Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: mrs_bella on May 14, 2018, 09:29:32 PM
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Hello, I am new to this forum so please bare with me. I started to get hot flushes and other symptoms last year. After countless restless nights, I decided to go on HRT tablets. Since then it's been a roller coaster of trialing 4 different types and forms over the past 2 months. I thought Tibolone was the answer, but I started to stack on the weight. For this reason, I have switched to another type of HRT. It's effective to some degree. However, my biggest issue is the weight I have gained. I have gained 6kg in under 2 months. I am so miserable as I feel and look fat! I exercise and try to eat well. But, I can't seem to get back to my normal weight. Is my experience normal? Will my body adjust and stabilise?
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Hi,
The tricky thing about weight gain is that it's hard to tell whether it's the HRT or the menopause that's causing it. I've always done lots of sport, have a healthy diet and have never needed to diet - until the peri menopause kicked in when I was about 47 and I felt like I gained weight overnight especially round my middle. I absolutely hate it and what's more it's nigh on impossible to shift!
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mrs_bella - welcome to MM
Fluid retention and a bit of weigh gain can happen with any HRT but it is sometimes simply the menopause that results in more weigh gain. Chopping and changing HRTs is not a good idea really as the body won't get a chance to settle.
Unfortunately when meno hits we simply have to eat a lot less and make every meal as nutritious as possible.
I would have a good look at your diet - cut out as much sugar as possible and reduce animal fat to the minimum and try to increase physical activity. Sadly the metabolism does slow down at this time in our lives - I eat about a third less than I did 10 years ago, I'm 62 and not on HRT any more but keeping the weight under control is a constant battle.
If HRT is making you feel better then it may be a compromise that you carry a few more pounds to gain the benefits BUT if being on HRT makes you take more exercise, then the weight may be more muscle, which is good. DG x
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Unfortunately when meno hits we simply have to eat a lot less..............
If you're still working (as I am) and using up a lot of energy, that's well nigh impossible. Working makes me hungry and if I ate a lot less I'd keel over in the line of duty! At this time of life, we get tired more quickly, too. It's a vicious circle, isn't it? Flipping metabolism.......... >:(
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Thank you Wilks for responding to my post!
I too have been active my whole life and eaten well. And when I have had the odd chocolate binge not put on weight.
I have noticed that in about a year I put on 2kg. Since starting the HRT I have gain more weight literally overnight. It's gone onto my tummy, bottom and thighs. My jeans and gym gear are too tight to wear. It's depressing! I am only 42 and feel distressed about the road ahead as the HRT isn't working either 😓
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Thank you also Dancinggirl for responding to my post!
I wish I were that dancing girl at the moment. However it's quite the opposite. Along with my weight gain, the current HRT is not working. I was placed on an antidepressant at the same time of which I can see I need.
I think the HRT is making me more hungry. I am monitoring what I eat, and being mindful of how much I eat as I know that our metabolism slows as we age. Unfortunately the weight gain is not muscle. It's flab. I have never been flabby. At 42 I wonder how much worse it going to get Dancinggirl 😓
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Dulciana it is a vicious cycle. I am active during the day and need to eat. If I don't, I get the shakes and have brain fog. I have read some people majorly reduce their calorie intake during menopause to counteract the weight gain. My body will not let me do this as it screams “I am hungry! Feed me!†all day long. This whole stage in a woman's life is the pits. Well that's what I am finding 😓
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Mrs Bella- I totally agree. I try to eat less but I go all floppy, feel really hungry in the night, can't exercise. I rode 174 km off road on a mountain bike across Wales in 3 days earlier this month, and still my stomach won't budge!!
Just thought- which antidepressant are you taking? Some antidepressants cause weight gain.
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Dulciana it is a vicious cycle. I am active during the day and need to eat. If I don't, I get the shakes and have brain fog. I have read some people majorly reduce their calorie intake during menopause to counteract the weight gain. My body will not let me do this as it screams “I am hungry. Feed me†all day long. This whole stage in a woman's life sucks. Well that's what I am finding 😓
Oh yes indeed. :-\
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Hello again Wilks, my your biking efforts are impressive! I am on Valdoxan. It's not known to increase weight. I am sure the extra 2kg is due to menopause, and the remaining 4kg from taking HRT tablets. I am not very tall so any weight gain is felt and seen.
The Valdoxan does help with my anxiety. I started to have what I now know are panic attacks when the hot flushes started. I got the bonus plan: anxiety plus weight gain. What more could a woman ask for? 😒
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Mrs Bella- I'm on fluoxetine at the moment. I was having relatively mild hot flushes but the rest of my body (and mind) went down the pan. One night last December I was in A&E all night. The mental health team said they had patients signed off work for 6 months with less anxiety than I had. I was so frustrated, anxious, upset and depressed about what I now know was menopause. And in shock I think, because nobody pre-warned me!
