previously, they came 6 hours later. I really couldn't see a connection there (nor at the more recent event).

Enjoy your workouts with your daughter! Fun!

Nevermore: This has happened to me; I'll get palps in the evening, when I was a good girl, and did my cardio workout that morning. I get mad, like how could my body DO that to me, when I'm trying to be healthy!!!!