I started peri about a year ago, I am 42 (almost 43) and I haven't been able to lose any weight in a whole year. I have gained some and it won't come off no matter what I do. I have done Medifast which is probably considered a starvation diet and that won't work and currently I have been on WW for 2 months and I have lost 3.5 lbs. I exercise 30 min most days of the week, jogging. Has anyone had this trouble in peri? It is making me so depressed because I am doing everything I can do and nothing is working. How long will this keep up, its all ready been a year. I know its because my body is almost constantly in PMS mode but how do other people lose weight in peri. I am desperate.

Hello, you are not alone in this lovely weight battle -- I tried weight watchers last year and only lost 5 pounds in 3 months, so I quit because I was so discouraged, I did exercises daily and crunches and nothing would make this stomach go down. I am 51 and have been going thru this for a few years myself, it is very discouraging. There are days I want to wear a potato sack and be done with it. I watch my carb and sugar intake, try to eat proteins but to no avail, nothing has worked for me. Let's hope someday we can find something that does!

take care,
Barb

Yes, I'm the same as Barb, although when I first joined WW at the age of 43 I was able to lose 25 lbs and reach lifetime however.. .shortly after reaching lifetime, my hormones took a dive and I gained the 25 back plus 5.. and try as I might I can't seem to lose. I'm doing the same things... and naughta.... however I have to admit I'm not as committed or as intense about it as I was. I can stay committed for a week or so but then my energy wanes and so does my efforts so for myself, I think it's the attitude as much as anything else.

Don't give up and plug into our daily 'so who wants to lose weight thread'... we can support one another and who knows.. maybe even lose some pounds. .

I know this is an old thread but I am having the same problems...anyone else???

TJ

I just started eating fewer calories,I eat 1700 or under per day and I try to exercise at least three times per week.I have lost 12 pounds so far.

Lady E, that is an incredibly sane and healthy way to diet, and I'm so happy that you're having success !!! The slow and steady relatively high calorie approach really is the best, and exercise only makes it better !

Yes, I agree, watching your calorie intake and walking every night has kept my weight down and if it starts creeping up again, it's not too hard to get down.

Keep in mind you will gain weight from water retention, too......and if you lift weights or are new at exercising, remember that muscle weighs more than fat.....so if you gain a bit, notice how your clothes are fitting......I bet the inches lost will speak for themselves and the weight will soon follow.
If it's water retention time.....just keep walking/exercising and cutting calories (actually...a low carb diet helps control water retention IN MY CASE........I'm not saying it will for everyone, but it helped me).

I got a little calorie booklet "counter" from my doctor ..........if you ask I'm sure they have something they can give you as far as calorie "guidelines" and how to adjust the calculate alloted calories for your current weight in order to lose the pounds. My little booklet gives me a list of "allowed" foods and you basically choose items from the lists given for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and even a couple snacks.

It works! Always check with your doctor before starting any diet, but this really has been a blessing for me!!





Good luck!!

Sorry, I'm a bit "dead brained" today....I meant LOW CALORIE ...NOT low carb......in the above post.

Thanks!It is working better than anything I have ever tried.

Your not alone I have been doing weight watchers for abt 5 or 6 yr's now. In the last 4 yr's i have been at a stand still & i have to fight to keep my weight where it's at I have never met my goal weight. I do a walk / run of 10 mile's almost every day. I started do this atb 2.5 yr's ago & have not lost even 1 pd not to mention that i have not even lost 1 inch. I keep a food log of everything i eat (weight watcher flex point's) i also weigh & measure everything i eat. I just hope that at some point it pay's off. I am going to a new gyn next wk & i hope she can get my hormone's back to where they should be.

I've been reading/listening to a lot of weight loss articles/podcasts and one thing they talk about is not getting enough calories. If you walk/run 10 miles that's burning about 1000 calories a day. That's A LOT! If your body doesn't get enough calories it goes into starvation mode and keeps everything you give it, slowing down your metabolism.

I am certainly no expert, but I hear this theory a lot, and in your case with all that exercise, maybe if you actually increased your calories and tried to eat 5 -6 mini meals a day, it would boost your metabolism and help you.

Just a thought, I know how hard it is when you are trying to lose weight to allow yourself to eat more.

Great job on the exercise!

questioning,
You are right, the body will go into starvation mode. It will downregulate the thyroid so the metabolism slows. Which is why for optimal thyroid function AND weight loss, it's better it eat 6 small meals/day with enough protein and a good card so the body never thinks it's starving.

