Pre-Menopause & LC

[yvonne326]

I am in that PM part of my life

Noticed my wieght loss slowed down so darn much lately. Also noticed that getting and staying in ketosis means practically eating induction level carb...big change from this time last year.

So those last 16 lbs may take (don't even want to think about this) a year to get off.

Ladies - anyone in that PM or beginning of Menopause part of their lives... Is there anything you are doing different to lose/continue to lose weight?

Any comments...suggestions...would help and much appreciated. I am really bummed out with the lack of progression last few months.

[susies1955]

I'm almost 49 and considered peri-menopausal. The docotor says I could be in menopause in a year to three years she figures.
I haven't seen any difference at all.
Has anything changed for you in your exercising?
Have your changed the amount of carbs, calories, sugar alcohol,
or diet soda intake?????
Hope you figure it out,
Susie

[tiva]

A lot of menopausal and pre-menopausal women say that Ann Gittleman's Fat Flush plan works well for them. (I tried Fat Flush before Atkins, and found it far too frustrating because it's low fat, but others really like it).

Check out the menopause thread at http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/sh...61#post3455061

There's lots of information about perimenopause in that thread too.

[yvonne326]

Has anything changed for you in your exercising?

Yes, due to my back problems I have not been exercising much at all last few months ... last time I went on a moderate regemin (last month) my back went out for 2 weeks and I can't afford for that again. I am now doing more yoga/stretching.

My calories/carbs/etc. have not changed much. I do not eat frakenfoods and the only thing that differs is the amount of water I drink..less. I am trying to up that consumption.



I may give Fat Flush a try ... I will read up on it.

Thank you

[Catheryn]

I recently bought the fat flush book, and was real excited to try it. The problem was that you have to drink cranberry juice mixed with water all day long, and it gave me severe heartburn. The other thing is that it is so restrictive in what you can eat. You must eat only flax oil. No other oils, not even olive oil. No salt or pepper on your steamed veggies either. It is a very restrictive plan. Makes Atkins look like a piece of cake. the only thing that works for me is Stillmans. I swear by it.

[yvonne326]

ooooh.. That's not good. I have Acid Reflux (under control since I have been LC but God knows I don't want that back).

You just can't drink regular water??

I use only Olive Oil. Using just flax may be a problem.

I wonder if you can do Atkins wilth low-fat then...and get similar results? Incorporating Fat Flush w/Atkins.

[kbgardengirl]

Yvonne -

I am post menopausal. During my weightloss phase I did stay at induction level carbs for 5 1/2 months in order to lose steadily. Then during the remainder of my weightloss I didn't exceed 30 carbs per day. I lost at a rate of 1/2 to 1 lb. a week. I didn't eat frankenfoods and didn't eat off plan. It took me 7 1/2 months to get to goal. Now to maintain I normally eat between 40 and 50 carbs a day. I don't get much exercise either because of a ruptured disc in my neck. I do garden. I think that if any phase of menopause slows your metabolism you do have to make compensation else where. I eat small portions throughout the day and never go without breakfast. Something I usually did not do pre-Atkins and usually skipped lunch also just to not gain. My mistakes were in binging at dinner time because I was starved and overdoing on sweets throughout the evening. I had convinced myself that I would never be able to eat "normally" again. I also thought I would have to literally starve inorder to lose and then maintain any weightloss. Then I decided I had had enough and was going to give it one last try. After researching several diets and remembering what Stillmans had done for me back in the 70's I decided to give Atkins a try. I have to say I was amazed at my success. But now looking back I see more clearly my mistakes of the past and bad eating habits. Atkins structure and adhering to the rules and considering this a way of eating for life made the journey easy. I also recognized how much my daily routine had changed as well as my activity level during those frustrating years of beginning midlife ( perimeno, meno and postmeno). Your children become independent and start to leave home, there is less physical labor involved in maintaining the household, and the computer and cable tv (much more choices to keep you on the couch and in front of the tube) became much more available. You think when your children leave home you will have a lot less to worry about. Wrong! Your worries are increased immensely because you are no longer able to control what your children do, instead of just your own children to worry about you now have in-laws and grandchildren and elderly parent issues which increases emotional/stress issues. Retiring from a job leads to boredom eating and even a having a job that entails sitting at a desk and in front of the computer screen all day also accelerates weight gain and minimizes chances of weight loss. There are so many things all happening during this phase of your life that demands your time and attention and it's easy to get caught up in the feeling that you have little control. You go with the flow and neglect weight issues because you have so much darn other stuff far more important to deal with and little time to concentrate on yourself. You make choices and try to prioritize but ultimately the person you so often neglect is yourself. Life gets complicated and you feel overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Now to add to that mix all the chemical changes going on in your body at the same time, all the physical symptoms often accompanying these changes and the emotional issues of seeing our youth slowly fading certainly makes things even more overwhelming. Do I have an answer? No. It's something we all have to find a way of dealing with and working ourselves through and it is different for each of us. The weight issues we can do something about with the help of Low carbing. The journey can be long but you can get there with perseverance and determination. All you can do is keep trying to find what will work and making adjustments. Most importantly, don't allow yourself to feel failure because the goal you have set seems so unattainable. You can get there eventually.

Sorry this got so long. But they are issues that do effect our weight and weightloss efforts and addressing them may help. You can't change some things but you can change the way you look at them. We're not just about body image but a whole package with emotions, responsibilites, life situations, etc. It's hard to separate one from the other as they are all entertwined.

[yvonne326]

Karen...thank you for your post.

I suppose I need to get more stringent in my WOE to lose steadier. I don't think my head is there unfortunately. Perhaps I should just ride the wave until my head does get to that place. ::sigh:: It was so easy back in 2002 when I lost the majority of my weight...and now, an endless struggle.

[tiva]

Personally, I think low-fat is a very bad idea for perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. Fat is such an essential macronutrient, especially when your ovaries are decreasing hormone synthesis. Check out the westonaprice.org website. They have lots of very good information on nutrients and hormones.

From reading Fat Flush, it seems like Gittleman doesn't have any scientific backing for her opposition to fat. Her recommendations for flax, cranberry and lemon, and cutting way down on carbs all seem reasonable. But cutting out pork? There's no justification at all--good pork (ie, free-range or pastured pork) is one of the healthiest sources of protein. Coconut oil might be worth trying; there's a lot of evidence that coconut oil is beneficial for metabolism and thyroid (check out the tropicaltraditions website--they have links to some interesting studies. For example, animal breeders all know they can't feed livestock coconut oil, since they lose weight on it).

[yvonne326]

Tiva, after reading a bit about the plan I could never do it. I think I will just ride the wave for now and keep carbs as close to 20 as possible...perhaps things will move again...in time.

[kbgardengirl]

Originally posted by yvonne326
Karen...thank you for your post.

I suppose I need to get more stringent in my WOE to lose steadier. I don't think my head is there unfortunately. Perhaps I should just ride the wave until my head does get to that place. ::sigh:: It was so easy back in 2002 when I lost the majority of my weight...and now, an endless struggle.

You have come a long way and made significant changes in your eating habits. Don't look at your accomplishments as failing because you have not yet attained goal. Feel proud that you have lost as much as you have. Maybe your body is happy at it's present weight. And if struggling to lose those last pounds pulls you down then maybe you would be better to just maintain for a while. When you are at a better place and inspired to continue then go on. Falling apart and gaining back what you have lost is failure. But understanding where your head is at now and the ability to maintain your present weight is succeeding. Down the road you may become inspired again or other issues impending your progress may change allowing you the inspiration to continue. But remember you have not failed.