I'm hugely better than I was a few months ago but it's down to a cocktail of fluoxetine, HRT and testosterone. I'm still indignant that a “natural process†can wreak so much damage when you're still relatively young and full of life. I could rant about it all day, but I'm gradually accepting it.
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And now I've had a good rant, just had another thought: I don't know a huge amount about HRT but I understand that oral HRT is more likely to give you side effects. Have you tried transdermal patches? They seem to agree with me, apart from giving me massive boobs which I also hate :D
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Sadly any ADs are notorious for making one gain weight. I totally understand that awful hunger, low energy feeling all the time that seems to increase as meno hits. What I have found is that small changes in diet can really help. So grabbing a handful of nuts or a banana between meals is very sustaining and reduces hunger and cutting out as much sugar as possible - so no chocolate, cakes or biscuits I'm afraid. Drinking plenty of water (not caffiene drinks) will help, as being dehydrated results in brain fog and fatigue.
It's really not easy I know but small meals often that are high in protein, fruit and veg but low in sugar can make a big difference. I thought I was eating healthily till I really broke down what I was eating. DG x
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Whereas I have taken ADs since 1988 and NEVER gained weight. They have saved my Life though.
I didn't gain weight. But my apron dropped, over 3/4 days a few years back. So when I look down I look fat :o. This week I feel fat, my belt is tighter. I think it's the 'smarties' I've been eating for pudding :-\. The box is now empty so hopefully ........
Slow release food stuffs are good. My go to: dried fruits and nuts; bananas; muesli ....... little and often. And as much veg. as I can eat!
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I was a trim size 8 prior to menopause. My weight since meno started has gone up and down like a yo-yo, always still in my healthy BMI range but from the bottom to top sometimes in the middle! . Hrt and amitriptyline for my back pain took me to the top level so I joined slimming world after Christmas. I've lost the stone I wanted and love the way of cooking/eating. I have always been a crispaholic and hardly ever have any now, I'm restricted by many fruits because of allergies but omg their slimming bars are lush and they're my daily snack/breakfast/elevensies depending on whether I'm working or not
It's much harder shifting the pounds as we get older and there were times when the scales wouldn't budge for me but I persevered and upped my water intake and it paid off
X
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Blimey Wilks you really have had a rotten time. It must have been terrifying at the time. I am pleased to hear you have come out the other side, and that you are feeling better.
I am still in shock that I am going though menopause. I have friends the same age as I who are still popping out babies. The friends I do have that are going through the same thing as me are in their 50s. I kind of feel cheated. I am too young to be lining up for HRT meds.
I first tried the patches and they gave me blisters/irritation. I then tried a tablet that you insert down there (sorry I have no idea what they are actually called). Well they were a flop as well. Then I was placed on Tibolone. I blew up like a ballon, and by the end of the day I was in tears due to abdominal pain. Following this, my doctor put me on an oral estrogen tablet. Well my boobs felt like they were on fire. So yet again I was back to square one. The lastest HRT I am trailing is new to the market. It's called Duavive. So far so good. Not as effective as Tibolone, but my boobs are fine. They have gotten bigger which like you I don't like. My it's like a shopping list when I look back at all I have trialled. Boy I hope everything settles down. I don't like not having control over my body like this. I am in the lap of the gods as they say.
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Everything you have suggested Dancinggirl has been spot on. That's how I normally eat. Looking back though, I think I have hit the chocolate bars a bit too much in desperation for a pick-me-up. It really goes to show that you have to be mindful of everything you eat/drink. Thank you for responding again as it's reminded me of what has worked for me in the past.
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Thank you for responding to my post CLKD!
I am rather envious of you that you haven't gained weight being on HRT. In saying that, I too think being on it is saving my life. The alternative is sleepless nights and panic attacks among other things.
I was at breaking point when I was prescribed my first lot of HRT. I don't want to go back there. So for me, I hope the current HRT I am on cuts the grade and that I can manage my weight in the process.
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Thank you Annie0710 for also responding to my post!
I am pleased you have found a program that works for you in maintaining your weight ie. slimming world. You are an inspiration! Keep going as it's clearly working for you.
I live in Australia so I am not familiar with slimming world. We have Weight Watchers here. Unfortunately I live in a remote area ie. 4 hours drive from a city.
I think if I go back to my grass routes of eating clean, small meals frequently throughout the day I can manage my weight. I just need to have the willpower to stay away from chocolate in mass quantities.
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It is said that sometimes we mis-inteprut hunger when the body is thirsty.
