Menopausal Weight Gain

[Sky King]

Cross Fit Bootcamp just became my salvation. I will be 57 the end of this month. Despite being really active, I packed on ten pounds over the last two years. Started cross fit the end of July and have dropped the ten pounds and over 5% of body fat and gotten some of my curves back. Now I go 2x's a week and then get in 3 days of cardio - walking/hiking or biking. I think my body needs the "oh, we are doing what today" as my crossfit is something different every time with complete routine changes every 4 weeks so the body never gets complacent. My body is used to hiking/biking so that only no longer cuts it.
Like you, I have also decreased the carbs and increased the protein. Do my best to limit my beer intake but life is short so am not giving it up.
I track my diet and exercise on myfitnesspal.com I was taking an adrenal stimulator prescribed by my naturopath but it was causing some digestive issues so I stopped.

[tealtreak]

Cross Fit Bootcamp just became my salvation. I will be 57 the end of this month. Despite being really active, I packed on ten pounds over the last two years. Started cross fit the end of July and have dropped the ten pounds and over 5% of body fat and gotten some of my curves back. Now I go 2x's a week and then get in 3 days of cardio - walking/hiking or biking. I think my body needs the "oh, we are doing what today" as my crossfit is something different every time with complete routine changes every 4 weeks so the body never gets complacent. My body is used to hiking/biking so that only no longer cuts it.
Like you, I have also decreased the carbs and increased the protein. Do my best to limit my beer intake but life is short so am not giving it up.
I track my diet and exercise on myfitnesspal.com I was taking an adrenal stimulator prescribed by my naturopath but it was causing some digestive issues so I stopped.

ditto on the crossfit- I don't do that- but do TRX and plyometrics- not so much for the weight control as the balance and strength work very much help with post 50 mt biking (:

[Crankin]

I started gaining at 45 or so and that's when I started riding. I am ten years past menopause, and at 59 (on Sunday), probably in the best shape of my life. Not too skinny and not fat, either. When it started getting harder for me to maintain, I added in boot camp type classes 2x a week, in addition to the cardio stuff I do (riding, nordic skiing, snow shoeing). I hate being inside, but it's made a huge difference. I've ridden less this year, but I guess it's a trade off. I also am really strict about bread and upped my protein. I still have a glass of wine almost every day and am a bit lax over the weekends, but no junk food, ever.

[emily_in_nc]

I have put on about 3-4 lbs in the past year, but more notably, my weight distribution has changed some, with more flab in my tummy and love handles ("muffin top" area) and less in my legs than when I was younger.

I am still peri-menopausal at 51, but periods are starting to get farther and farther apart, so I expect I'm within a year or two of actual menopause.

I don't eat junk food, but I do drink a little and eat more carbs than is ideal, since I live in Belize and it is far too expensive to eat lower carb here. I also don't get quite as much exercise as I did in the US since I can't do road riding here, and it's usually too hot to run. I do yoga and utility bike rides and am car-free, but I still spend a lot of time on the computer (i.e,. sitting on my butt). I am webmaster for the local humane society and spend a lot of time on social media since I'm kind of lonely here, so Facebook is my lifeline at times. I also read a lot. There are many things I could do to lose those few lbs, in other words. But I still think the fat distribution shift is more hormonally based and may not be possible to change. It happened to my mother and grandmothers too around this same time of life.

[murielalex]

You wrote my story. I am 52, had been a skinny-mini my whole life, and suddenly blew up, though I'm strong and fit. I also did CrossFit for a year, and loved it. Sadly, my arthritic ankle (joint no longer fits in the socket) was making it too difficult for me to do the exercises, even with mods. I now cycle about 100-200 miles weekly (will be cutting back after two 100+ rides in the next month), and have only dropped six pounds. I had my resting metabolism tested (with the mask on my face, etc.) and it came out to 1023 calories a day (that was depressing). I've had all the doc tests as well, and I'm perfectly healthy in every other way. I also weight train three days a week, am fairly strong, but just can't drop the 20 I need to/want to lose. Once my two charity rides are over, I'm going to work with a nutritionist to just put me on a seriously regimented diet (tell me what to eat every meal). I've been a healthy eater, calorie conscious person for years. Along with the constant night sweats and waking up every few hours, which can't be helping, this is just soooo frustrating. I'm not giving up, but....damn.

[tealtreak]

You wrote my story. I am 52, had been a skinny-mini my whole life, and suddenly blew up, though I'm strong and fit. I also did CrossFit for a year, and loved it. Sadly, my arthritic ankle (joint no longer fits in the socket) was making it too difficult for me to do the exercises, even with mods. I now cycle about 100-200 miles weekly (will be cutting back after two 100+ rides in the next month), and have only dropped six pounds. I had my resting metabolism tested (with the mask on my face, etc.) and it came out to 1023 calories a day (that was depressing). I've had all the doc tests as well, and I'm perfectly healthy in every other way. I also weight train three days a week, am fairly strong, but just can't drop the 20 I need to/want to lose. Once my two charity rides are over, I'm going to work with a nutritionist to just put me on a seriously regimented diet (tell me what to eat every meal). I've been a healthy eater, calorie conscious person for years. Along with the constant night sweats and waking up every few hours, which can't be helping, this is just soooo frustrating. I'm not giving up, but....damn.

Ditto on the waking up! so frustrating........and totally messes with your metabolic rate to be sleep deprived......

[shootingstar]

Ditto on the waking up! so frustrating........and totally messes with your metabolic rate to be sleep deprived......

I went to a general info. session 6 months ago, about the importance of sleep at different stages of our lives and link to health. As we know babies need lots of sleep..because they are growing.literally so fast.

Teenagers tend to need alot of sleep because their bodies are growing and maturing. (Guess it's a matter how much sleep.)

The speaker ran a sleep rehab. clinic. He did treat some folks who in addition to resolving their sleep apena problem, they lost several lbs. simply after sleeping longer and more deeply for several months.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1991337/

Anyway, I doubt dearie wants to read more of this since he's had a sleep disorder his whole adult life..and he and I both know his metabolism is naturally slower than mine because he can't figure out why I can eat same amount as he and yet it will take longer for me to gain the weight.

But maybe not anymore. I can't speak accurately about my situation since I cut back 90% intake of white rice, white bread and heavier pastas 5 years ago. I was in menopause for over 2 years with very mild symptoms of short hot flashes only couple times per month, some uneven periods. That's all. And now I guess I am post-menopause since no period for last 18 months. I will be 54 in 3 months. I've been cycling alot less probably 30% less than what I used to annually, simply because I live now in a region with icier/snowier and longer winters. My weight has been ok but I do have to be alert.

One difference for me is that now I seem to naturally have more for breakfast even though I cycle less. 20 years ago I used to jump onto the bike with only a glass of milk and do my 16 km. work commute.

Now I have cornflakes with milk, tea and fruit. It's just a natural evolution for me. I may be eating little less for supper now. I'm not sure. I haven't kept a food diary yet. Yes, I still eat some no-no foods --pastry or biscotti. That's probably one area I have to watch myself. Other than that, I eat junk food or glass of wine maybe 1-2 times per month or less. I've never liked pop, not even as a child ...of any type, my whole life so far.