TreesLaugh's Journal, 11 Jan 22

I am hearing you loud and clear, menopause is horrid, I'm 55 and had peri menopause for a few years now I'm in the full blown version, and have been up and down like a yoyo with my weight, I too used to be 54kg until I had my 2nd child at age 36 and child number 3 at age 38, since then I've been down, up, down, up up up lol. I've tried shakes, the cookie diet, lazy keto counting calories and carbs and so on, sooo damn frustrating not getting anywhere. Then late last year I changed my entire outlook. I don't exercise, they say cardio isn't good for 'my age' and doesn't help with weight loss so no point heating the old furnace up more than it already is, I take between 1500 and 5000 steps per day, I have neuropathy in my feet so that's about my limit for walking atm. I decided to give intermittent fasting a try, so now I don't eat until around 10.30/11am and it will be either fried eggs, grilled tomato, smashed avocado and mushrooms or simply a thick slice of toasted banana bread and a cup of tea (either green, earl grey, peppermint, camomile) after that I only eat if I'm hungry until dinner and only every 2 hours. Dinner is usually a small portion of protein, salad or mixed veg and mash or sweet potato fries. I sometimes have an icecream after dinner around 8.30, maybe even peanut butter toast (turkish bread) then nothing until 10.30/11am the next day. Since cutting out the sugar, milk and bread (I love bread but it had to be limited!) started fasting and only eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I feel full I've started to see some body changes and weight loss. I just tell myself not to give up and when I see small changes then it inspires me to keep going. You've got this chick don't be so hard on yourself, and stuff the doctors who cares what they say just believe in yourself xox 

Thanks justagirlinoz for sharing your encouraging words. I'm perimenopausal, started beginning of 2020 at age 54 never had any signs before that. That's when the hot flushes started. All of last year I've struggled with my body screaming loudly that its craving, but I can't seem to find what its craving for? Nothing I've tried satisfies that craving. I've never experienced that before. Weird. This year is the first time I've experienced the sweats at night! Yuk. 2006 My sudden weight gain and problems was due to undiagnosed TSS  

You're welcome TreesLaugh. The night sweats are crap. Wow TSS is a killer! Glad you recovered. About 3 months ago I started taking Liver Tonic tablets and I honestly started feeling better the first week, I was a real party girl when I was younger and definitely wasn't kind to my body, it catches up with you when you get older and become complacent with life, which happens to a lot of people. I was always active but slowed down a lot over the last 6 years, I'm picking up the pace again since being kinder to my own wellbeing. All we can do is accept where we are at and keep on trying to reach our goals. (The tablets I take are from Good Health - Liver Tonic 17500.) 

Try to cut down your daily carbs intake to 50g and fill with veggies 

I have hit menopause & some people have no idea of how difficult weight loss can be. I work so hard & I was seeing a Chiropractor for a knee issue who said "you should have lost more weight by now". I felt like telling him to spend a week with me. Have you considered seeing a professional who could potentially work out if there is a problem that can be resolved? 

Thanks everyone. I was close to death with TSS. I believe it traumatised my body hence refusing to lose weight and causing the odd cravings. I've been to umpteen professionals, they found nothing. Angry Hubby drove me 3hrs to the city for another Drs help. He recognised my body fighting an infection, a week later the foreign object fell out!! It's by the grace of God I didn't die. Soon I've an appointment with an exercise physiologist. Lower my carbs? hmm I eat salad+veges+tofu (my carbs) I only eat fish+seafood. 3x a week I may have my homemade wholemeal bread. 

Treeslaugh what’s your daily protein intake? The proper amount of protein should be 1.2 X your ideal weight. If your ideal weight is 55kg, then your protein target should be around 66g a day. The excessive protein will be turned into sugar in your body. Also intermittent fasting especially the prolonged ones (24 hours plus) can really help according to some people. 

Concentrate on the body shape and not the scales for a while. I yo yo’d 2.5 kg in a day this week just because of fluid. Every time I seem to get on top of things something hits. Think shingles, then parathyroids then shattered arm over the last 8 years. With peri and then menopause thrown into the mix. I had given up over the last year and started stacking the weight back on. But my clothes are uncomfortable so I’m going tying intermittent fasting with keto 5 days a week. Weekends are with the BF so pizzas and wine, then back to IF and keto. It’s not earth shattering but the weight is slowly coming down and at least it’s sustainable. You got this TreesLaugh. The doctors give up on you once you hit 50, stay on track and enjoy how good your body is feeling, give yourself a break now and then, maybe your body thinks it’s starving. Just keep the end goal in mind, living healthy and enjoying life. 