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:-\. - not HRT but anti-depressant medication :-\
Chocolate is good for us ;). I was advised by NAPS in the 1990s to eat every 3 hours to stop that awful lurch when the body became suddenly hungry. I stick to that regime as much as possible. Try to eat B4 the body is hungry. It does vary what I put into my mouth every day though, we try to eat lots of veg., Himself cooks from scratch most nights. He also goes fishing weekly though I'm not keen ::). I had fads, then 'go off' things, i.e. bananas. If I get a mushy one that's it, off them for weeks.
I always have a breakfast however ill I feel. Muesli helps a lot rather than toast with butter/jam. It's mid-afternoon that my weak point is.
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Mrs Bella- yet another thought: the Evorel Sequi patches that I started on irritated my skin but the Estradot ones that I'm on don't. Maybe worth trying a different patch though I know it's a pain switching meds every 5 minutes.
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As Dancinggirl says re diet. I have been on HRT for 11 years - now 65 and manage to keep my weight gain at bay - and I'm probably 7-10 pounds lighter than I was at one point. It's not about calories as such - I've never counted them - but as said - what you eat. Chocs - limit them to one chocolate ( not a bar) per day. Do you have a partner - get them to hide them for you so not tempted. Otherwise completely banish sugar, high fats, processed foods, foods high in etra carbs etc and swap to high protein, low fat (but not fanatically), fruit veg nuts fish etc.A higher protein lower carb/fat diet also stabilises blood sugar levels much better so you don't have to keep rushing to eat snacks I think Weightwatchers has a newish programme where you don't count calories but eat freely a balanced diet from a pretty wide list. Slimming World has a similar. You can find these lists on the web. Also massively up your exercise especially body conditioning/muscle strengthening as muscle burns more calories than fat weight for weight.
I don't know about aprons? What's that to do with weight - I always wear one for cooking and washing up but I do try not to drop it ::)
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I came off estrodiol patches over a year ago after being on them for many years, and what I noticed slowly was an overall reduction of weight, my arms, legs ( ankles especially, no more fluid retention, my skinny ankles back at last) my tummy and hips too, no more stocky look that hormones can give.
Also my appetite reduced, I have never been a snacker so its easy to keep to a healthy diet.
My hormones I think have balanced at a lower level and I feel OK as far as basic menopausal symptoms are concerned, just the occasional niggles that we all get getting older.
HRT does cause weight gain ( in my case anyway) also making losing it much harder. This was confirmed to me by a lady Gynecologist Surgeon, especially in the tummy and breast areas.
Life is just not fair for us women.
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Hurdity and Dancing Girl- I hear what you say about diet but I (and Mrs Bella, from what she says above) already eat healthily. Some of my friends are dropping chocolate and alcohol but I don't have either of those much. I'm not a chips, burgers and pies type of girl.
When I eat smaller portions I get low blood sugar, feel weak and can't sleep. It's not possible to do a full-time job and stay properly fit by eating like a sparrow. My youngest child is still a young teenager, which is another “demand†on my energy. Things simply don't add up any more. Try riding 100 miles on a bike on a banana and a handful of almonds- it does not compute!
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So maybe eat little and often Wilks, lots of veg. raw or cooked, dried fruits, nuts; we eat a lot of chicken stir fries - chopped peppers to give colour, ginger, garlic, chopped chicken breasts, made in bulk then frozen. Same with mince mix, poured over pasta as a quick meal; curries. Which can be eaten cold ;-). Cheese and biscuits for lunch with tomatoes, celery, pickles, good bread. Himself eats leaves but I can't be bothered. I'm into goat cheese currently ::)
Very rarely crisps. Or those types of snacks.
I feel fat today. Will see if the lack of smarties makes any difference ;-) - I was eating them as pudding :-X
The body needs a little of everything including sugar. Which converts to energy. Dropping alcohol can ease weight gain too ;-)
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I was put on anti-depressants at 50 and my weight increased to a rediculous level. I came off them but have been suffering from depression mild to severe ever since. I didn't have a helpful doctor and it was a while before I got HRT which I have found helpful. As far as know anti-depressants not only make you hungry but also slow your metabolism even more than the menopause. I have never completely shifted the weight and am in the same position at 59, trying to eat less whilst struggling more and more to exercise because of increasing pain in my hips due to arthritis. About to have some physio for that but it really feels like I am doomed to be in pain, depressed, anxious and fat for the rest of my life. I see plenty of women in their 60's who seem fine and I have a very "helpful" friend who I met up with recently who says she has had "absolutely no symptoms at all at the menopause", which I find frustrating...smug person!
