I have been trying all sorts of things to help me lose weight.I enquired about the WW program which at this time seems quite pricey at the moment.Anyone have anything to add about tips that have helped them?The buddy system did not work.Thanks.

Libby I have put on a tremendous amount of weight since starting perimenopause about 10 years ago. I think that I'm beginning to get towards the end of this rocky peri. ride and finally shedding the pounds. I've lost about 20 pounds and I've been able to keep the weight off with an occasional fluctuation.

I've read and have been told numerous times that once my hormones settle down then the weight will come off. I've see this occur with my mother who is postmeno, but I believe that this is still possible during perimenopause. Not easy, but possible.

Unfortunately, I don't have any tips for you, maybe someone else will post with some great tips to help all of us.

I have lost almost 50 pounds in the last seven months, even during the craziness of peri. I don't know what will work for you, but my success comes from eating smaller portions, eating 'fresh' foods almost exclusively ... that is, no processed foods besides high fiber cereal. I eat lots of vegetables and a good bit of fruit, nuts and lean meats and fish. I also make it a point to eat some protein with every meal. And I exercise every day, even if its just a 30 minute brisk walk.

Also, I still have red wine and eat one square of dark chocolate every night, so I don't feel deprived. Because I'm eating protein at every meal, I don't even get hungry really. Oh ... and I eat five meals a day -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, mid-morning snack and mid-afternoon snack (usually a piece of fruit and some nuts).

It really has not been that hard overall. I have dieted all my life and this has been the easiest because I am making some overall changes in the things that I eat by cutting out the processed stuff. I don't think of it as a diet anymore, just a better way of eating.

Good luck to you in your efforts!

Congratulations on your weight loss!

Bestlife, you know that there is no "secret formula" to shedding the weight, just the good common sense you wrote above. As long as you think that a "diet" is something you do to lose weight, the more you are setting yourself up for failure. Eating healthy requires a permanent lifestyle change, and if you follow EXACTLY what Bestlife says, you will succeed. Five meals (at least) a day, with lean protein at each meal, and enjoy your special treats, too, but don't go crazy with them. Exercise is a MUST. I think that's the hardest part, myself. And yes, exercise must also be done daily to have any effect. It's hard work, but your health is worth it.

Libbyl

It gets very hard to take (or keep) weight off. I have always exercised a lot, just part of my "driven" personality but I now find it hard to motivate myself and would rather sit in the recliner and watch t.v. or surf the net. Not at all like me. I have had real problems with panic, anxiety and depresseion in the last six months and I'm sure that affects my desire to exercise. I have found that just taking a 20 minute walk helps--if I can't brng myself to do more. I used to love my weight workout but can barely get through half of it now.
Have you tried just walking a little several times per week? I find that walking at night after dinner is soothing; something about the still, night air that calms me. (and I am anything but calm these days!!). Are you married and would your husband be willing to walk with you? My husband travels a good bit but will walk with me when he is home and it helps me a lot to have him exercise with me.

I hope that you find something that will work out for you. Keep us posted.

Cindy

Your avatar cracks me up.

BestLife, your post blew me away. It's almost my same story, except I haven't had to diet much in my lifetime. Tried it a few times when meds helped me put on the weight. I'm the type of person who, when told I can't have something, it's the ONLY thing I want, so deprivation doesn't work for me.

I think many of us who gain weight have a bad food habit we might not be aware of or delude ourselves about. Mine was Dr. Pepper. I'd go the 7-11 maybe five times a week and get myself a Big Gulp of the stuff. I'd put a lot of ice in the cup and tell myself I wasn't really drinking that much. What an idiot. Fortunately I woke up one morning and felt like if I even LOOKED at a Dr. Pepper I would hurl! Didn't touch any kind of soda for more than two years. In the first year I dropped ten pounds and didn't do anything else, no exercise, nothing. Too heavy to move.

