So anyway.
This post could be a bit of a trigger so if weight loss or weight gain conversations do that then please don’t read on.
I am a member of a website with workouts on it, and the website also has a private Facebook page.
One of the the most common comments I read on this have the following:
I am doing all the workouts, and I can’t lose weight.
I’m eating really healthy and I can’t lose weight
I’m feeling so down because I’m working out so hard and I step on the scales and nothing has changed.
It truly is one of the most awful things about menopause. The unexplained weight gain, and it’s definitely top of the list when I think about the ‘things that made me cry the most’ list. The reason for that being that the weight gain directly impacted my confidence as well, and I seriously didn’t know how to dress.
Recently, a good friend in her early 40s commented to me that her appetite had gone through the roof, and she couldn’t stop eating, and I thought ‘oh oh’, I know this one too well.
How awful to try and think how to explain to my gorgeous friend that this was because The Cookie Monster has moved into her brain. It really is a nasty thing to think about, saying to a woman that she needs to watch her food consumption. The best way I could think of wording was ‘well… 52 year old me, would tell 40 year old me to think about whether it was hunger or hormones’. That really is what it comes down to.
As women get older, 2 hormones in our body start having a party.
Ghrelin tells your body to keep eating, Leptin tell the brain that you are full up and to stop eating.
What happens in menopause is that Leptin goes on holiday ,and leaves Ghrelin in charge.
The best thing you can do is to keep your fluid intake up, and when you feel hungry, have good think about whether you ARE hungry or if its just your brain playing tricks on you.
What an awful thing to say I know, but having this information now will save you a lot of scrolling and ugly crying later on, I promise.
One of the best things I can say, is follow an eating plan, and don’t starve yourself.
I cook from the slimming world magazine, and make all my own lunches and dinners because it keeps me out of Greggs at lunchtime. Also, the more protein I eat, the less sugar I crave.
I get my chocolate fix from protein chocolate shakes. Winner.
I went through an awful time with bloating and sweating and not fitting into my clothes which would increase my stress, and make sweat a lot more. It was the worst 18 months ever. I'm telling you all this to help spare you from that ordeal, or at least make it a bit easier to bear.
I host menopause workshops, and I also have a menopause workbook on my website here . I don’t give advice about medication, thats for your GP to do, but what I concentrate on is reducing stress which ultimately is the best thing you can do for yourself full stop.
Please get in touch if I can help you further with any menopause advice. If I don’t have the answer, I can signpost you where you need to go.
Onward!
Elizabeth