My depression has caused me to give up teaching and subsequently lose my home. None of my children are speaking to me even thought there is no clear reason why and I constantly think about suicide and that I would be better off dead. I'm even attending a research therapy at the University at the moment to try to find another way past my depression but to be honest I don't think it will work. Yesterday I heard about treating depression with NSAID's as some people with depression have chronic inflammation but know that an ordinary GP will just give me a blank look if I mention it...........
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Hello to all who have joined in on this conversation. I am a little shattered as it's been a rather horrible few days for me so I hope to address everything that has been discussed and suggested.
From what I gather we have all had different experiences regarding HRT and/or antidepressants. Also weight issues seem to go hand in hand with the meds we are taking due to our struggles with menopause.
You have all given me some great advice on weight management, and different types of HRT I could turn to as I have had a hit and miss track record so far.
I am going to continue eating clean, limit my chocolate intake and keep moving (I don't drink alcohol so chocolate is my only indulgence). Fingers crossed this is enough to keep my hunger at bay, and the numbers low on my bathroom scales.
I will also give the current HRT I am on a little longer to hopefully do it's thing. Again fingers crossed they work and I get my life back ie. sleep better and can kick my anxiety to the curb.
I wish for you all that whatever your struggles are, that you can overcome them. I am championing you all!
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I do think it is very difficult to actually KNOW what is a good diet. We are all different and many women develop digestive problems when the menopause hits. A diet regime that works for one person may not be good for another.
We are told to reduce carbs but they should be part of a good diet - we have been eating bread for thousands of years but like most things it's about the amount we eat that is significant. Bread and potatoes also give vital nutrients that are often difficult to obtain from other sources. Vitamin D is difficult to get unless you get 20 mins of sunshine each and every day so supplementation in winter is advisable. Food should also be enjoyable and somehow we are now feeling guilty for enjoying food. I personally find eating too many greens gives me terrible flatulence and then my diverticulitis starts giving me pain. I have a very fast digestive system so it's not unusual for me to open my bowels 2-3 times a day - so I think my food goes through me very quickly and therefore absorbtiin may be inpaired. I take supplements for the reason.
Olive and rapeseed oils are very good for us so should be part of a healthy diet - so cutting out all fat is not good.
This is why I say “ have a good look at your diet†as it does no harm to make small adjustments to see if this might help with weight and health issues - just don't go bonkers and start cutting things out without careful thought and analysis - though cutting down on sugar is a ‘no brainer' DG x
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Hello nissa11. After reading your post, I am worried about you. You have a lot of things going on that are impacting your mental health. Have you tried Electrical Convulsive Therapy (ECT) or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy for your depression? I haven't had ECT. But, I have had a series of TMS. It did help with my depression. But, I live too far away to have maintenance sessions.
Please don't give up!
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Chocs - limit them to one chocolate ( not a bar) per day.
Wow, for a chocoaholic that would be near impossible. I now try just to have some dark chocolate (not my favourite) once a week. Also reducing starchy carbs is more effective that avoiding fats. Fats are not now the demon (if they ever were). Fats go to immediate energy use, starchy carbs go straight to storage e.g. the liver etc.,
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On my slimmingworld plan they suggested freezing curly wurlys then either have the whole bar or break in half. I really look forward to that treat and because it's frozen it takes a good while to get through ;-) x
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I'm too greedy to limit anything lol.chocolate raisins that's my downfall I desperately try not to buy them then I worry I'll crave them if I don't have any in it's ridiculous ,at least I don't eat the whole pack in one go now so that's a step in the right direction lol.I consider I eat healthy so I'm permitted the odd vice (or ten)lol.
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Hi Nissa11, although many antidepressants do cause weight gain, especially mirtazipine and amitriptyline, but some do not.
I'm on fluoxetine and that is considered weight-neutral. Also, I'm pretty sure that Valdoxan (agomelatine) doesn't put on weight.
Could you try a different one?
I also find that exercise and fresh air help my mood.
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Dancinggirl gives good advice re a healthy diet. I'd like to add that is important to look after the gut microbiome, as those who have a greater diversity of gut microbes tend to be slimmer. By consuming a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, and a diet rich in different sources of fibre, we can give the good bacteria in our guts a sporting chance to proliferate. Live yogurt and fermented products such as kefir and sauerkraut are also helpful.
JP x
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Dancinggirl gives good advice re a healthy diet. I'd like to add that is important to look after the gut microbiome, as those who have a greater diversity of gut microbes tend to be slimmer. By consuming a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, and a diet rich in different sources of fibre, we can give the good bacteria in our guts a sporting chance to proliferate. Live yogurt and fermented products such as kefir and sauerkraut are also helpful.
