Anonymous wrote:OP - I've previously posted and lost 13 pounds now over the last few months. Follow plant based diet with a little meat, very little sugar, no fat and work out 2 hours a day. For the first two months, the scale did not move. The only thing that kept me going was knowing I was getting stronger, and I focused on the longevity aspect and gaining muscle. Eventually, my body gave up and is resetting my weight. I have a biochem background - there is something called homestasis - think of the thermostat in your house. Your body will set its weight based on your calorie needs and calorie in-take. So, when you have been a certain weight for a long time, it takes a while for your body to reset. Eventually, though if you stick to a plan, your body will give up and reset to the new reality. The tendency is for your body to stay within a certain small range. It's a bit more complicated than that if you've really messed up your metabolic health and become really obese - in that case I hear fasting can make the scale budge. This has been my diet/exercise plan for 20 years now, but my habits eroded over a period of 5 years and wham I was out of shape, drinking wine every night, eating cheese and bread mess.

Yes, this. Just stop eating. No more than 600 calories a day and you will lose weight. You won't be any healthier, of course, but you will lose weight.

Most people can probably benefit from more plants in their diet but this idea of cutting all fats is crazy. Your body needs fat to absorb nutrients from the vegetables. A fully fat free diet is really unhealthy. It’s also bad for your brain. I don’t think any neurologist would encourage a diet with no fats. Olive oil and eggs are pretty good for you, in moderation.

I posted before but I feel like these threads usually come down to some people saying they avoid the weight gain through some crazy extreme diet. I’m 51 and I think most people consider me to be on the thin side, although I’ve gained 15 pounds with menopause, it’s all hidden under my clothes and pretty concentrated on my lower abdomen. I think I’m pretty healthy though—walk a ton, eat 7 fruits/veg a day, almost never get sick, no chronic conditions. Having seen so many old people fall apart, my focus now is really on health and sustainability, not how I look in a bathing suit.

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Anonymous wrote:I instantly gained 15 lbs when I hit menopause. I’m watching what I eat and I exercise, but I’m not willing to starve myself or increase my workouts. As long as my lab work is OK during my annual physicals and I feel well, I think 50-something women just have to accept their new normal.

You can, but I certainly won't. We call that circling the drain. It's how the end starts.

I agree!
-53 nearing menopause who will not accept a 15 lb gain. I put on 5 after a surgery (comfort eating, no exercise). Once I was cleared, I cleaned up my diet, resume activities and exercise and dropped those 5 in 2 months.

The key thing is that you said you’re NEARING menopause. Just wait a few months until you’re post menopause. It’s a whole new ballgame. Unless I starve myself or take up marathon running, this weight won’t budge. I’m not willing to do either, so I’ll be pudgy - which is better for me and those around me than being hungry and crabby.

My MIL is also one of those borderline anorexic ladies with osteoporosis who is obsessed with food yet refuses to eat. Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures and I’m going to eat healthy food in moderation but never diet.

I don't diet, I eat clean with sone treats thrown in. I will give up the sweets if need be, but I won't allow the pounds to pack on. I have been increasing my activity and started new, sustainable physical hobbies. I hike, play tennis, walk daily, etc, etc. I didn't exercise in any form until 40, so my joints are pristine. I'm pretty sure I won't gain too much post menopause. I hike with several women over 65 and they aren't fat and many have defined waists still. The common thread is activity and lots of it.

This is not something to feel smug about.

Not smug, stating facts. I am glad my joints are healthy because now that I have to stay active for my health and fitness, I can do so without pain or injury.

This is a very strange (and incorrect) way to think about joint health…. Your joints aren’t something that “wear out” through exercise. Quite the opposite in fact - studies show that people who perform the most rigorous weight bearing exercises have the healthiest knee cartilage.

This is 100% not true. People that exercise a lot, all pro athletes, runners, etc., have knee issues and severe ones, that understand that this is the price to pay for being a pro athlete. Please link some of your studies here.

Here’s a brief summary of some of these studies: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/exercise-and-your-joints

I’m not saying professional athletics never have injuries - I’m saying your joints are designed to move, and a life of avoiding exercise does not “save your joints”.

OP - I've previously posted and lost 13 pounds now over the last few months. Follow plant based diet with a little meat, very little sugar, no fat and work out 2 hours a day. For the first two months, the scale did not move. The only thing that kept me going was knowing I was getting stronger, and I focused on the longevity aspect and gaining muscle. Eventually, my body gave up and is resetting my weight. I have a biochem background - there is something called homestasis - think of the thermostat in your house. Your body will set its weight based on your calorie needs and calorie in-take. So, when you have been a certain weight for a long time, it takes a while for your body to reset. Eventually, though if you stick to a plan, your body will give up and reset to the new reality. The tendency is for your body to stay within a certain small range. It's a bit more complicated than that if you've really messed up your metabolic health and become really obese - in that case I hear fasting can make the scale budge. This has been my diet/exercise plan for 20 years now, but my habits eroded over a period of 5 years and wham I was out of shape, drinking wine every night, eating cheese and bread mess.

