Hiya,

I don't know if I'm posting in the correct section of the forum, so please forgive me if that's the case.

I would just like to ask a question about muscle loss. I am just turned 52 years of age and have noticed that I seem to be losing some muscle in the lower part of my body. I have a touch of agorophobia and am unable to go out for long periods, so I use a treadmill at home....I was wondering if the muscle loss could be due to lack of activity or could it be associated with approaching menopause?

I also have other things I would like to ask, but did'nt want to start another thread. Is constipation usual? Also, I did'nt have a period for nine months and then this week have had light blood loss over five days. Is this also common?

Again, I apologise if I am posting this in the wrong place..

Thank You

Sugarlump

Hi SugarLump & welcome,

Muscles can atrophy due to lack of use and I have heard too much cardio will cannablize the muscle. Walking is a weight bearing exercise though I wouldn't think it was this. Lack of Testosterone and DHEA can cause loss of muscle. Lack of E can cause lack of elasticity so... I would suggest adding some weights to your workout. There are some good videos out there if you prefer to work out at home. Cathe Friedricks (cathe.com) has some really good ones.

If I were all of a sudden constipated, I would give up dairy and see if that is what's causing it. We are only born with so much lactace to digest the sugars in dairy and as we age, it becomes harder to digest. More often than not it is dairy that causes IBS... at least that's my opinion. I'm not a doctor but I've convinced myself. :-)

Yes.. it's common (and frustrating) to go 9 months or even longer without a menses only to have a bleed again. But still I would have it checked out because it could also be something else too. It never hurts to get checked out.

Blessings

Hi, Sugarlump

From around 2005 to 2006, I had a period once per year and they were scant compared to flooding periods.
In August 2006, I had my second spine surgery on my neck and got my period the next month, same as above.
That was my last period. I kept expecting another one and it never came.


I just turned 50 last October but I started my periods when I was 12 years old so I figure I was on-track.
When I would ask my Mom many times when her periods stopped and she said she didn't remember.

In reference to the muscle loss in the lower extremeties, I just do floor exercises - real easy ones like
lay flat on the floor and lift both legs together at the same time, then do scissors with your legs. This works your abs, hips, and thighs. I usually put my two hands under my lower back to stabilize myself and it lifts the hips and butt area off my cement floor.

Hope that helps,

Tina