Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: moonbeam121167 on October 02, 2014, 06:54:17 PM
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Hi all, been to the meno clinic this afternoon , he said that the weight gain around my middle is middle age spread and has nothing to do with HRT, I have had another blood test to check my estrogen levels as before I increase my patch they were very very low and he needs to see if the increase has been enough, also my testosterone levels were 0.6, which he said was low?? he said he may increase my estrogen again and add testosterone or just increase the patch or just add T, my point is do any one suffer the same and if he adds T will it help as I am not a big eater but I dont have the energy to exercise, I have never had such a big stomach and its very very depressing :)
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Middle aged spread happens. Laxity of muscles. My belly has dropped in the last few months :-\ I now have a roll where there was none before >:(
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It sucks big time, I have always had a flat stomach even after 4 kids, I dont eat crappy foods as it plays my IBS up, I dont exercise which doesnt help and hoping if the consultant increase my estrogen or add T or both it will help by giving me energy :)
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Exercise probably won't lift the 'droop' of middle aged spread ::)
Is there a leisure centre close to you, with a personal trainer for advice on gentle exercise you can do at home? Swimming - which stretches the body forwards ……… dancing ?
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I have said if I get a job I will join a gym but so far the job search has come to nothing >:(
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Don't join a gym ::) - go along for a chat if there is a trainer. Walking, skipping, gardening, cycling, hoovering are all good exercise and free ;) ……… is there a ramblers group you could walk with or maybe your Council does 'walk for health' in your region?
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I did buy a bike months ago but as i said before I just cant be bothered to do anything and i now its wrong, all I am hoping is that the consultant will increase my E or add T and it will help big time :)
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Watch this space then ;) - 'can't be bothered' can be a sign of depression ……..
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Well I am getting a bit depressed, my weight, cant get a job, and other factors makes me feel miserable but can low Testosterone be a factor as well x
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My tummy was fine until about 10 years ago, then suddenly realised it was heading south. Cannot get rid of it.
It's hard to motivate yourself sometimes, I have to give myself a good kick sometimes. Walking is free. Set yourself little goals, then increase. Walking with a friend helps, you'd be amazed how far you can go when your chatting.
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Hi to be honest I have not got any real friends, my only friend is my husband, I know sad ain't I
:thankyou:
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hi moonbeam, you are not the only one. There are more people like us than we realise because it is difficult to cultivate friendships when it is hard enough to cope with yourself let alone anyone else.
My husband and I are quite private and do not have a wide circle of friends. His brother is probably a best friend to us both and we have recently met a couple who we get on well with and are building a friendship with. Other than that there are a couple of friendly neighbours but that's it and it is how we prefer it, not being gregarious openly social people ourselves.
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We are quite private too. Do have a friend who I can walk with, but she is always so busy now with her new grandchild. That's how she should be too.
Sit ups maybe. I can't talk, I'm useless. I do go swimming though. I should make use of granddaughters hoola hoop. Sitting in garage doing nothing. ;D
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Meant to add that my middle spread alarmingly about 6 years ago, about the time hot flushes began and I more or less accepted an extra half stone of weight and size 14 clothes over the next year - 18 months, it could have been worse.
Then earlier this year I began to lose some weight. I thought it was all the running around for our daughter's wedding, and being so busy I would forget to eat lunch. However the wedding was 6 weeks ago now and my weight is still the same. It has not started to go up despite eating much better now that I have slowed to a comfortable trot rather than a full on gallop.
I am wondering if the middle spread eases off as you come through the menopause tunnel as my hot flushes are less and milder as well. I would like to think maybe it does :)
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Hello all, I'm sorry to say I have the spread of middle age going on too... I was shocked to find that my size 14 equates to a size 16 on a dress pattern the other day. Having watched "The Sewing Bee" when it was on telly I dusted off my machine, found some lovely tartan material and was going to make a Christmas "Swing" skirt got the pattern from the Bay of E, and then realised it didn't go up big enough and have since learned a dress pattern bears no resemblance to shop bought clothes ;-(
As far as exercise goes, we walk, when the weather's good and when we get the time. Hubby can't ride a bike, can't swim, but can walk, I did buy a bike 2 yrs ago when father-in-law had a hip opp, so if I was needed I could get to him faster than walking the 1/4 mile. It was never needed, still in the shed and because if the design, I can't get my leg up and over it now. (built like a boys bike, horrible, dunno why I chose it like that) Mind you, the roads are so bad it's no wonder everyone breaks the law and rides on the pavements round here, young and old alike.
