His and Her Health

Has anyone experienced weight gain? It feels like I need the jaws of life to get me out of my car each time I go out to a restaurant these days.

In the past we heard about "middle age spread" and in our minds we hold visions of what our mother, aunts, grandmother looked like as they entered their middle years.

Many of our female relatives looked "matronly" and it was very accepted that this was the way that women aged. Today, I've reached middle age and my pants are tighter due to my chubby thighs,
I've jumped up a clothing size, I've gained weight in places that I never gained it before, and it's extremely difficult to lose those extra pounds. I put on an extra 20 lbs, which my 5'6" body doesn't appreciate since entering menopause.

I'm certainly happy that I am wiser and than in my younger years, but I am not happy about the extra weight gain!! Menopause has taken a toll on my body.

I am not alone in this changing body and my bigger self. Since keeping in touch with women has always been my main concern, many women have shared their concerns and anxiety about weight gain during the menopause transition. Women attending my Red Hot Mamas programs in US and CA have legitimate gripes about the sudden appearance of swelly bellies, love handles and weight gain, even when they are not eating deep fried Twinkies. These women are anxious about putting on extra weight.

There is also solid evidence that menopausal women experience weight gain. So, it's not just in women's heads. It's a reality that menopause causes weight gain.

In fact, a study conducted at the MIT (Boston) followed for two years a group of peri-menopausal women who continued the eating and exercise habits that they had previously established in their daily lives. Over the course of the study, the women gained an average of five to eight pounds!

I would like to hear your comments about "middle age spread", love handles, swelly bellies and any other comments you have about weight gain at menopause.

Thanks for taking the time to listen, and I welcome your views.

Hi Ms Giblin, I sure do know how you feel with unwanted weight gain at menopause. I watched my waist-line expand even thought I was not eating more or exercising less. My husband kept saying you should do something about your weight. Then asked me if I was sneaking desserts.

It was depressing that I couldn't get a handle on the cause . Then I also discovered some of the meds I was on also put weight on. Oh No, darn I need the meds but not the weight. What the heck am I supposed to do now. Finally my hubby understands how hard it is to get even a couple of pounds off.He still loves the chubby me but I would like to feel better about my size . Guess I will have to work harder at smaller portions and pump up the workouts.

Thanks for sharing.So many of us have gone or will go through your experience.We need each other.
ruby

Hi to all I am a newbie here but have a little to add I am menopausal over 12 months now 47yo & I noticed the weight appeared to be piling on for no apparent reason as I was eating lots of fresh fruit (mistake number 1 too much natural sugar )so I took it upon myself to stop eating possessed foods ditch sugar & carbs which darn near killed me but it has worked quite well , I follow the Body Trim system (an Australian created food& exercise plan) but I simply have to exercise for 30 minutes every day which is proving hellish with these relentless hot flashes.I weigh all my foods/snacks & keep the portion sizes as in the book, took some getting used to though but now I don't need the book I just go by the rules of 100-150 grams of chicken or fish at meals with plenty of greens no starchy veg at all other than a treat (I don't eat red meat)& for snacks 50grams of Tofu marinated or a low carb protein bar always steering clear of trans fats -sodium & sugar as much as humanely possible.This has stopped my bloating as well as shifting close to 5kilos ...still more to go I think in stone I weigh 8stone 7pounds.I honestly thought I would never shift that fat middle & the miserable 'bra overhang'! but it's nearly gone.Now I need help to reclaim my sanity due to barely 2 hours sleep a night due to hot/cold flashes. My GP refuses to give me sleeping tablets I also have MS so between the 2 I feel as if I am going crazy. Miff.

Miff, here is a link to our companion site with loads of information on hot flashes, etc.
www.redhotmamas.org and our website at www.menopausewise.com

Thank you so much I will take a look right now.

Menopause is probably the most hated time in a woman's life, but it is both a natural and relentlessly unavoidable event, and every woman will go through it at some point. The most common symptoms of menopause are weight gain, hot flashes, depression, anxiety insomia, irregular menstruation and even osteoporosis. premenstrualsyndromesupport.com/Bioidentical-Hormones.php