A woman who did my hair was obese, and it ran in her family. She was working out 6 days/week with a personal trainer and couldn't lose weight. So then she added in Weight Watchers and believe me, this woman was strict about her diet, she never cheated even during holdiays because she was determined to lose the weight. But not one pound came off despite the exercise and ideal diet.

Well, the person who ran her WW group contacted someone higher up and told them about this lady and how frustrated they both were that she could not lose weight. So they gave it to their experts to ponder, and had all her info--her exericse regimen and her diet. And they decided she actually needed MORE calories. So they adjusted her WW diet and she immediately started to lose weight and continued losing. He diet had to be adjusted every so often based on her activity level, but this illustrates how not eating enough can stall any weight loss program, no matter how much exercise you get or how few calories you eat.

Meant to say 'a good carb' (not card)

Also a great book is "The Menopause Diet" by Dr. Larran Gillespie and she gets into why we need to eat a certain way and how our hormones affect it.

Thank's for the reply, i have when i increase my intake my weight will go up, I have tried everything you can think of to switch things up, My Aunt is a rep for weight watcher's and it's go her stumped as well . I have an appt with a new gyn next week, i hope she can do something to get me on the right track with this peri thing. I think that the only thing that has kept me sane is my running.

Well I hope they can get you on the right track. I agree wholeheartedly about the running. I started almost a year ago, when I was having some major anxiety and moodiness problems, and I agree it has helped me stay sane. I never thought I could run, but I can and I love it. It has been so cold and snowy and icy here, that I haven't run for a week. I hate running on a treadmill, but I think I am going to have to break down and try it for a couple months until the weather improves.

The good news is if you can run/do that much, you are probably pretty healthy. And that's the true blessing!

I have actually started losing weight without exercising much and without starving myself. First, I figured out I was estrogen dominant. I am also insulin resistant. I started taking the supplement DIM. I also added L-Carnitine, Biotin and Green Tea extract to all of the other supplements I take. I cut out most sugar and unhealthy carbs from my diet, like candy, LF cookies, baked chips, french bread, and white rice. I have also been eating Mediterranean, eating whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice instead of bread, lots of vegies and fruits, and the only meat products I eat are fish, eggs and occasionally chicken. This plan allows eating whole grain bread but because I have insulin resistance I find my blood sugar is more in control and I am less hungry when I don't eat much bread. I use olive oil responsibly, no other oils and no margarine or butter. I eat lower fat or non-fat dairy. The only real rule I follow is I do not eat meat and starch in the same meal. I do eat an egg and a bowl of weight control instant oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. If I want lasagna, I eat vegie lasagna made with whole wheat pasta, LF ricotta and mozzarella. Very yummy. I eat bean and cheese enchiladas made with carb balance tortillas, and lots of salmon, and stir fry meals. I also eat almonds, peanuts or cashews instead of baked chips or breads when I get the munchies. I can eat as much as I want, but find I am really not hungry between meals. I seem to get full much faster than I did before. Some meals look low carb, but that is not my intent. Lunch is either a big salad with vegies, chicken and cheese and fruit, or hummus and whole wheat pita bread, vegie soup and fruit. Hummus and pita is great if you have to eat on the run or in the car. So far I have lost 5.5 lbs. in the last 2 weeks. I can't say this will work for everyone. I had to figure out what things are working against me that I can control and try to reverse. Good luck!

Sounds like it is working for you Gracie...happy to hear someone getting results!

TJ

Wow, this was an interesting thread. Congratulations to all those who are trying so hard and are seeing results. Exercise is definately a key... I certainly have more energy. But dropping the weight in more than miniscule poundage has been extremely frustrating for me. It seems like a few pounds over a few months is so defeating as a reward for all of the hard work. Personally my metabolism is particularly stubborn. And my spirit is somewhat broken. But, I continue on.... I think maybe now - it's about focusing on living healthier; and not focusing so much on what size I wear or what weight I should be? I'm affraid to some degree - nature has taken it's own course here at the threshold of 50 years of age. Be it certainly by some self-neglect or perhaps it is just genetics making us who we are meant to be? I've never been small... Perhaps it's not my nature to be small? But I do have control over being healthy - eating right - and exercising.

