Weight and the Menopause

jopitcairn · by **jopitcairn** on Mon May 26, 2008 2:36 pm

Have you gained weight since the menopause?
If you have gained weight are you having an easy menopause?
If you are thin are you having a difficult menopause?
If you have gained weight since the menopause, is your Thyriod Underactive?
Are there certain foods that you have to avoid now, to prevent yourself putting on weight?
Are you happy with the weight that you are?

mark · by **mark** on Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:52 pm

With menopause comes a reduced metabolic rate, your calorie intake will usually remain stable, if not increase slightly due to hormone fluctuations that may cause more food binges. These excess calories will be stored as fat but the key is not to eat less, but to exercise more (yes try to resist the food binges of course).

Exercise will help increase your metabolic rate and help you to stay at healthy weight, 2 other large benefits include improved bone density and improved sleep. Exercise will see you feeling better, reduce your risk of brittle bones, and sleeping better at night.

Look to try an Aqua, PIlates or Yoga class to start with, if you want a more intense session try spinning or circuits.
Some simple exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home too if you dont want to venture out to the local gym or class.

mark · by **mark** on Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:54 pm

annabana wrote:I've eaten too many mincepies and it's showing, have a look at this link for a giggle and solidarity!
http://www.care2.com/send/card/6002

mince pies... i think you need to look at KISSing yourself fitter.... see the link below.

http://talkhealthpartnership.com/new_year_exercise.php

talking · by **talking** on Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:10 pm

I've found it so hard since starting to go through the menopause to maintain my weight. I try to take some exercise each day, even if it is only walking but I also seem to be continually hungry!! Other than a healthy diet and exercise has anyone else tried anything that can assist in keeping the weight down?

AprilA · by **AprilA** on Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:52 pm

Hi, I have started to avoid caffeinated and fizzy drinks as they make me feel very bloated - this is certainly keeping my weight down and making me feel less fat too. I have put weight round my middle, not too much but enough for me to notice. However since cutting out caffeinated and fizzy drinks I have noticed a slight improvement: I just need to keep it up.

Nagging Nora · by **Nagging Nora** on Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:46 pm

I've been struggling with this problem for years. I've never been petite and I like my food but could always loose a few pounds here and there if I needed to. However I don't seem to even be able to do this anymore. Even though I exercise it doesn't shift and I then tend to just be hungrier so eat more

Goddesslily · by **Goddesslily** on Mon Aug 27, 2012 5:53 pm

I'm glad to see i'm not the only one that has experienced weight gain. I've gained 10lbs in the last two years and i'm very unhappy about it. I've been exercising like crazy doing an hour of cardio everyday for what seems like the last 2yrs and i've only dropped 2lbs. Then if I miss exercising for a couple days, my weight goes back up.... duh! I do contribute my weight gain to the Estrogel i'm taking, please see my post under HRT where I explained all about the Estogel if you're wondering about the side effects and how it's used.

talkhealth · by **talkhealth** on Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:03 am

Welcome to our forums Godesslily - weight gain and menopause can go hand in hand. I know it's a long way off, but we are running another NHS Choices/talkhealth online clinic on gynaecology from 6-12 March 2013 - we will have a panel of medical experts on hand to answer questions in this forum-based environment. I hope that by joining our forums you can find support and insights from our members in the meantime.

gabriellap · by **gabriellap** on Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:05 am

All my life, I have always kept fit and ate healthily, yet I seem to be gaining weight which upsets me as i have always been slim. I am 49 years of age, and exercise for an average two/three hours 3 times a week, and 30 mins to one hour every other day. I do a combination of hard-core high impact aerobics, cycling, weights and balance, martial arts. I work hard, and push to my limits, I am not one of those people who goes to the gym and does everything with minimal effort. I also do not eat processed foods and eat healthy homecooked foods etc most days, with treats at weekends. I am also bloating a lot feeling like I have pmt all of the time inbetween periods, or feel like a period is about to start, but nothing happens. My periods are coming about every 3 months at the moment. I am really upset about this. I look six months pregnant at the moment, and don't know what I can do. I hope someone can offer some useful advice. I have been taking water retention tablets to help with bloating, but they have had little effect so far.

talkhealth · by **talkhealth** on Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:31 am

Hello Gabriellap - welcome to our forums. Hopefully others here will be able to offer you some pointers.

It's a little way off but we do have an online clinic on weight management in January so it would be worth you dropping by and asking our experts your questions - http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... s_2014.php