JP x
Joaniepat it's interesting you mention that. I recently watched a documentary on the effects of a poor gut microbiome and mental health. Basically, poor gut microbiome equals poor mental health like increased rates of depression and anxiety. The studies undertaken relating to this concluded that eating a diet as you have just suggested can improve your gut microbiome and consequently mental health. And from what you have said such a diet can make you slimmer. I think I might look into this further as I need help in both those areas at the moment due to menopause: anxiety and weight gain. Thank you for your suggestions!
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Apparently oats are really good for encouraging good bacteria in the gut!!! There are many foods that help the gut bacteria - just cut down on the sugar. DG x
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What kind of sugar though :-\
I used to eat a bar of 6 squares of chocolate whilst :scottie: - she would have 2, I would eat the rest. Usually ;-). Then one year I found that chocolate was making my body feel sluggish so I stopped. I've been into packets of 'smarties' recently so have stopped buying now that the box is empty. Black chololcate is lovely - 1 piece is not enough, 2 is too much :sick02: ;D
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I've always eaten loads of vegetables and have been drinking kefir for about a year.
And I only drink 1 to 2 units of alcohol per week.
I guess I will just have to starve myself! :(
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I've always eaten loads of vegetables and have been drinking kefir for about a year.
And I only drink 1 to 2 units of alcohol per week.
I guess I will just have to starve myself! :(
I have struggled with my weight. I cut out so much and wasn't even losing weight but when a friend who is good at dieting asked what 'healthy' foods I was eating she said they still have a lot of calories in. I was snacking on nuts etc. So I changed my snack and my breakfast and slowly but surely I started losing but it's very slow going but after a few weeks I started to feel less hungry and I'm used to it now but I've been dieting two months now and expected to have lost more than I actually have but at least it's finally coming off!
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I limit cakes, chocolate and biscuits etc to treats when I am meeting up with friends. This helps because it fixes the idea of it being a 'treat' in my head, so not something I have daily and also means I don't have any in the house for me to eat when I get peckish.
The only problem I have found is that I sometimes get the shakes (usually just before I am due to have a bleed, though not always) and the only thing that seems to stop it is something sugary. But I have to eat a lot of biscuits for it to have any effect. Recently, I've been trying the nakd bars - they are just dried fruit and nuts 'mushed' together. I find one of these stops the shakes very quickly and although I like the taste, it's not so yummy that I want to eat more than one (which I would do with biscuits or chocolate) Also, as it's just dried fruit and nuts, I'm hoping it will be more beneficial to me than a big slice of coffee cake would be!
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Apparently oats are really good for encouraging good bacteria in the gut!!! There are many foods that help the gut bacteria - just cut down on the sugar. DG x
And oats are very sustaining, which reminds me, I must stock up on lots more flapjacks. There's a little shop near where I teach piano, that sells a good variety of them. :)
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I've always eaten loads of vegetables and have been drinking kefir for about a year.
And I only drink 1 to 2 units of alcohol per week.
I guess I will just have to starve myself! :(
Wilks I am thinking along the same lines, but I like food too much. I am currently being a glutton eating crumpets in bed. Well it's a chilly Saturday morning, I just couldn't refuse breakfast in bed. So much for my good intentions 😆
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Hello Snoooze, what do you eat for breakfast now? And snack on?
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I limit cakes, chocolate and biscuits etc to treats when I am meeting up with friends. This helps because it fixes the idea of it being a 'treat' in my head, so not something I have daily and also means I don't have any in the house for me to eat when I get peckish.
The only problem I have found is that I sometimes get the shakes (usually just before I am due to have a bleed, though not always) and the only thing that seems to stop it is something sugary. But I have to eat a lot of biscuits for it to have any effect. Recently, I've been trying the nakd bars - they are just dried fruit and nuts 'mushed' together. I find one of these stops the shakes very quickly and although I like the taste, it's not so yummy that I want to eat more than one (which I would do with biscuits or chocolate) Also, as it's just dried fruit and nuts, I'm hoping it will be more beneficial to me than a big slice of coffee cake would be!
Hello Dorothy, that's my biggest issue. I try to eat protein as much as I can to keep me full, but I find through out the day if I don't snack I get the shakes. Some suggest not snacking and sticking to 3 meals a day so you don't get insulin resistant (it's called something like that). I really don't know the answer. I wish I did as I need to limit my calorie intake now that I am in menopause, and getting older.
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Apparently oats are really good for encouraging good bacteria in the gut!!! There are many foods that help the gut bacteria - just cut down on the sugar. DG x
And oats are very sustaining, which reminds me, I must stock up on lots more flapjacks. There's a little shop near where I teach piano, that sells a good variety of them. :)
I love oats for breakfast. I usually throw a banana in the mix as well. However, I find they don't sustain me. I am hungry within 2 hours. Where I am going wrong?