It seems to me only the fake media portray's magical weight loss. If you talk to those real people at Weight Watchers (the lifetimers) who have lost mega pounds (and actually kept them off!)... It usually takes them a year or two of sensible eating and exercise. It doesn't happen overnight.

Remember the W.W. moto - just 2 lbs a week! (1 lb a week = 56 lbs!!! There's my goal!).

I'm bumping this thread, because I really need help in this area!

I am also having a time with this and KNOW it is hormonal.. Started after giving birth at age 36, 5yrs ago. I went on BCP briefly for menstrual problems and finally started losing. But had to stop due to migraines

I work out, eat about 1500 cal/day. Still nothing. just had hysterectomy (kept one ovary) in Jan, and gained 16 lbs!!! Had to buy all new clothes.. AND I was overweight to begin with.

I haven't found many answers... I did read about the DIM, and am starting it. I may also be estrogen dominant, but not sure. Gyno is no help. Had horrible PMS before hyster, now have 24/7 PMS!

I have read on other sites that some have found luck with serious weight training (up the muscle mass to rev metabolism). And also heard about the DIM helping those who are estrogen dominant.

The eating more often, tiny meals does nothing to help my situation. I have tried that, as well as increasing calories at bit to see what happens. I just gain. My dr. told me that with the low number of calories I am eating, and my regular exercise, he believes that weight loss surgery may be my only option. I do start to lose when my daily calories go VERY low <1000. I am thinking about it, but have had enough surgery lately!!

what is DIM ?

Hi Urs,
I walk the 3 mile track at least 3 times a week when I want to drop weight. I eat tuna and drink lots of water. I also eat raw fruits and veggies. It works when I do it. I am not doing it right now cause I am kinda stuck in the house. But when I aable to be free, I will resume. I also have dinner between 4 and 5 o clock, after that I don't eat anything.

from,
meonopaused

I was so happy to find this thread as I thought I was all alone with this extreme problem!!
The worst part for me, is that nobody believes me! Well, my sister and best friends does...
I have tried running 40 minutes every day, acupuncture and now running plus yoga and weight lifting, - something every day and eating 1200-1400 calories. Absolutely nothing happens!
I started menopause 4 years ago and started gaining 2½ years ago - at the same time as I quitted smoking (which was very easy as I got anxiety when I smoked...) and got burned out (my boyfriend got psycotic - can´t spell it) and I had a lot of problems at my work). Well, long story! I am just trying to collect information about this.. phenonema. It is really strange to eat so well, exercise a lot and still be overweight! I have always had problems losing wight but this is ridicolous!
I have gained 12 kg in all (=26,4 pounds) and I´m only 161 cm (=5,28 feet) :-(

Thanks a lot for sharing your stories ladies! Please let me know how you are doing and if anything you try help! I will do the same.

Zora, Have your doctor check your Free T3. I had mine checked, while my TSH and T4 are normal, my T3 is low. T3 is what regulates your metabolism. I've been taking a low dose of thyroid meds and while I'm still tired and my hair is falling out, I am beginning to lose weight.

Good luck, I know how horrible it is to do all the right things yet see no results and what makes it worse is that no one truly believes you.

OMG! Are you reading my mind? I am so frustrated and share your frustration. I have tried every "diet" out there, including WW. I am totally frustrated and have failed at every "eat plan" out there .... WW, Nutrisystem, South Beach, etc. I have had my thyroid checked and it's normal (I was actually disappointed by this because I wanted a "reason" for my inability to lose weight). As my DH ages, he looks better, and as I age (50), I look worse and worse. I'm so discouraged and depressed, even with a steady "diet" of prescribed Zoloft! lol!

If you find the answer, please share!

Oops - "eat" plan = "eating" plan

And, I'm considering a form of "starvation" or liquid plan because every other healthy plan I've tried has not worked.

I guess I should also add that I've tried Rx diet pills prescribed by my physician. They worked great the first month, then lost their effectiveness. I guess that's what's led to my feeling of helplessness when it comes to weight loss - if an Rx prescription doesn't work, what will? Sorry to sound so helpless, but that's how I feel. That, plus my DH is younger than me and even though our marriage is secure, I certainly don't want to be an embarrassment to him - I've gained 30# since we married 10 years ago and he hasn't gained a pound and even looks younger. He doesn't say a word about my weight, but my own, personal guilt is overwhelming at times. Just wish I could find a solution that's healthy that will actually work at keeping my weight off. Thanks for letting me vent!

