Hi Mememe
Sorry to hear about your weight problem. In fact you should not put weight on quickly around menopause - but as we age our metabolism slows down so we need to eat less. Here's some info on this site:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/weightgain.phpMost of us noticed as we reached a certain age (or hormonal stage) that we were not able to eat as much as we could when younger. In my case - I just reduced my portion sizes so that I didn't put on too much although at one point I have been 3/4 stone heavier ( lost it now). A couple of years ago I made sure my evening meal was on a smaller plate so that it looked full, and when all of that wasn't preventing weight gain I have also fairly recently drastically reduced carbs to zero - I mean carb-rich foods like bread pasta pastry rice and spuds as well as sugar. I have lost 10 pounds since September - aged 62 and now weighing 8st 11/12. It is possible!
If that doesn't do the trick for you as well as all that exercise ( I also do 3 classes per week - two of which are cardio) then I would be looking at some other explanation of which you say that thyroid is the most obvious. Good that doc is doing bloods for this and do ask for a print-out of all your blood tests and the actual thyroid TSH reading when it comes back. Do you have any other symptoms eg fatigue or feeling the cold?
Are you on any medication which could be causing weight gain?
Do not despair! You won't be that fat for ever! Maybe you could run through a typical day of food (and drink including alcohol) that you have ( although we can't see how much) and the snacks - also how tall you are etc, and those of us who have dieted a lot through our lives might be able to help you and support you with small steps (provided there is nothing else causing the weight gain?).
The most important thing is to feel well and to feel good about yourself so getting yourself on the right track for that so that you can buy yourself a new item of clothing that you couldn't fit into before - can pay dividends to self-esteem. For me I am so please that I can now get into all my jeans/skinny trousers and do them up without a muffin top, even after washing them - and also have way more energy at my classes as there isn't as much weight to jump up and down
I agree with Ju Ju - you have to change for life. I am a bit sad that I can't eat everything I used to all the time but prefer to be this weight - and once the weight is lost - well no need to be boring all the time - I go out for meals and eat what I like, have wine at the weekends - even chocolate (the high cocoa type!), and roast potatoes!!
Good luck and let us know about your thyroid tests.
Btw what are your periods doing - over the past 12 months?
Hurdity x