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Mrs_bella - I find I need to eat more during the morning and I need an early lunch. Oats and a banana sounds like a great breakfast. Why not have 10 cashew nuts mid morning as these are very sustaining and have masses of the good nutrients one needs. I think having enough protein e.g. eggs, chicken, fish is one of the keys to staving off hunger.
Have a look at the Italian diet - I think it's called the Pioppi diet ? Olive oil, fish and eggs with loads of veg and some fruit are the key basics. This diet is thought to be one of the best to reduce heart disease and diabetes- apparently the residents of this southern Italian village live to well over 80 - however I doubt this is simply down to good diet. Genetics and lifestyle are also terribly important so I'm sure all that sunshine, siestas, easy access to very fresh food, leisurely eating habits and relaxed lifestyle will have a lot to do with why they live longer.
I personally don't buy into any particular ‘diet' as such as the recommendations seem to change all the time and, as I said before, we are all different.
However, there is absolutely no doubt that oestrogen deficiency can play havoc with our digestion, metabolism and the ability to absorb nutrients. We loose muscle mass, strength, stamina and sleep suffers because of oestrogen difiency and regardless of what we do our body shape does change. It doesn't matter how much exercise I do or how much I decrease or change what I eat, there is now a permanent band of fat sitting around the top of my hips and lower stomach and I HATE IT !!!
DG x
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I'm still at the indignant phase of how unfair it all is! :D
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I know Wilks - I'm finding this aging process so frustrating. We are adviced to do so many things to stay healthy yet it still seems to be a lottery as to whether you enjoy good health or not ??? :-\ :'(
Mrs_bella - I forgot to mention; don't eat flapjacks as they are full of sugar, ( sugar is the devil I'm afraid unless it is in fruit) so any of the goodness of the oats will be undone by the sugar and also very fattening!!! Stick with nuts!
DG x
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My work mate who sits next to me is only 37. She drinks a lot of wine and eats loads of crisps and chocolate. At the moment she's easily losing weight just by cutting the junk. She doesn't even exercise!
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Thank you Dancinggirl for your advice! I will look into the Italian diet. It drives me nuts as this time last year I could have a few treats like pancakes for breakfast and not put on any weight. It's only taken 4 months for me to put 6kg on. I have increased my daily steps to a minimum of 15,000. And I am trying my best to not have as many treats. Even if I lived off air, I think I would put on weight at the moment. Surely it can't get any worse???
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I'm still at the indignant phase of how unfair it all is! :D
Me too! I have done the hard yards as a woman. Now Mother Nature throws this one at me. I didn't sign up for this. Darn being a woman. As you can probably tell I am knee deep in the indignant phase 😆
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My work mate who sits next to me is only 37. She drinks a lot of wine and eats loads of crisps and chocolate. At the moment she's easily losing weight just by cutting the junk. She doesn't even exercise!
If only I was 37 again. Mind you I would like to be 41 again as I was slimmer and mentally stable. It's only taken around 8 months to put on the pounds and turn completely bonkers. Here's hoping when I turn 43 soon that it's the new 41 for me. I hope your work mate realise how lucky she is.
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I weighed in yesterday at 9st 1oz (I'm 5'4â€) so total weight loss is 1st 2.5oz
If I'm honest I've not exercised but have been busier around the house/garden but this weight shifted really slowly until I swapped Diet Pepsi for water, then it was 1-2lb per week. I still have my d.pepsi each evening but water during the day.
Just had a thought, you may be able to join slimming world online, the plan is no fried food/fat/sugar but you do have an allowance per day that you dip Into, that's where my choccy bar/crisps come from
Things like jacket potato, meat (cutting off fat), pasta is unlimited so totally achievable as a new way of cooking/eating as if you want chips or fried food you use a 1calorie spray to fry or roast x
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Mid-afternoon is my weak time, when my body gets hungry.
I start the day with a good muesli [lizzies] with a dash of milk. Then it varies as to how hungry I am, where we happen to be - lunch can be any time after 11.30. Evening meal between 4.30 and 7.00 p.m.. That's our 'hot' meal usually.
Today I had pizza for lunch. Sometimes it's ham/cheese salad but I go off lettuce quite fast ::). Lots of mixed, dried fruits and nuts as they are filling. I am off bananas right now .....
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Hello Snoooze, what do you eat for breakfast now? And snack on?
Two shredded wheat with semi skimmed milk. Shredded wheat has no sugar like most cereals. I snack on low fat crackers either plain or with a very thin spread of low fat philadelphia or some grapes but to be honest once my body got used to less food, I don't need the snacks every day. Most days I can manage on breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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I'm still at the indignant phase of how unfair it all is! :D
I went through that phase! But once my clothes didn't fit anymore and I dared to get on the scales I got such a shock that it spurred me on but I'm not saying it's easy. It's hard work and slow going!
