Being 51, RH-, Factor V, menopausal, and severe migraine sufferer, I watch my diet closely. However, being 5’7 1/2 inches tall & weighing 155 lbs, my small frame does not like this much weight, but I cannot seem to lose! I could use some suggestions, not someone telling me I am fine at this weight.
0 Answers
Cheryl Wilson wrote on :
Will you listen to someone who lost 103 pounds six years ago? Food is as much as an addiction as drugs or smoking. Like all addicts, we find reasons to fuel our addiction. I was very stressed and had migraines. I finally got tired of being overweight and steeled myself to do something about it. Breakfast was fresh fruit and a piece of toast. Lunch was a supplement like Ensure. Dinner was whatever I wanted but nothing larger than the palm of my hand. I denied myself nothing but I limited what I ate. I didn’t count calories but I paid attention to carbohydrates and limited them to 60 per day. (Did you know one of those little cups of yoghurt can have as much as 45 carbohydrates?) It took me two weeks short of a year but I lost and kept the weight off! If your overall health is good and you are cleared by your doctor, there is no reason not to begin now. btw: I did NOT exercise, as I abhor it! Had I exercised, it probably would have taken half the time to lose the weight but, then again, 103 pound weight loss in six months isn’t healthy either. What is important is keeping at it, not denying yourself, make no excuses, love yourself and delight in each pound you lose.
cindy stachowski wrote on :
If you lost that much weight, do you have a problem with sagging skin?
Cheryl Wilson wrote on :
No, no sagging skin. I am just 5′ tall and small boned and small breasted. By necessity, I climb stairs 3-5 times a day. That’s all the “exercise” I do. The only sagging is in my face and most of that is just gravity from aging and my refusal to use Botox, etc. At 66, I’m just comfortable with who I am – I’m a rockin’ old woman!
Danielle Kramer wrote on :
The simple answer is unfortunately to eat less and exercise more. Being more active overall will help shed pounds, aim for 15,000 steps per day (calculated by a pedometer) or 1 hour of moderate intensity exercise and strength training daily. If you have not changed your eating habits, you may want to meet with a dietician to review a food diary and overall weight loss goals. Our basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn at rest) can decrease with the normal aging process. Try to change your exercise regimen to include more strength training and interval training or try a new exercise. Non weight bearing exercise like swimming, elliptical and yoga/Pilates are excellent alternatives. You can find more detailed health information on the Speaking of Womenâs Health website at http://speakingofwomenshealth.com/health_library/listing/category/health_information/ I encourage you to subscribe to our monthly email newsletter where I share up to date health information, recipes and more http://www.fathompbm.com/SpeakingofWomensHealth/SWH-FOF.html
KATHY PERRAULT wrote on :
REMEMBER, ALWAYS HAVE YOUR THYROID CHECKED–THIS LITTLE THING HAS SO MUCH TO DO WITH EVERY ORGAN IN YOUR BODY–I WAS CHECKED FOR YEARS–FOUND A DR. THAT MADE THE RIGHT TEST AND NOW I TAKE SYNTHROID.
ALSO I FOUND THAT FIBER MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE–
Staness Jonekos wrote on :
I understand your frustration. I too am 5’7″ and when I hit 155 I was miserable. It took managing my menopause symptoms, changing how I ate and adding exercise most days of the week to my life. It was hard work! But 12 weeks later I lost 25 pounds and never felt better.
Suffering from migraines can cause stress. Stress can contribute to weight gain too. So a double whammy for you…menopause and STRESS.
The North American Menopause Society has a great article on migraines:
http://www.menopause.org/menopauseflashes0909headacherelief.aspx
There have been a number of menopause/weigh gain questions this weekend:
As we age body fat continues to accumulate during perimenopause and beyond, adding to the ongoing fat storage that happens naturally throughout adult life. Activity and metabolic rate tend to decrease with time. At menopause, estrogen production goes low and stays low. Weight gain can sneak up on you. Do the math; 15 extra calories per day (that would be less than half of most cookies) is 2 pounds a year. So, 2 pounds a year for 5 years is 10 pounds.
My winning formula:
1. Eat every 4 hours (mini-meals)
2. Eat lean proteins at most servings (low fat cottage cheese is a dairy protein, chicken, turkey, soy, string cheese)
3. Consume low to medium glycemic carbs (NO WHITE carbs only BROWN, enjoy yams)
4. Keep hydrated
5. Exercise most days of the week (as we age our metabolism is slowing and muscle mass declining)
6. Make ME TIME every day!
Eating ârealâ food is an important way of controlling weight. Buy your groceries from the outside aisles of your grocery store, picking fresh and frozen food without labels. Stay away from fast food, junk food, snack food, and processed food. Your portions should be no bigger than the size of your fist. When you go out, bring tomorrowâs lunch home (only eat half of the generous portions served in most restaurants nowadays).
Exercise is also important. While aerobic activities are good, resistance exercise may provide greater weight control benefits. Resistance exercise, such as weight training, builds more lean body muscle tissue that burns more calories, helping women to lose weight.
Doing activities with friends, taking on new challenges, abstaining from smoking, eating good food, exercising, and taking your womenâs one-a-day vitamin, vitamin D, calcium, and fish oil, help stop the âfat chance.â
These healthy lifestyle habits can help with menopause symptoms while reaching your ideal weight.
Once I reached my ideal weight, which was 10 pounds more than my college weight, I have maintained it for over 4 years with ease and never been happier – BUT it took 12 weeks of serious commitment and making lifestyle changes.
Keep me posted, feel free to drop me a note via FOF!
🙂