For those of you who think you will not gain weight when you hit menopause, I thought the same as many of the responses on here, until it happened to me. I had always been thin and could easily lose weight, now I eat less and healthy work out 5 days a week including strength training, running, cycling, etc. Weight does not budge. Maybe generically some have an advantage, but for the most part, we are all bound to be heavier than in our 20s and 30s and 40s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go WFPB, with someone like Dr furhman. Weight falls off, even post menopause!

define that please I'm getting Work From Pottery Barn? Whole Foods Peanut Butter? Weighted Fanny Pack Boogie?

Whole Food Plant Based

Basically pretty much vegan and no sugar, no added oil and salt.

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Anonymous wrote:I instantly gained 15 lbs when I hit menopause. I’m watching what I eat and I exercise, but I’m not willing to starve myself or increase my workouts. As long as my lab work is OK during my annual physicals and I feel well, I think 50-something women just have to accept their new normal.

You can, but I certainly won't. We call that circling the drain. It's how the end starts.

I agree!
-53 nearing menopause who will not accept a 15 lb gain. I put on 5 after a surgery (comfort eating, no exercise). Once I was cleared, I cleaned up my diet, resume activities and exercise and dropped those 5 in 2 months.

The key thing is that you said you’re NEARING menopause. Just wait a few months until you’re post menopause. It’s a whole new ballgame. Unless I starve myself or take up marathon running, this weight won’t budge. I’m not willing to do either, so I’ll be pudgy - which is better for me and those around me than being hungry and crabby.

My MIL is also one of those borderline anorexic ladies with osteoporosis who is obsessed with food yet refuses to eat. Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures and I’m going to eat healthy food in moderation but never diet.

I don't diet, I eat clean with sone treats thrown in. I will give up the sweets if need be, but I won't allow the pounds to pack on. I have been increasing my activity and started new, sustainable physical hobbies. I hike, play tennis, walk daily, etc, etc. I didn't exercise in any form until 40, so my joints are pristine. I'm pretty sure I won't gain too much post menopause. I hike with several women over 65 and they aren't fat and many have defined waists still. The common thread is activity and lots of it.

This is not something to feel smug about.

Not smug, stating facts. I am glad my joints are healthy because now that I have to stay active for my health and fitness, I can do so without pain or injury.

This is a very strange (and incorrect) way to think about joint health…. Your joints aren’t something that “wear out” through exercise. Quite the opposite in fact - studies show that people who perform the most rigorous weight bearing exercises have the healthiest knee cartilage.

This is 100% not true. People that exercise a lot, all pro athletes, runners, etc., have knee issues and severe ones, that understand that this is the price to pay for being a pro athlete. Please link some of your studies here.

Did any of you ever hear of calorie cycling?
You are murdering your metabolism with these low calories.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I instantly gained 15 lbs when I hit menopause. I’m watching what I eat and I exercise, but I’m not willing to starve myself or increase my workouts. As long as my lab work is OK during my annual physicals and I feel well, I think 50-something women just have to accept their new normal.

You can, but I certainly won't. We call that circling the drain. It's how the end starts.

I agree!
-53 nearing menopause who will not accept a 15 lb gain. I put on 5 after a surgery (comfort eating, no exercise). Once I was cleared, I cleaned up my diet, resume activities and exercise and dropped those 5 in 2 months.

The key thing is that you said you’re NEARING menopause. Just wait a few months until you’re post menopause. It’s a whole new ballgame. Unless I starve myself or take up marathon running, this weight won’t budge. I’m not willing to do either, so I’ll be pudgy - which is better for me and those around me than being hungry and crabby.

My MIL is also one of those borderline anorexic ladies with osteoporosis who is obsessed with food yet refuses to eat. Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures and I’m going to eat healthy food in moderation but never diet.

I don't diet, I eat clean with sone treats thrown in. I will give up the sweets if need be, but I won't allow the pounds to pack on. I have been increasing my activity and started new, sustainable physical hobbies. I hike, play tennis, walk daily, etc, etc. I didn't exercise in any form until 40, so my joints are pristine. I'm pretty sure I won't gain too much post menopause. I hike with several women over 65 and they aren't fat and many have defined waists still. The common thread is activity and lots of it.

This is not something to feel smug about.

Not smug, stating facts. I am glad my joints are healthy because now that I have to stay active for my health and fitness, I can do so without pain or injury.

