Weight Gain at Menopause

Dr. Santoro discusses weight gain at menopause and clinician advice for midlife women (www.menopause.org)

[@echase416]

I like that the researcher mentions (a) eating from 8 AM to 6 PM (intermittent fasting) and (b) suggests metformin.

[@aeoncreations3371]

Yeah sorry this seems quite uninformed. How about advising people to try eating less sugar, and a better low carb diet? No mention of strength training and hiit training which also help... especially for the effects of sarcopenia and muscle looseness and atrophy...Seems quite rudimentary and ill informed. Alot has changed in medicine in 2020....

[@CB-vg1wq]

I agree This was not as helpful as it could have been. So many medical groups just recommend medications, but they should emphasize diet, exercise, life style changes. I would recommend. 1. Stay away from processed carbohydrates as much as possible, donuts, bread, chips. Add more fresh vegetables. A great way is to stir fry carrots, sugar snap peas, broccoli, onions. Vary with different veggies, mushroom, red pepper, chopped cabbage etc. Try quinoa as a grain. Cook in avocado oil. Try to eat this 2x a week. Have the emphasis on the veggies. Less grains. 2. Limit sugar as much as possible. Stay away from fruit juices and sodas these are packed with sugar. If you have to have soda, go with diet soda. Try carbonated water with a lemon or lime juice. 3. Add complex carbohydrates. Add black bean soup, vegetarian chili, and lentil. Make a large batch and freeze single servings. There are many great recipes on the internet. Have a bowel everyday. 4. Walk 30 minutes a day. Lift weights 20 minutes 2x to 3x a week. 5. Improve your sleep. Take TV out of the bedroom. Do a 10 minutes restful stretch before going to bed. Listen to gentle music or nature sounds before going to sleep. Your goal is to get 7 to 8 hours a night. Make this a priority. 6. Add affirmations to your day. A daily 10-20 minute affirmation will relax you, create optimism. There are many on the internet. 7. Are you having an out of control food craving? Get up, stretch, take a walk, call a friend. Divert your mind. Just like a young child, your mind can be reoriented. 8. Take up a hobby you always wanted to try. 9. Drink more water. As we get older, our sense of thirst drops, causing us to get dehydrated. Try to drink 12 oz. 3x a day. When you get up in the AM, drink 12 oz. 10. Stay connected to friends. People with friends are happier. Add new friends. Menopause is a great time to meet new people. They are looking for friends, too. Join clubs, call old friends. Friends take time. If you add 1 or 2, by end to the year, you are successful.

[@helenapiccinini3961]

Hmmm....seems like the cornerstone of therapy (health behaviours for weight management) was addressed only fleetingly!

[@beckypeters2003]

Well that was depressing. Geez.

[@jrpacer6355]

As soon as I turn 50 still getting my period weight gain happen over night and I was very thin up till then

[@aprilmichellerose3687]

I was skinny till I hit 40 and now I’m fat 😩

[@jazzdaagreatestt3645]

Do you do strength training & cardio?

[@deerheart87]

Me too my weight changed at 43 I plumped up

[@deerheart87]

@@jazzdaagreatestt3645 does this help ? I can’t lift weights due to injuries but does cardio help ? I’m eating much less and better 🎉

[@jazzdaagreatestt3645]

@@deerheart87 can u use body weight for strength with ur injuries? I’m so sorry by the way I’m happy ur alive

[@annoldham3018]

I have a history of eating disorder. This is particularly difficult for me unfortunately 😔 😕.

[@arica1798]

Me too

[@echase416]

Apparently before women start gaining midlife weight (belly fat), they lose muscle. The term for this is “sarcopenia”.

[@debrathompson971]

Dhea help menopause it help with insulin among other issue it a mother hormone for women the Dr’s have been talking about it not only for men

[@WashedinHisblood]

Depressing....so...I'll never have a 25 inch waist again?

[@Old_Dog_New_Tricks]

Most women have not built enough muscle and do too much cardio. Losing metabolic tissue like muscle slows your metabolism.

[@kimderosa6198]

Yeah, that was awful. A waste of time. There’s a lot of hope with effort.