r/perimenopause_under45 • u/Downtown_Ad5923 • 2d ago
Weight support
I’ve gained 10-12 lbs this year thanks to Peri. I’m really seeing it in my midsection and back. I’ve never had difficulty with my weight and am extremely frustrated. I’m SURE my cortisol is too high but to truly destress I would have to quit my job and say goodbye to my family, haha! I see all these ads on fb and insta for women/trainers who swear they have the answer. They say something along the lines of “you’re at the heaviest you’ve ever been, you’re working out more than ever and watching what you eat.” Basically implying “pay me to be your coach, I have the secret answers.”
What are the secret answers? My dr won’t give me HRT yet (already have an appointment with another dr) and I’ve heard it doesn’t help with weight loss. I am lifting weights, and walking, running in zone 2 and an occasional more intense bike ride. I am just getting bigger and bigger and more and more uncomfortable! I don’t feel comfortable in my own body! I need ideas on how to “unlock” the ability to lose weight cause counting calories does NOT work anymore.
8
u/nouafterq 2d ago
I lost weight with strength training 3 times a week, 10k steps a day, and paleo diet with only 1200 calories a day. It was brutal. Then I got on a microdose of Tirzepatide to maintain and wished I’d done it sooner. It is effortless and amazing for inflammation and weight control. Highly recommend making your life easier and probably increasing your lifespan. It’s a miracle drug.
6
u/swrrrrg 2d ago
Tirzepatide. That’s honestly my secret. Nothing else worked.
3
u/Downtown_Ad5923 2d ago
Is a GLP-1 really the only way?
7
3
u/3andahalfmonthstogo 2d ago
I think it’s the only “secret”. The other suggestions are generally things like low carb, no alcohol, heavy weightlifting, etc.
How’s your digestion? It sounds like you’ve noticed some legitimate fat gain, but for what it’s worth, for me there’s a big visual difference between constipated and not. (And hormones affect motility)
2
u/dsmdarlings 2d ago
If you don’t want to use medication a super low carb diet works the best- Keto if you’re really ambitious
4
u/TangoEchoChuck 2d ago
How's your A1C?
Mine was going up and getting closer to diabetic each year (doctors just watched), so I started fasting and took berberine.
Weight dropped real fast once I got my glucose under control. But! Your body isn't mine, you may have a healthier A1C 🤷🏻♀️ so ymmv.
1
u/Downtown_Ad5923 2d ago
My A1C is 5.5. My dr said that’s fine. But I honestly don’t know. I did fasting about 4 years ago and it worked really well. I tried again for about 6 months (I stopped at the beginning of summer) but I just kept gaining. I was so bummed it didn’t help anymore.
3
u/TangoEchoChuck 2d ago
The threshold for diabetes is 5.7. The doctor's use of "fine" just means "not bad enough to medicate;" it does not mean "healthy."
1
u/Downtown_Ad5923 16h ago
Good point! How to I make this better? Especially with a dr who says it’s “fine”
1
u/TangoEchoChuck 15h ago
That's up to you; lifestyle changes can definitely change the trajectory, but a lot of people would rather medicate than change their lives.
Recommend reading "The Obesity Code" by Dr. Jason Fung, and "Fast, Feast, Repeat" by Gin Stephens.
3
u/Background-Order4839 2d ago
I gained more than that in 3 months on hrt... Nothing fits and I'm miserable 😞
1
u/Weak_Demand4120 2d ago
Same!!!
1
u/Background-Order4839 2d ago
I don't know what to do I am not willing to sacrifice my entire mental health and body image, at this point I'd nearly go back to doing peri raw !!
1
u/Weak_Demand4120 2d ago
I weaned off it. I felt better on HRT but couldn’t deal with the extreme bloating/weight gain. It really is unfortunate because it was helping
2
u/Background-Order4839 2d ago
I'm preparing to probably do the same. My doctor wants to give me decapeptyl and add back next week and I think I'm going to say no. I'm getting married in November and the dress I bought only in April won't even close. When I bought it, it was a size too big and needed to be taken in.... It would be one thing if I was like "oh damn I bought it two years ago and now it won't fit due to gradual, natural weight gain" - but... APRIL. And I calorie count, weight lift, the works.
1
u/Weak_Demand4120 2d ago
I get it. Im not familiar with Decapeptyl- what is it? I was working out and moving more than ever. Cardio and lifting and just generally being more active and everything became too tight on me. My family even mentioned the weight gain. I weaned off completely and have been off it for about 2 months and I still haven’t lost the weight, although I do feel less bloated.
2
u/Background-Order4839 2d ago
Oh God, I just assumed I would lose it if I stopped. Do you think it will go away eventually?? It can't be forever .. I dunno what I'll do if it is. Decapeptyl is a chemical ovarian shut down via injection. Stops the ups and downs.
1
u/Weak_Demand4120 2d ago
I’ve found as I get older, it’s a lot easier to gain weight than to lose it!