This is a very strange (and incorrect) way to think about joint health…. Your joints aren’t something that “wear out” through exercise. Quite the opposite in fact - studies show that people who perform the most rigorous weight bearing exercises have the healthiest knee cartilage.

I'm 51 and it's definitely harder than it was. I exercise daily, try to eat sensibly and have accepted that I'm a few pounds heavier than I was in my youth. I don't think it's a good idea for folks to starve themselves though- there's nowhere to go but down. Where does it end? It's hard to get good nutrition on very little calories and I feel like your energy levels and ability to think rationally would suffer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go WFPB, with someone like Dr furhman. Weight falls off, even post menopause!

define that please I'm getting Work From Pottery Barn? Whole Foods Peanut Butter? Weighted Fanny Pack Boogie?

Not PP, but I can tell you. WFPB stands for whole foods plant-based. There are several doctors that have written books on this. You can watch the documentary forks over knives or china study to get an idea. The idea is to cut out dairy and meat. Furhman has some poultry in his recipes - a stir fry would have 1 chicken breast diced up to serve 4 people. NO OIL either, you are supposed to saute with water. So even tortilla chips cooked in oil would be a problem. Beware of fruit smoothies or anything that has you consuming more of something than you normally would if you had to eat it whole.

I basically follow this except I eat fish, and I will eat a chicken breast over the course of a couple of meals. And I can't give up tortilla chips. I feel like I can't lift weights and work out as well without some poultry/fish. I also eat 1 tsp of high polyphenol olive oil mixed with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp dijon, 1/2 tsp honey for a salad dressing.

But when I first adopted this and went completely vegan for a long time, I lost tons of weight. Just cutting dairy does wonders.

You can gain it back though if you start eating tons of avocado and nut butter - stuff like that.

https://www.forksoverknives.com/the-film/

Anonymous wrote:Go WFPB, with someone like Dr furhman. Weight falls off, even post menopause!

define that please I'm getting Work From Pottery Barn? Whole Foods Peanut Butter? Weighted Fanny Pack Boogie?

I got COVID and drop 10 pounds in a week. That was the kickstart for continued intentional loss. I don't recommend that method though.

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Anonymous wrote:I had to go well below the recommended daily calories. I guess I’m also unintentionally doing intermittent fasting? Zero white carbs, only eating lean protein and vegetables, lots of my meals are homemade soups. Basically only eat lunch and dinner, and try and make those meals really nutritious.

Same. I'm 53 and can lose weight, but I have to eat very, very little. Well below the 1200-1500 calories per day recommended for weight loss. And then my hair falls out and I start getting dizzy.

I think your metabolism needs a serious reset in order to function properly. If you’ve been restricting like this for a long time, you’ve probably lost sight of what’s normal and your hunger cues aren’t syncing. I’d recommend seeing a registered dietician to guide you back to healthy eating. And get a DEXA scan.

I went from consuming 1100-1200 calories in September to 1300-1400 in October/November to 1500-1600 in December/January now to 1700-1800. It was hard to trust the process, but I actually lost .5 pounds a week while increasing calories and working out 3-4 times a week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I instantly gained 15 lbs when I hit menopause. I’m watching what I eat and I exercise, but I’m not willing to starve myself or increase my workouts. As long as my lab work is OK during my annual physicals and I feel well, I think 50-something women just have to accept their new normal.

You can, but I certainly won't. We call that circling the drain. It's how the end starts.

I agree!
-53 nearing menopause who will not accept a 15 lb gain. I put on 5 after a surgery (comfort eating, no exercise). Once I was cleared, I cleaned up my diet, resume activities and exercise and dropped those 5 in 2 months.

The key thing is that you said you’re NEARING menopause. Just wait a few months until you’re post menopause. It’s a whole new ballgame. Unless I starve myself or take up marathon running, this weight won’t budge. I’m not willing to do either, so I’ll be pudgy - which is better for me and those around me than being hungry and crabby.

My MIL is also one of those borderline anorexic ladies with osteoporosis who is obsessed with food yet refuses to eat. Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures and I’m going to eat healthy food in moderation but never diet.

I don't diet, I eat clean with sone treats thrown in. I will give up the sweets if need be, but I won't allow the pounds to pack on. I have been increasing my activity and started new, sustainable physical hobbies. I hike, play tennis, walk daily, etc, etc. I didn't exercise in any form until 40, so my joints are pristine. I'm pretty sure I won't gain too much post menopause. I hike with several women over 65 and they aren't fat and many have defined waists still. The common thread is activity and lots of it.

This is not something to feel smug about.

Not smug, stating facts. I am glad my joints are healthy because now that I have to stay active for my health and fitness, I can do so without pain or injury.