I started playing tennis again. I was so out of shape I could only play doubles once a week. Needed the other six days to recover. Slowly added more and more tennis and after five years or so I had dropped 50 pounds. I'm way slower than BestLife, that's for sure! You are impressive!

Getting rid of my bad food habit--Dr. Pepper--and my bad exercise habit--I did nothing--worked for me. I didn't make all the changes I needed to make overnight and I think that's how I was successful. I never felt overwhelmed because I only tackled what I could when I could.

Good luck libby! It can be done! Try the red wine and chocolate, as BestLife said. Works for me, too!

chocolatewoman,

I, too, am a chocolate lover and am glad I did not have to give that up completely. In my case, I didn't have a specific food problem, but I do have a husband who likes to eat and stupid me thought I could eat like he does ... NOT! I think portion size and comfort foods to a degree were my downfall.

Also, I lost my weight pretty quickly because I was motivated to do so after a physical told me that I was on the road to hypertension and diabetes. Nothing like a little health scare to get a person off their butt. (Of course, now that means I have a lot of health anxiety and feel I'm always "looking over my shoulder" for something bad to happen or examining symptoms for some other terrible thing -- I'm trying to change that knowing that I am now so much healthier ... I'm doing all I can)

Libby, just try to make a few changes and go from there. I think you'll find that if you are not looking at some big task and break it down into smaller ones that it won't feel bad and you'll have success. And then with each success, as you begin to lose more weight, you can make another change and so on. When it comes to the exercise, find something you like to do or you won't be able to stick with it. The exercise part is really important. You could walk (with someone is even better), join your local YMCA, take a class (I have a friend who's going to try belly dancing and another who does line dancing), go swimming ... anything that works for you.

Please let us know how you're doing! Good luck!

When I headed into perimenopause, my weight starting creeping up slowly, then I quit smoking (2003) and I exploded. By 2005, I was weighing 175 pounds. I'm now at the end of this change and over the past three years, I have been diligent in losing weight and am nearly to my goal of 130 (currently at 137). If I decide to go below that and to the recommended weight for me in the 120's, that will a completely different story.

Here's what worked for me:

~I remembered that it took time to put true weight on and it takes time to take true weight off.

~I changed my eating to lean. Veggies, fruit, seafood and chicken in lieu of beef and pork.

~I avoid fast food completely and really try not eating out at restaurants because you don't know what additives are in the foods they serve. Once in a while, ok, but definitely not a weekly event.

~I take a vitamin and a B-Complex daily.

~I don't drink soft drinks, rarely drink beer or wine or even hard liquor.

~I walk, walk, walk, walk and toss in some variety.

~I always eat breakfast and keep my larger meal for lunch versus dinner.

~I have my treat, chocolate.

~I set goals in 5 pound increments. Once I hit that 5 pounds, I work for the next 5.

~I dumped stress factors that infiltrated my life. For example, my parents are extremely toxic people. When we cut communications, I lost a big chunk of my weight. Stress causes a lot of weight issues. It pays to sit back and look at one's life and see exactly what is not needed.

It will come off, but it takes time and patience. Good luck, you'll do it.

Armadillo,

My avatar "looks" like how I feel so much of the time!! Thank goodness for Prozac and the anxiety meds or else I would be jumping out of my own skin!!

Are you still lifting weights?

Oh, and I wanted to say that you are very courageous to have raised twin boys!! I have 16 year-old fraternal twins and they really keep me busy.

Take care.

Cindy

I have gained 28lbs in the last year and I am becoming very depressed about it. My problem is that I dont work out anymore and feel so fatigued a lot of the time.... I cant get in to any of my clothes and I'm too stubborn to buy new ones. I am very concerned about my weight gain - Actually I'm concerned how perimenopause is affcecting me on all levels. It truely s*cks.

wow,i can't tell you how excited I was to read all yours suggestions and replies.Thanks for all of them,Unlike your problem,I just kept buying clothes in bigger sizes---a BIG mistake.Who can tell me some good suggestions for proteins.I have started eating salt-free popcorn----not too satisfying---,Also I started eating watermelon,which at least gives me the impression that it might be helping.Weekends are the hardest.I was so good this entire week ,and over the weekend everything went haywire.I said to myself"just one cup of soda".......well I really just found out what addiction is---I went an entire week w/o,P and BOOM in one second.Please continue with stories of what has and what has not worked for you.You are an inspiration.

