A number of us complain about the same thing: We've always been effortlessly thin. Suddenly, perimeno comes around and we gain weight while exercising and eating as we always have. It doesn't seem to matter how disciplined we are, what we eat, how much we exercise...there is no way to lose weight.

For those who have experienced this, have any of you found a way OUT?

I am planning to quit my second job (I work two jobs, about .6 each) during the next few months so that I can focus on trying to be healthy and sane (among other things). When I do, I plan to step up my exercise from the 5+ workouts a week that I do now to see if there is any way at all to jar myself out of this state.
Has this worked for anyone?
Maybe I need to change my diet as well, although it seems like since peri hit, it just makes no difference at all whether I eat a lot or a little or what I eat...the pounds just stick around, mostly the midsection. My very sudden weight gain did stop when I started BHRT but I haven't lost anything.

I know there are women out there who are fit and hormonal...are they just lucky, as I once was? Or are there some secrets out there?

Chewy, me too! I have changed my diet somewhat though, but for the better, i have concentrating and have added more fruits and veggies, I drink normally about 64 + oz. of water daily too. Nothing has been helping!!!

I so frustrated at this as well!

Hi Chauchat,

Have you had you thyroid checked since you entered peri? Underactive thyroid is very common in our peri years and its also one of the quickest ways to start gaining weight. Just last year I put on 10 lbs for no reason at all and nothing I did would take it off. I have been on thyroid meds since I was 18 but it has to be adjusted from time to time due to my hormones and just getting older. When I hit peri it effected my thyroid by making it very underactive. As soon as my dr raised my dose my diet and exercise took care of the weight gain. It's worth looking into if you haven't already.

Maeflower

I have..and it is fine..go figure...

When I had it checked it was fine. But I do remember the author of The Wisdom of Menopause saying something about subclinical thyroid problems being common in women our age. So...maybe another check would help.

Chewy

You sound like my double. I also have been slim all my life, not that I didnt have to work at it. I have always been into fitness and mindful of my diet.

Since Peri I have put on around 10lbs and just cant seem to lose them. I have stepped up my exercise routine. I am a bit of a gym junkie and, although I work full time, manage to workout at least 10 times a week. I am so careful with my diet. Still the weight sticks like glue.

I feel that I only have to walk past a bakery and the pastries fly out the window and stick to my mid section. Its so depressing.

There has certainly been a repositioning of fat on my body. The small waist I was once so proud of has been replaced by a roll of fat.

I am trying hard to not let a few pounds get me down so much and accept the fact that I am no longer a 20yo. But geez, hot flushes, depression, night sweats, mood swings, anxiety, hair loss and now weight gain, there's only so much a girl can take! Maybe Liposuction!

I seem to have the opposite problem........since all the peri symptoms hit hard about a year ago....I have lost a LOT of weight...to much actually....I really dont exercise much although I do walk.....more out of restlessness than anything, I have been trying to gain some of the weight back...eating things I know I shouldnt, but have not been sucessfull at this yet.....now I worry about losing anymore.......anyone else with this problem?....any suggestions?

HI Barbra,

I had a similiar problem. Last March I went from 150 lbs to 130 lbs in about 14 weeks. I did not have much of an appetite and I think because I was feeling so edgy and shaky everyday I burned off what little calories I was taking in. NOW I have the opposite problem. Since the end of July I have put back on the 20lbs plus about 5 lbs more. I have a never ending hunger. I eat all the time. At first I thought it was just my body making up for the last several months. When this all started I was trying to eat every couple hours because I thought my off balance feeling was due to a sugar problem well now I still eat every two hours because I have a constant hunger. It's another weird symptom of peri. My only suggestion would be to eat as much as you can and whatever your able to eat. You may do the same thing that I did because these crazy symptoms seem to change all the time. Probably before you know it you will be a bottomless pit and you'll gain your weight back

Jill~

Hi Barbra,
I had the exact same problem for months when my anxiety was sky high. I found it so hard to eat anything, and the more weight I lost, the weaker and worse I felt. During this time, I started drinking ENSURE, which is an easier way to get calories and nutrients down - drink 3 of these a day if you have to. I would also favor high calorie foods, just to keep my weight up, or even gain a couple of pounds (this part was actually kind of fun, a first for me....just which I could have enjoyed it just a little bit more!). I would try and find things that I could get down easier - for example, it was easier for me to eat oatmeal in the morning rather than trying to swallow solid food, etc. Find what you can do. Also, eat often, something at least every couple of hours, even if you don't feel hungry. For me, this all was definitely caused by the anxiety and a few months ago when the anxiety was more under control, my appetite came back. Now I can almost read my level of anxiety by the level of my appetite! It comes and goes, but I am not uncontrollably losing weight anymore, which has made me feel physically better and stronger.