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OH has a fitbit so we try to do 10.000 steps a get a badge then you are encouraged to do 15000 steps, we have only managed to 10000 steps once in a while, it averages out to about 8000 per day.
Its surprising how much walking can keep your tummy firm and I do notice the difference if I miss few days.
Also I do think as you get through the hormone turmoil, your weight settles and if you watch what you eat and exercise you do lose it that's of you are not on HRT, if you are it tends to be harder to keep the weight off.
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Middle age spread (ie fat around the middle) is not necessarily to do with lax muscles (although decreasing exercise will also be detrimental) but changes in the distribution of fat which happens when oestrogen declines at menopause. We change from a pear-shape to an apple shape - and this phenomenon occurs even in slim women, and even if you are not actually putting on weight. The increased waist size can give an illusion of overall weight gain - but the scales will tell you whether this is true or not!
HRT should actually help to prevent this change, but at the low doses that are normally used the effect is probably only marginal.
Having said that I did read the other day that waist size and BMI can be used interchangeably as an indicator of overall cancer risk - can't remember where.
re the flat stomach - that's another issue and I think this is due to lax muscles - probably exacerbated by lack of exercise. I've always had a flat stomach but these days if I don't keep up the abs exercises regularly it begins to protrude a little - I always try to keep my muscles strong enough so that I can hold it in - like when we were young (but it stayed in by itself then!).
So I would advise to do some exercise if you can - just a few sit-ups or cycling while lying down with legs out - that sort of thing. You will be pleased to see the results.
Hurdity x
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I started HRT earlier this year. Although I was slim everywhere, but round my waist. ( what waist? Little difference between waist and hips). My bmi was 22. But the gynaecologist warned me I was at as great a risk from diabetes type 2 as people more obviously overweight. I have a very strong family history of type 2 diabetes. I had slightly raised glucose levels, cholesterol and BP levels. So I followed advice and cut all sugars down and stopped snacking. I lost a stone and a half pretty quickly. Probably too quickly. Swapped diabetes for gall stones, though the doctor says that has no bearing on it. As my weight is still falling, I have had naughty things to eat again, but not like I did.
I think my story shows you can lose weight, HRT or not. Be honest, what are you eating and how big are your portions. Do you go out for walk, cycling etc.? By the way I have a waist, though I still have a band of fat around my middle, but I can hide it now.
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Hurdity your information is always interesting but despite my dropping oestrogen levels I have firmly remained a pear to the present day. Sometimes a size 14 pear, sometimes a 12 but always a pear, never an apple. Interesting as my mother used to say I always had to be different :)
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I am a thyroid/pear too, I think you always have a basic shape that stays with you, I always had a very tiny waist ( all the females in my family have ) and that is what has changed in menopause my waist is bigger now. I still have a curve but nowhere near how it use to be.
http://www.liverdoctor.com/body-types/
I have just had a light bulb moment ::) OH wears his fitbit all the time and just before he goes to bed he uploads info to computer and it tells him how many steps etc. he has taken, well it is set to his stride not mine, and as he so much taller I must take two steps to his one, so I must be taking twice as many steps, no wonder I feel tired afterwards but in a good way. Wonder if I should tell him :)
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I agree with silverlady that obviously your genetic type will remain - some women are naturally larger hipped - and the apple/pear thing that is generally quoted is an overly simplistic view.
However it is meant to emphasise that most women will tend to lose fat from their hips and thighs (our lovely youthful womanly shape) and depost it round their waist - and even with very slim women - this phenomenon is apparent.
Exactly as silverlady says - sadly all of us become less curvy - nature says we no longer need to attract men any more as we are no longer fertile :'( (but we can do our best when we need to ;D ).
Hurdity x
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Hi to be honest I have not got any real friends, my only friend is my husband, I know sad ain't I
:thankyou:
Me too and when OH was really ill a few years ago and I thought I might lose him, it really brought it home to me just how lonely I would be - very frightening.
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I have no idea what shape I am ::) ……….