I have to say that weight watchers really helped me. I held on to 40lbs for like 5 years and I went to the gym regularly but I stayed pretty much the same weight. Last January I had enough and I invested the time and money and went to the meeting every Friday morning and w/in 7-8 months I was down 40lbs. Once I hit goal in like 6 months I had to stay at that weight for 6 weeks and now I don't pay at all. I still go every week to stay grounded and I'm maintaining give or take 2lbs or so. I say invest the money, follow the healthy eating plan and use the "no more fee" once your at goal. I was determined to not have to pay anymore and that helped in keeping me on a healthy eating plan. I lost 1lb a week and never felt deprived. I substituted all my bad snacks for equivalent low cal/fat ones and I succeeded. I actually look better now than I did before I gained the weight. I haven't been this weight since I was 30 and I'm planning on staying this way by going to the meetings every week to get weighed.

Whatever you decide to do for your weight remember to get your mind around it and be determined. Visualize every day where you want to be and how you want to look and feel and you will succeed too.

Good luck.

Excellent responses!!

Last year I gained 15lbs and have a WHOLE NEW respect for anyone and everyone who has ever had to 'diet' or more importantly change their 'eating habits' It is SO hard to lose weight. Having never had to watch what I eat....it was and is a real eye opener for me.

Like Chocolatewoman...(her 'addiction' was Mr Pepper....mine was Classic Coke) - I could easily drink 10 cans a day ~ WHEW ~ My husband pointed out to me that there is 170 calories PER can. I never thought I could do it but I cut out my addiction in one day. I started replacing my coke with water. I was a jittery mess for the first two days but I don't drink Classic Coke anymore. I actually 'treated' myself to one a few months ago and could not finish the can....Far too 'syrupy and thick'. I DO drink diet coke once or twice a day.......but I have turned into a 'water-holic' 8-10 bottles of water per day.

Last year I wanted a quick and fast 'diet'...insert 'quick fix'......... so I did the 'soup diet' for a week. It was a great way for me to movtivate myself to see some quick results in order for me to know that I could change my eating habits.

I eat s-l-o-w-l-y..and savour my food. It takes time for the brain to recoqnize that you are 'full'. I eat pasta, I drink red-red wine ....(breaking out into song-mode now) ...I manage a bakery/cafe so CLEARLY I MUST 'sample' bits and bites of delictable pastries....hey just doing my job...that's my story and I am sticking to it....

MOST IMPORTANTLY for ME....I have recognized the fact that I will no longer have that skinny 'bode' that I used to have prior to peri. I am not overweight, I have maintainned my weight over the past year..fluctuating a few lbs minus or plus....and as so eloquently written by deshal.....it takes time to put on true weight and it takes time to lose that true weight.

Be good to yourself and take the time for YOU to adjust to this new Peri-You. Be 'healthy'

Good Luck and keep us posted.
Dottie

It's all about the math... calories in vs. calories burned. I have been using this formula for about three years and have lost numerous inches and 25 pounds. I try to keep it at 1200 calories a day plus weight lifting and aerobics 4 times a week. Easy no. Could I think of tons of excuses not to do this? Yes. But, I wear a size 2 now and that's all the reason I need to continue it. Good luck. Also, yes I'm peri (age 52) and yes it's hard. But if you want to continue making excuses and continue gaining weight that's the easy part. Let meno win or take it on and claim what success you want. It's a war ladies, who's gonna win you and your body/mind or menopause?

