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Gone through menopause and gaining weight like crazy

nanna0115 posted:

I just turned 53 and have been without a period between 4-5 years. It seems that over the year and half I started gaining weight all the time - seems like on a daily basis, but I have not confirmed that. I have been a large woman for years, probably over 200 lbs for 10 years or so, but since I went through menopause, the number keeps going up. My eating habits (portion size etc) haven't changed enough - I don't think - to justify this change in weight. Has this happened to anyone else??

3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Gone through menopause and gaining weight like crazyI just turned 53 and have been without a period between 4-5 years. It seems that over the year and half I started gaining weight all the time - seems like on a daily basis, but I have not confirmed that. I have been a large woman for years, probably over 200 lbs for 10 years or so, but since I went through menopause, the number keeps going up. My eating habits (portion size etc) haven't changed enough - I don't think - to justify this change in weight. Has this happened to anyone else??

Mary Jane Minkin, MD responded:

Dear Nanna0115,
Alas, I don't think we can blame menopause-women do gain an average of 5-8 pounds around the time of menopause, but the menopausal gain tends to level out then. Unfortunately, the older we get (both men and women) our basal metabolic rates do slow done, so we can eat even less to just maintain, let alone lose. One important thing is to get a set of thyroid function tests done, to rule out an underactive thyroid as part of the culprit. And the real secret: exercise and more exercise=the more you can do, the better. Not only do you burn up calories when you exercise, but you will increase your basal metabolic rate even when you are not exercising, to burn up calories while resting. And any diet will do: no magic one-Weight watchers, Jenny Craig, South beach, nutrisystems: if you stick to them, and exercise, they will work for you.
Good luck,
Mary Jane

Report This| Share this:Gone through menopause and gaining weight like crazyDear Nanna0115, Alas, I don't think we can blame menopause-women do gain an average of 5-8 pounds around the time of menopause, but the menopausal gain tends to level out then. Unfortunately, the older we get (both men and women) our basal metabolic rates do slow done, so we can eat even less to just maintain, let alone lose. One important thing is to get a set of thyroid function tests done, to rule out an underactive thyroid as part of the culprit. And the real secret: exercise and more exercise=the more you can do, the better. Not only do you burn up calories when you exercise, but you will increase your basal metabolic rate even when you are not exercising, to burn up calories while resting. And any diet will do: no magic one-Weight watchers, Jenny Craig, South beach, nutrisystems: if you stick to them, and exercise, they will work for you. Good luck, Mary Jane

3plus3is3 replied to Mary Jane Minkin, MD's response:

help,help,help! I had a hystrectomy 12 years ago. My weight was 120 and sometimes even less. Now its 178 and I have tryed and tryed to get this weight off of me,its like a plague! I exercise more then 4 days aweek sometimes 3- to 4 hours aday and my weight is like stuck with super glue. Is there anything I'm doing wrong or is there anything other then surgury to get my weight to move? thanks!

Report This| Share this:Gone through menopause and gaining weight like crazyhelp,help,help! I had a hystrectomy 12 years ago. My weight was 120 and sometimes even less. Now its 178 and I have tryed and tryed to get this weight off of me,its like a plague! I exercise more then 4 days aweek sometimes 3- to 4 hours aday and my weight is like stuck with super glue. Is there anything I'm doing wrong or is there anything other then surgury to get my weight to move? thanks!

Mary Jane Minkin, MD replied to 3plus3is3's response:

Dear 3plus3is3,
As you've read in some of my previous responses, our basal metabolic rates do slow the older we get; as far as the strictly "lack of estrogen" component, it's unlikely to be more than 10 pounds or so. Have you checked a set of thyroids recently? That certainly can be a culprit. Have you checked in with a good nutritionist to review your diet, to see if there are hidden calories in it? Most importantly, don't give up-keep up the good exercise, and something should work-
Good luck,
Mary Jane

Report This| Share this:Gone through menopause and gaining weight like crazyDear 3plus3is3, As you've read in some of my previous responses, our basal metabolic rates do slow the older we get; as far as the strictly "lack of estrogen" component, it's unlikely to be more than 10 pounds or so. Have you checked a set of thyroids recently? That certainly can be a culprit. Have you checked in with a good nutritionist to review your diet, to see if there are hidden calories in it? Most importantly, don't give up-keep up the good exercise, and something should work- Good luck, Mary Jane

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