Ladies,
Most of you are not going to like my answer...but here goes anyway. It IS possible to lose weight during peri, unless you have some underlying medical reason not to. I am living proof. I have lost over 40 pounds since early Feb...gone from 156 to 115, where I am maintaining quite nicely. And, I was just like many of you...swore up and down that I could not lose weight due to my age and the fact that I am on HRT.

The answer is NOT to diet. That's where many of you are getting it wrong. Sorry....but those "diet plans", such as WW, Jenny Craig, nutrisystem, etc...are NOT the way to go. Yes, you might lose some weight at first. The downfall comes when people stop the programs...which happens often, because they get bored with the eating plans. As soon as they start eating "normal" again, the pounds start coming back.

The real key to weight loss, esp. at our ages is to eat healthy, count calories (you really would be amazed at the amount you are eating...I know I was!), and EXERCISE. Also, there is a formula to determine how many calories your body needs to lose weight at a healthy rate. This varies depending on your current weight and activity level. There is a certain balance...so many people restrict their calories TOO much, thus putting their bodies into starvation mode.

Well, there's the condensed version...I am by no means an expert, but I have learned tons along my weight loss journey, and have been quite successful because of what I have learned. I do practice what I preach, and I feel better and look better than I have for 30 years.
JMO!

I use this site to calculate BMR

http://www.internetfitness.com/calculators/bmr.htm

Thanks, Marshandra...that should be helpful. One thing most people should keep in mind...many people overestimate their activity levels. I know before I start my cardio and strength training plan, I thought I was pretty active b/c I was on my feet and up and down stairs many times a day at my job. I also took "walks". The pounds did not come off. Now I laugh when I realize just how little I truly exercised!

Another simple formula that could help. Multiply your current weight by 10 or 12, depending on how fast you want the weight to come off. The answer is how many calories you could consume in a day to lose weight. Again, if you are pretty active, go with12, if sedentary start with 10. A healthy weight loss should not exceed 1% of your body weight per week. If you lose too quickly, you are more likely to gain it back again. So, for example, if I weighed 150 pounds, I would want to lose about 1.5 pounds per week. Sounds complicated, but it is really very simple.

I usually just use that site to check my BMR - the exercise is just an extra for me

I started portion control about 2.5 yrs ago and have stuck with it faithfully. Up until about a year ago I was doing fine with weight, keeping it where I like it but within just the past year I all of the sudden am struggling with it. Seems it doesn't want to budge from the mid-section which I've never had a problem with ever. I cut out all sugar and processed foods last dec. and its no longer a part of my diet at all. I take all the supplements that are supposed to help with these things and I work out at least 1-2 hours 4-6 days a week and down tons of water every day. This past summer I decided to try and eat more fruit. I began eating watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe because I mistakenly thought I was doing a really good thing for myself and since I always hated any kind of melon I thought I'd just give it a try and see if maybe my tastebuds had changed. I ended up loving them and was eating them every day at lunch, and also lots of grapes. Then I started noticing even more piling up on my mid-section. I researched about fruit and found out those are very high in fructose, more than other kinds of fruit. So I immediately stopped eating them and switched to lower fructose fruit such as berries, grapefruit (which I love anyway). I see maybe a little bit of difference but not anything significant. Can't figure out if its maybe just bloat and water retention or fat. I try and stick with low-glycemic foods to keep the blood sugar level stable after reading about how that affects weight.
I was having terrible anxiety attacks and depression which I learned affects cortisol levels and in return affects weight gain so I tried this product called OM3 which is highly concentrated fish oil with EPA which is supposed to help with emotions. I definitely have noticed a difference in my mood and less anxiety since starting it a few weeks ago but as far as the weight gain in the middle and hips that hasn't changed much.
I get so frustrated about this because I know that I couldn't possibly do anything more than what I'm doing and it just doesn't make sense. I eat lots of fiber, nuts that contain the most Omega 3's/6's (handful a day), salmon, sardines, use olive oil, mainly fruits and veggies (sweet potato, the most nutrient rich food), tons of water, no sugar or processed foods, bread or pasta only 1 day a week.
Anyway, all I can do is all that I can do....

Koco,
You say you "work out" 4 to 6 days a week. Can you be a little more specific here and tell us what that consists of?

I can't win...I give up

I either play racquetball or tennis for at least an hour, along with weight training, other in between rball and tennis I do aerobics and walking on the treadmill. I like to do a variety of workouts to keep from getting bored.