Wake up Drs we still need ya!! Oh boy the food intake is so confusing & complicated, proteins and carbs...its overwhelming. I had no idea about the required protein and what too much does 😳 I have no idea what I should be eating or the amount. I've been sticking to 1200 calories and doing what you suggest Trihard- focussing on my body shape and clothes as a guide. Its still odd the scales rarely move down. On a positive note l feel fit, I can see muscles on my lower legs, my clothes loose around my legs butt and chest, no joint aches and I feel flexible and agile, my tummy isn't getting in the way manymore 🤗 

👏👍 

Noelene.Carter, thankyou. From what you and everyone else are advising, I'm doing everything right. 1200 cals a day, weigh everything before I eat or drink. I don't eat processed foods. I don't eat any sugary foods unless its in my fruit ie all types of berries, and 5g of my own bees raw honey on my oats or in my coffee (my treats). I'll eliminate salt on my eggs and tomatoes 👍I don't experience hunger pangs and feel full. I make a conscious effort of eating 2- 3 meals a day. Uncontrollable screaming cravings completely gone since taking Phentermine Juno ER. I feel sane again!! 

I find it hard to loose "weight by the scales" too as 67 yr old. But going by my charts, I am slowly going down by 1 kg over a long time, but its my life stle now after 5 years of low carb/IntermittentFasting life style. The weight goes up and down. But Its better to go by shape ie clothes fit looser, feeling healthier, more energy, getting better sleep. If you stress out about exercise, you could be triggering stress hormones etc. As you say, your body is not responding to too much exercises. I joined a Facebook Group for ladies in our situation, "Keto and More for Ladies over 50 only". Also Dr Berg Youtude videos on weight loss. When I looked at memories that came up on Facebook, I could see that this way of eating was helping me to improve my health. I could see it in the pics. Go for a new goal ie to heal your body. I have been doing this for 5 years now. Just keep going, steady steady.  

I was on 1200 Calories a day for 3 months without losing any weight. I 163cm and at that stage was 90 kg. Eventually I started dropping my Calories intake by 100 calories per day every week. When I got down to 1000 calories a day the weight started coming off. I don't want to drop my Calories intake too low because of nutrition, stressing my body and ensuring I maintain my eating. This is doable for me and is working - am now 83 kg 

Maykot thats a great effort. I agree with you about not stressing your body with too little calories but I focus on Nutrition and health. I am now averaging by the scales at 77.6 kg from 86 kg back in 2016. My dress sizes at one time when I was 92 kg at age 50 yrs was XL (Australian size) now M or 12-14. But best of all, my energy levels have improved, and I got off Blood Pressure medications etc.  

You got this Treeslaugh. Dont blame you so many people have given up on doctors helping them these days hay. I gave up about 10 years ago and try anything alternative to help with my problems.  

Hi Dianna65, I agree with you about nutrition I've continued to focus on high nutrition and my version of this is following Dr Gundry's diet of lectin free food. It's a bit strange because he advocates ideally eating one meal a day - or at least a shortish eating window, lectin free food which basically means no grains, high vegies (most of my carb come from vegies), protein from nuts, seeds, fish, seafood mostly. He also really likes olive oil, HIIT type walking, daily prebiotic fibre (linseed and psyllium) and good skin care. I'm doing most of this, but incorporated the changes slowly so wasn't all that hard. 

PS I'm 63 years old and had lots of minor joint pain and I think I was prediabetic (self diagnosed) so was really worried. Have stable energy and most joint pain gone except for minor right hip pain.  

Wow you ladies rock!! Your input and insight is extremely encouraging. All of you are amazing in you own body care and challenging stories. Very supportive. Kezzalina your comments about Drs are my thoughts exactly. Love and hugs to you all for helping me and each other. 

I hope this video helps you as much as it helped me. I found that it's is not my body that is craving food but my mind :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGrWznkQWpE 

Have you worked with a nutrionist? 1200 calories seems low and your body may be in starvation mode where its maximising conservation. also have you tried mixing up your regime to 'trick' your body. Plateaus can come from your body getting used to a regime.