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I know Wilks - I'm finding this aging process so frustrating. We are adviced to do so many things to stay healthy yet it still seems to be a lottery as to whether you enjoy good health or not ??? :-\ :'(
Mrs_bella - I forgot to mention; don't eat flapjacks as they are full of sugar, ( sugar is the devil I'm afraid unless it is in fruit) so any of the goodness of the oats will be undone by the sugar and also very fattening!!! Stick with nuts!
DG x
Although nuts are good, they are high in calories so I had to drop them as I was snacking on them and not losing weight. Once I cut them out I started losing weight.
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My work mate who sits next to me is only 37. She drinks a lot of wine and eats loads of crisps and chocolate. At the moment she's easily losing weight just by cutting the junk. She doesn't even exercise!
I lost weight easily at that age. Don't forget, your metabolism slows down as you age and menopause does cause weight gain. It is harder to lose weight when older but not impossible. Just harder.
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Thank you ladies for the suggestions you have posted since I last logged on (which was last night)!
I think I need to get a pen & paper to write this all down. I want to investigate the following diets: Slimming World, the Italian one and another which looks at healing your gut microbiomes.
But at the end of the day, I am
in menopause and getting older so I need to eat wiser and keep moving. Just another stage in my life which I need to navigate as best as I can.
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For those who are interested, I have just had a google session on the diets I was interested in that have been suggested during our chats. I stumbled across the reviews of a book about improving your gut health. It's called The Microbiome Diet by Raphael Kellman. I think I might purchase it, and give it a go.
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Hi Mrs Bella, I have Dr Michael Mosley's book, the Clever Guts Diet. The main theme is eating a varied diet with loads of vegetables, but a wide range of vegetables. He also suggests kefir which I love, so I have that a few times a week.
I agree with you that we have to keep moving. For me, the health benefits of strenuous exercise outweigh the alternative, which would be about 4kg lighter but with no energy to do anything.
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Hi Mrs Bella,I'd also recommend Dr Mosleys book I love his sense of humour it's a very easy to understand book and I like the fact he's not scared to be our guinea pig and tries most stuff on himself to illustrate the results on the average joe bloggs,can you get “trust me I'm a doctor†on you tube maybe and watch some of his past tv shows you'd enjoy them too.x
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Hi Mrs Bella,I'd also recommend Dr Mosleys book I love his sense of humour it's a very easy to understand book and I like the fact he's not scared to be our guinea pig and tries most stuff on himself to illustrate the results on the average joe bloggs,can you get “trust me I'm a doctor†on you tube maybe and watch some of his past tv shows you'd enjoy them too.x
Ooooo...I like the idea of the book/shows if he has a good sense of humour. I will definitely check it/them out. Thank you Daisydot!
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Hi Mrs Bella, I have Dr Michael Mosley's book, the Clever Guts Diet. The main theme is eating a varied diet with loads of vegetables, but a wide range of vegetables. He also suggests kefir which I love, so I have that a few times a week.
I agree with you that we have to keep moving. For me, the health benefits of strenuous exercise outweigh the alternative, which would be about 4kg lighter but with no energy to do anything.
Great Wilks; I will check it out. Going by the title, I already like his sense of humour.
Yes, I agree. For me exercise has always been an essential. I feel so much better for it. If I stopped, I may end up lighter but also on the flabby side. I don't want to be “skinny fat†as a friend who is a personal trainer calls it.
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One can get up-2-date news from The Clever Guts Team ;-). I haven't faced kefir yet :-\
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One can get up-2-date news from The Clever Guts Team ;-). I haven't faced kefir yet :-\
CLKD are you talking about their newsletters? I just googled it and have signed up.
Oh CLKD, like menopause this whole gut diet thing is confusing. I need a simple manual on both.
I hadn't heard of kefir before joining this forum. I am not sure I want to try it as it sounds disgusting.
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Ooh, kefir is lovely. It's somewhere between natural yogurt and milk in consistency but tastes like yogurt. Often slightly fizzy.
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I'm a big fan of kefir Mrs Bella not because of the taste but because of the huge health benefits,have a google,best way to take it is in a smoothie with fresh fruit like banana or berries whatever is your favourite.sauerkraut is also another good gut aid,just make sure it's organic unpasteurised or you can always make either of them yourself lol have a google all the info is there for you.xx
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Thanks Wilks & Daisydot!
I have just had a google...you can get Starter Packs to make Kefir at home. I will see if my local health food shop stocks them.
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I am in the middle of very interesting book by Dr Robert Lustig.... Fat Chance.