Just over a year ago I was working out 5 days a week - cardiovascular and weight lifting --- I was very toned and very pleased with the way I looked... Now I'm a lot heavier than I was a year ago because of the fatigue --- If I could go back to the gym and exercise, I would --- Exercise has the opposite affect on me to whgat it did a year back --- it exacerbates all my symptoms to the point where I feel sick. I've started exercising again on my bike - but only for 5 minutes a day -- better than nothing I guess but a big contrast to a year ago... I was an exercise fanatic.

If you are suffering from fatigue, and are unable to exercise, you can still lose weight. Just remember that you must cut your calories way back, because fatigue slows down your metabolism to a slow crawl. There are several sites on the internet where you can calculate your "basal metabolic rate" and how many calories you need every day. Unfortunately, it will be pretty low, because of the fatigue, but if you increase your percentage of protein at each meal, and decrease the fat and carbs, because you are not moving around as much or as fast as you used to, you will not feel so hungry.

Armadillo - You're a sweetheart - this info really helps and is encouraging -- I am so down right now about the weight thing. By the way, do you have the links for the websites you suggest? Could you send them to me via PM? Thank you!

[quote name='EveningPrimrose' date='Mar 3 2008, 08:24 PM' post='212282']
Armadillo - You're a sweetheart - this info really helps and is encouraging -- I am so down right now about the weight thing. By the way, do you have the links for the websites you suggest? Could you send them to me via PM? Thank you!
[/qte] HAVE TO SHARE MY GOOD NEWS WITH ALL OF YOU.tODAY i JOINED WEIGHT WATHCHERS----I WAS INSPIRED BY ALL YOUR REPLIES TO MY QUESTION.THOUGH I WISH THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED ONE,TWO,THREE,I KNOW THAT IT WILL TAKE HELP AND LOTS OF WILLPOWER.KEEP UP WITH INSPIRATION FOR ME AND TIPS THAT HELPED YOU.I HAVE TO DECIDE WHEN TO START GOING TO THE MEETINGS.i HAVE TO LOSE 50 POUNDS.

Congratulations, and good for you in taking that first step. Just remember not to beat yourself up if you backslide, or give up completely. Sometimes it will be two steps forward and one step back, but hey, that is STILL forward progress! Best of luck to you!!

I lost 40 lbs. on Jenny Craig and never once felt deprived! I liked the convenience and simplicity of it. On the downside, I thought the "couseling" was a waste of time. The food & the record-keeping kept me in line, and I feel soooo much better now.

Oops--I said "couseling" instead of "counseling". Must have lost a few brain cells along with the pounds!!!!!

I am seeing weight gain with my first skipped periods. I am going on 3 missed ones. Also lack of muscle tone. I have not worked out like before, just started up again. I too am trying to quit smoking and afraid that I will really gain. It used to be easy for me to lose the 6-7 added pounds but I don't see it moving this time. Changing the way I eat and added more exercise. Gosh I hope this does not get worse! Has anyone noticed uneven weight gain?

would appreciate feedback from those who lost the pregnant-stomach look through diet and exercise. My stomach exploded into looking 3months pregnant when my period stopped for 5 months (then it stared again but the stomach remains) I am very fit and swim 5 days a week and am vegetarian and eat pretty healthy. its this giant stomach I want to get rid of. any stories of losing that stomach would be much appreciated.

hi---i just re-read some of the posts in the past year and a half.while i posted some of the hints in the past posts,i have not really'reviewed' some of your great weight hints.while it might be 'a repeat performance'i think it would be helpful to everyone if some of you repeated so helpful hints---or some of you to add great ideas,by the way,any good ideas for protein foods?chicken fish..what else can you offer.what are some great meal ideas?What times are best to eat?i try to make it lunch.even though i am disappointed this week,my fellow ww pals really helped to give me a boost.i would love to hear from you?how can you lose weight eating a PIECE of chocolte????????????i have to leave 'goodies 'out of the house.good luck to all.the funny think is that when i tried to join this topic,i got the message''''you are a member already

Some foods that are very good sources of protein are eggs, tofu, cheeses and beans if you are trying to go meatless.

Plumeria