Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: FloraDora on May 06, 2016, 06:48:34 AM

Title: Hrt and weight gain HELP! 😟😓
Post by: FloraDora on May 06, 2016, 06:48:34 AM
 Please ladies help me out  here new to forums and new to hrt. I have been on elleste duet 2mg for 2 months and gained half stone >:( 
Please share any experiences re this issue. I am 48 always trained including weight training as need to keep your muscle mass and weight the same for few years and now this! Thinking will come off hrt. . I do not have any friends who have been on hrt and my sisters are alot older and were lucky enough to have no symptoms unlike myself   :'(
Title: Re: Hrt and weight gain HELP! 😟😓
Post by: scumspawn on June 28, 2016, 03:26:46 AM
I've been on elleste duet conti for 2 months and gone up a dress size.  None of last years summer clothes fit. I've lowered my dose to half a pill a day but without it I can't sleep for hot flushes
Title: Re: Hrt and weight gain HELP! 😟😓
Post by: Dancinggirl on June 28, 2016, 07:37:51 AM
Hi and welcome to MM FloraDora
It is certainly true that one can become a bit plumped up when on HRT.  I actually find I put on more weight when NOT on HRT as I loose muscle and gain around my waist and hips.  The problem with the menopause is that the body does change quite a bit anyway and weight creeps  up whether you are on HRT or not.  To be honest we simply have to eat less as we get older.  You may find things settle as your body adjust to then HRT.
I do think there is a trade off, feel good and energised when on HRT and possibly put up with being a bit plumped up or don't use HRT and feel too tired to exercise and keep fit. DG x
Title: Re: Hrt and weight gain HELP! 😟😓
Post by: Dana on June 28, 2016, 07:47:58 AM
Weight gain can be a problem, but it doesn't have to be inevitable in menopause or because of HRT. I've gained a lot of weight over the last few years, and kept trying to lose it to no available, so I thought I was just stuck with being "cuddly". However, I decided to join Weight Watchers and I've lost 8kg since November.

I won't lie - it's slow going. The loss was faster in the first 4-5 months, but now it's like getting blood out of a stone, but I lose a little bit nearly every week, so that's the important thing. I've still got at least another 8-10kg to go, but I've made the commitment to stick with it until the end of the year.

It is much harder to lose weight than it was 20 years ago, but if I can do it anyone can. I do not lose weight easily. You just need to find the right weight loss program for you... and for me I need the accountability of having someone weigh me. Otherwise it's very easy for me to justify putting that piece of cake in my gob.

If you are feeling better being on HRT, I would definitely stick with it. You will find a way to lose the weight.
Title: Re: Hrt and weight gain HELP! 😟😓
Post by: walking the dog on June 28, 2016, 08:30:47 AM
Agree with Dana and dancing girl I put on nearly two stone but since at advice of menopause specialist in February I have lost a,stone very slowly and sensibly on a low carb diet it's a life style change more than a,diet and I do allow myself treats etc but I can feel the difference and people are commenting too. Good luck 😊
Title: Re: Hrt and weight gain HELP! 😟😓
Post by: wombat62 on June 28, 2016, 11:17:22 AM
Hi there

I put on a lot of weight in my mid-40's before HRT, guess it was getting older etc. I ate reasonably careful and exercised but it clung on! However, last year I had gallstone attacks and the way to stop them was to adopt a low fat diet. Therefore in turn also cutting out more sugar, no cakes or biscuits etc. Whether it was the low fat, drastic cut in calories or that diet suited me but I've lost around 2st.

I'm eating a little bit more interesting stuff now so will have to see if I can keep it off! Just been away and tried a few things but I do get full quickly, especially if the dish is a bit rich so now I'd rather just have a small amount and savour it. If I have to leave half a restaurant meal then so be it! Wish I could just have kids size especially as most kids are bigger than me these days!

So, unless you are very lucky it shows that once we get past a certain age we need to cut our calories down quite a bit or drastically up the exercise. Also once you start losing weight it also slows your metabolism so you still need less food. I've noticed on my fitness band that since I lost the weight that if I do a exercise class plus normal daily steps I'm burning around 400 calories less than I was before the weight loss. This probably explains why most people put it back on, however, hopefully once you've gone past a certain point you're new eating habits are ingrained!

You may just find it's a settling in time as the extra hormones will have an affect over all the body.