I know that I've posted before about the trials of trying to lose these 50+ peri pounds, but now I'm wondering if the compounded progesterone cream that I'm using is causing some of my weight gain .

Before starting progesterone I had lost over 10 pounds, although I was exercising quite a bit back then, but once I started the progesterone (which really is helping many of my peri symptoms) it seems like my metabolism came to a crawl.

I've read that once I get my hormones balanced then the weight should begin to come off . Like so many others here I really am surprised that I've gained so much weight despite radical change in my diet. I think that I eat healthier now than I have in my entire life .

Is there something else that I need to do in order to jump start my metabolism ?

I don't want to stop taking the progesterone because it has been a blessing.

I am curious about that too. I am also on natural Prog cream and in the last 8 mos I have gained weight, I'm not sure if its the Prog because I had quit taking it for 3 mos and kept gaining. I do know I was not exercising like I used to . I am planning on buying a treadmill--even a 20 min walk outside 4-5 times a week might boost your metabolism a little. It seems like this peri has really decreased my metabolism--I can't get it in my head that I can't eat like I used to!

I'm taking natural progesterone also, but I gained the weight( 15-20 lbs.) before I started it. The pounds aren't budging and I tried, in the beginning, to get them off. I think I may have been a bit underweight ( so my family says) so I am not trying overly hard to get rid of them anymore. I heard taking progesterone would help shed pounds...for me it hasn't. I feel better though so If I have to choose I would rather have better days. Mikki

Since I feel better using the compounded progesterone I'd rather not stop, but I really am concerned about my rapid weight gain. Before going on progesterone I felt so worn, blah, ugh, yucky...I'm sure you get the idea , but I was losing weight. I was also under a bit of stress at the time and I was exercising 3-5 days a week. Oh, well...I think someone here posted about being able to shed all her peri weight once her hormones were balanced...or was it once she was actually menopausal? Gotta keep trying .

How I found out about Progresterone cream :

I weighed about 160 when I got re-married 6 years ago (around the same time I had an ovary removed AND quitting smoking) ... within 6 months I had gained 20 pounds !! My SIL came up to visit in the summer and remarked about my weight and when I started crying and telling her all my new symptoms, she handed me Dr. John Lee's book ... and then I knew !

I started progresterone cream immediately (took close to 6 months to find the "right" one) and since then I have packed on an additional 20 pounds, and not really by overeating, although not exercise bound either.

By Christmas this year I was up 40 pounds (do the math) ... I hit that plateau and got totally fed up with myself, since then I've started a workout regimen and eating differently and have lost 20-22 pounds since, my goal is another 30 by the end of the year ...

So in my instance, the cream did not help me to lose weight at all, in fact I gained BUT there were other factors so I don't blame the cream specifically AND as others have said, I'd rather be overweight than have to do without my HAPPY CREAM !!!

Every time I try progesteron is any form, I gain weight. I've read Dr.Lee's book on how P is helpfll during menopause, but it does the opposite for me. I gain weight on P=cream, prometrium and sublingial progesteron. It also makes me consipated and I have bad acid reflux while on it.

Shine, congratulation on the weight loss!!!!!!! I've sent you a pm.