Basically sugar is doing the damage. and the food industry has taken all the fiber out of processed foods as it spoils too quickly so they shove in HFCS nice and cheap and gets us addicted to the sweet stuff.
We shud all eat whole non processed food with lots of fiber so that food moves quickly enough at the start to signal us that we are full but slow enough to keep us fuller for longer and clears out the other end.
Protein at meals to stop us feeling hunry, especially breakfast. My hubby can go all morning on a water, banana and hemp protein powder blend but if he has oat type cereals with nuts and he is hungry by 11!!!
I have 2 scrambled eggs with red pepper, onion or any veg I have lying around for breakfast and then I'm fine till lunch time.
Always crave something sweet after eating anything!! so now I make a fruit herbal tea ready to sip after my meals.
sadly the diet drinks will still be teaching your body insulin spikes.
I cannot do a few bits of choc its a few bars or nothing..... so its nothing for me!!
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I am in the middle of very interesting book by Dr Robert Lustig.... Fat Chance.
Basically sugar is doing the damage. and the food industry has taken all the fiber out of processed foods as it spoils too quickly so they shove in HFCS nice and cheap and gets us addicted to the sweet stuff.
We shud all eat whole non processed food with lots of fiber so that food moves quickly enough at the start to signal us that we are full but slow enough to keep us fuller for longer and clears out the other end.
Protein at meals to stop us feeling hunry, especially breakfast. My hubby can go all morning on a water, banana and hemp protein powder blend but if he has oat type cereals with nuts and he is hungry by 11!!!
I have 2 scrambled eggs with red pepper, onion or any veg I have lying around for breakfast and then I'm fine till lunch time.
Always crave something sweet after eating anything!! so now I make a fruit herbal tea ready to sip after my meals.
sadly the diet drinks will still be teaching your body insulin spikes.
I cannot do a few bits of choc its a few bars or nothing..... so its nothing for me!!
ouchouch, the food industry “big boys†have a lot to answer for.
It's interesting you mention that oat type cereals have that effect on your husband. They do me also. If I eat porridge, I am normally hungry by 10am. I am not a fan of eggs so have not yet found a breakfast that sustains me until lunchtime.
Oh I hear you on the choc front. It's all or nothing for me. My husband is gobsmacked by how I can demolish a block in one sitting.
Thank you for responding to my post! 😊
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Hi there Mrs Bella - just a quick message as I was going to suggest eggs - I cannot subsist on carbs for breakfast until lunchtime. I nearly always have eggs whatever else I have. Sometimes grapefruit, porridge with banana and blueberries ( or muesli with same or low fat greek yogurt with the same) followed by one or two boiled eggs ( no bread or toast!). Alternatively grilled lean bacon (cut fat off) with lots of mushrooms (baked or fried in frylight 1 cal spray) + toms. You could also have fish - - scrambled eggs and smoked salmon a lovely way to eat eggs!
Hurdity x
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Hi there Mrs Bella - just a quick message as I was going to suggest eggs - I cannot subsist on carbs for breakfast until lunchtime. I nearly always have eggs whatever else I have. Sometimes grapefruit, porridge with banana and blueberries ( or muesli with same or low fat greek yogurt with the same) followed by one or two boiled eggs ( no bread or toast!). Alternatively grilled lean bacon (cut fat off) with lots of mushrooms (baked or fried in frylight 1 cal spray) + toms. You could also have fish - - scrambled eggs and smoked salmon a lovely way to eat eggs!
Hurdity x
Thanks for the ideas Hurdity! I mostly have capeseed toast with avocado and smoked salmon for breakfast. By about 11am I am famished so have an apple or nuts. I wish I could just do 3 meals a day, but I get so hungry in between to the point of becoming dizzy.
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Thanks for your support. Yes, I do have a lot of stuff affecting my mental heath and as I said have volunteered for a new sort of talking therapy but one day it seems to be improving and another I go right back down to full on depression again. I hate it! I will look up the therapies you mention. Thanks again :)
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Thanks for your support. Yes, I do have a lot of stuff affecting my mental heath and as I said have volunteered for a new sort of talking therapy but one day it seems to be improving and another I go right back down to full on depression again. I hate it! I will look up the therapies you mention. Thanks again :)
Oh I hear you Nissa11! Depression is a funny thing. Just when you think you are on the improve, then it can come back a bite you in the bottom again. For me the key is managing the moments when I am at rock bottom. I have an “Action Plan†thingie. I developed it with my doctor. It lists my triggers and things I can do at the time to help. And also if it escalates who I can contact in a crisis. I often refer to it. Could you write one up yourself? Or ask your doctor about creating one? I hope that strategy makes sense to you.