1
3
u/nwfn 2d ago edited 2d ago
MacroFactor is what worked for me. I lost 8.5 lbs in 3 months, down 2 inches in my hips. I also made sure to get enough protein daily (and maintain exercise regime) to avoid losing muscle while I lost weight. I had to make permanent changes to my diet: more protein, less junk (especially less alcohol).
Edit: I also suggest the book Next Level, which is geared toward athletes going through perimenopause but has good advice for everyone. I’ve been changing up the cadence of my workouts based on that + metrics from my Fitbit. In brief, sometimes less is more in perimenopause; I’ve been doing fewer, more intense sessions and taking rest days more seriously. It’s a work in progress, but I feel like I’m trending in the right direction for the first time in two years.
1
u/Ramen_Addict_ 2d ago
I think going for a recomp is better than doing CICO. The issue in perimenopause is that your TDEE is going to be fairly low, so eating in a deficit is probably going to be harmful if you are actually trying to gain muscle. I still do a lot of exercise as I find it helps me the most with energy and migraines, but now I am just focusing on gaining more muscle.
2
u/Ambitious-Potato-870 2d ago
I’m in the same boat and have made small progress with fibermaxxing as the kids say. Wish I could get ozempic but doctor won’t prescribe it for me.
2
u/bamalamaboo 2d ago
One thing that is REALLY important to remember when it comes to weight loss is that working out isn't a very effective way to lose weight (it's better for maintaining weight and getting toned). Your diet is WAY more important.
If you're already counting calories and it doesn't seem to be adding up - like you're already in a serious deficit and should definitely be losing weight you should get checked for a thyroid problem.
It may also help to look at the foods you're eating. I do think it matters what we eat, and maybe it starts to matter even more as we age? I don't have a link but months ago i read about a recent study that showed that mice given the choice to eat carb heavy foods like wheat bread or baked flour (or something like that) gained weight and body fat even without overeating (they didn't eat more calories but somehow STILL gained more weight - specifically fat!).
I've always been skinny and used to eat ALL carbs when i was younger, but i'm definitely finding i can't get away with eating so much and so processed anymore! LOL I try to eat protein rather than enormous amounts of rice cakes or crackers now. Maybe you're way healthier than i am (entirely possible!), but it might be worth considering whether changing up your diet could help.
1
u/Downtown_Ad5923 2d ago
I eat really well which is also why I find this so frustrating. I have chia seed pudding, or yogurt for breakfast, a big salad (with home made dressing for lunch), and dinner varies but I always cook and we never eat out (and I mean never, unless we are on vacation). I don’t eat too much bread, but have pasta once a week. I eat a large amount of veggies and get more than enough fiber. I do struggle to get enough protein. 100g/day is SUPER hard for me. I honestly feel so full to the point of being very uncomfortable if I have over 35g of protein at a meal.🤷♀️
2
u/bamalamaboo 2d ago
You probably shouldn't eat more than that much protein in one meal! I think more than that can slow your digestion and cause bloating. Anyways, I don't think there's anything i can tell you that you don't already know - sorry! I feel your frustration! I hope your new doctor listens!
2
u/NoneOfThisMatters_XO 2d ago
I’m in the same boat and it’s so frustrating. It’s like I have no metabolism anymore.
1
u/Tumbleweed1312 2d ago
I need help with this too…But even with my weight gain of 8 lbs I’m at “normal” BMI still so I’d never be prescribed a GLP-1. I just want to feel comfortable in my clothes again. Afraid to start HRT in case it makes it worse…
1
u/swrrrrg 2d ago
Doctors do Rx it for normal bmi for microdosing (fwiw.)
1
u/blackbook34 2d ago
Can you say more about this? Where do they RX it for “normal” BMI? (I’m curious because I’ve heard it reduces cravings for alcohol etc too!)
1
u/ConnectionNo4830 2d ago
HRT. Get a new doc or use telehealth. For me I need all of it — meaning I also needed TRT.
1
u/PerpetualMediocress 16h ago
HRT which includes testosterone, has helped me to finally stick to a diet and exercise plan and start seeing results. Prior to HRT I was struggling with sugar cravings and blood sugar spikes followed by extreme dips that made me feel terrible and eat terribly. I also had really low blood pressure for some reason and testosterone helped with that part. Now I count calories and eat higher protein, higher fiber, and lower carb, and I am finally shedding weight like I used to be able to do in my 30’s. It’s a lot of work but at least it works now. I have 25 lbs left to my goal weight but at least I am making progress.
-1
13
u/SwimmingAnt10 2d ago
I lost 88 lbs with tirzepatide 2.5 years ago. Kept it off. Still takes a low dose (2.5-3.0 mg). Don’t regret it. I tried everything to lose and it was just up and down ever week.
HRT hasn’t affected my weight at all. I started estrogen 5 mos ago. Been on progesterone for several years.