Lifting weights builds muscle which elevates base metabolism because muscle burns more calories than fat does. So yes it will drive weight loss over time - but not if your hormones are a hot mess. Perimenopause puts our hormones all out of whack and also often causes disordered sleep and chronically elevated cortisol. A functional medicine doctor can help you sort those things out or you can do some research and ask for the right tests from your GP to figure out where you are out of whack. And yes purge all the UPFs and added sugars and focus on whole food and you’ll naturally consume fewer calories and lose weight.

OP here - thanks. Yes I think I need to be more mindful of what I eat. My husband says I need to eat more protein.

Today I had eggs for breakfast and now I am going to make a protein shake before I work out. Then tonight I am going to have fish and veggies and brown rice.

I used to run religiously and it always kept off the pounds. Its so sad - I am terrified of the post-menopause belly.

Are you really sleeping? Early 40s is prime time for developing perimenopausal symptoms including disordered sleep. Sometimes you don’t even realize it’s become disordered but if you are fatigued at all and struggling keep weight gain down or to lose what you’ve gained, it is very likely that your cortisol levels are chronically elevated and that you have an elevated fasting insulin which drives weight gain.

Just went through similar issues. I’m 46 with 2 kids. I eat healthy and exercise a lot and suddenly could not get the scale to budge. It has never been so hard to lose weight. I cut out sugar, dramatically reduced nuts and cheese, and really became mindful about how many calories I was taking in. I have lost 8 pounds this summer despite doing a lot of weight lifting. Weights did not make me gain. That is kind of a myth. I feel and look so much better. At this age, it dramatically comes down to calorie intake. You don’t have to starve but you probably have to cut sugar and carbs so you don’t have insulin induced hunger.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve always been active, but I didn’t lose weight until I tracked and reduced calories. If you are lifting weights you need to track overall as well as protein calories. I’m aiming for 135 as a goal weight so I aim for 135 protein grams

If you want to see if you are gaining muscle, get an Inbody scan - offered at gyms

+1 also a Dexa Scan will do this.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think that lifting weights is ALL you need to lose weight? Lifting weights does not burn that many calories, and it's easy to eat the calories you lost. I burn an extra 100 calories in 30 minutes of heavy weight lifting, like I'm usually drenching in sweat. That's not a lot and not enough to lose weight on its own. You dont need to starve yourself to lose weight. Get an app like My Fitness Pal and see what foods you can substitute to lower your calories.

For someone who lifts weights, you need to really educate yourself on the long-term calorie burn that weight lifting provides. It is by far the best way to increase your metabolic rate, and actually burn fat over time. Sounds like you're still in the camp of "cardio cardio cardio!!!" wrong answer!!

If everything fits and you’re a healthy weight, why do you want to borrow trouble?

You have to exercise at least 5 times a week and alternate weights and cardio. You also need to get better sleep and cut out alcohol. Increase your vegetables and protein in diet. Do that for a few months and you will see a difference in weight.

I’ve always been active, but I didn’t lose weight until I tracked and reduced calories. If you are lifting weights you need to track overall as well as protein calories. I’m aiming for 135 as a goal weight so I aim for 135 protein grams

If you want to see if you are gaining muscle, get an Inbody scan - offered at gyms

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think that lifting weights is ALL you need to lose weight? Lifting weights does not burn that many calories, and it's easy to eat the calories you lost. I burn an extra 100 calories in 30 minutes of heavy weight lifting, like I'm usually drenching in sweat. That's not a lot and not enough to lose weight on its own. You dont need to starve yourself to lose weight. Get an app like My Fitness Pal and see what foods you can substitute to lower your calories.

Op - I am not necessarily lifting weights to lose weight. I am doing it because I have to carry children around who are getting heavy and I can’t do it when I have no muscle. But losing weight would be a plus side.

I know weight loss really comes from calories. I need to track and eat less.

Why do you think that lifting weights is ALL you need to lose weight? Lifting weights does not burn that many calories, and it's easy to eat the calories you lost. I burn an extra 100 calories in 30 minutes of heavy weight lifting, like I'm usually drenching in sweat. That's not a lot and not enough to lose weight on its own. You dont need to starve yourself to lose weight. Get an app like My Fitness Pal and see what foods you can substitute to lower your calories.

Don't look at the scale. Think about how things fit and what you look like.

Op - yes my clothes definitely still fit or fit better than when I was postpartum.

I have 3 kids who are 8 and under. I gained a significant amount of weight with them but for kid 1 and 2 I lost it all easily. For kid 3 I lost 90% of it but cannot get the last 10ish pounds off.

I am thinking I need to change my diet and do more protein/fruit shakes for lunch and salads for dinner.

Stop weighing yourself. When I started regularly lifting weights, the scale went up 5lbs, and refused to budge no matter how much I altered my diet.

Do your clothes fit the same/better? That's what matters.

I have always been able to keep my weight pretty consistent with just working out. No need to diet just eat healthy.

I am turning 40 and started lifting weights for the first time ever. I cannot seem to lower the scale at all! In fact it probably has gone up 2 or 3 pounds!

Do I need to start being super serious with dieting and tracking my meals?

For reference I am 5’7” and now weigh around 150. Pre kids I was 135 and after kids I was 145. My clothes all still fit and I run 2-3 times a week and lift weights 2-3 times a week.

I am so sad to think I need to start starving myself to lose weight.