menopause and weight

[Jane01]

was reading about hormones and the pill and effects on weight loss efforts. I've been dealing with a similar issue. Because of surgery, i've been forced to enter menopause at an earlier age and expected. Now you talk about hormones! I'm trying to balance my life and eat well and hope all will fall in place. It's easy to get discouraged with so many forces working against me. Anybody want to share their experience with the "change"?

[southerngal]

I am on the hormone replacements. My family said i had to or they would leave home !! Hormones have definitely helped and keeping weight off is harder than ever. Don't know if its the actual menopause or the hormones.

[dsteve]

Probably a combination of both. I think as we get older women just have a much harder time keeping the weight off, particularly around the midsection.

[suzyhomemaker]

I have been taking natural pogesterone and estrogen and I think it really helps. There is a theory that estrogen is stored in fat and if you dont have enough estrogen your body will hang on to fat, making it very difficult to lost weight. I have combined hormone therapy(askdrhelen.com, Suzanne Sommers, womentowomen.com), and upping my metabolism with the 12 minute workout. I try to eat only when I'm hungry and eat what I am hungry for (weigh down workshop). You can google the names I put in brackets for more info.
I am now starting to lose weight. I use a stamina stepper for my surges(walmart) and I have visibly added muscle. I have way more energy and my appetite has changed. I don't deprive myself, I love myself instead and the cravings are dropping off! I read somewhere that we would never allow someone to talk to us the way we talk to ourselves. I am 53, I have seven kids and a body to prove it and when I look in the mirror I love who I am. If I can do it so can you!) why not? We marvel that no two fingerprints are the same, how much more incredible, that out of the billions of people that God has created, no one is like you or me? Please read The Shack!

[blemons]

how have you done with HRT? Do you find there are any negative side effects?

[suzyhomemaker]

I forgot to mention, I use only Natural Hormones! My dr prescribed them to be compounded bioidentical. I also use natural hormone replacement-both progesterone and estrogen- from askdrhelen.com
The hot flashes are gone. It is serious business though, so research it carefully. I would NEVER take synthetic hormones.
hope this helps

[maddie]

I love the idea of the bioidentical hormones- are they terribly expensive and is it hard to find a compunder? Will insurance help to pay for any of this? Isn't it sad that often what we do for our health is best determined by whether or not we can afford it? Different subject. I digress! lol