My body is my enemy.

[Arabesque 7,492]

Many of you know my story. Was two months shy of turning 54 in 2019 when I got my sleeve. Lost all my weight & more and was successfully maintaining that low weight.

I began gaining weight from puberty: about a stone a year. Then I started my 60-75kg weight diet/regain swing from my early 20s until peri menopause & menopause hit and then seemingly overnight I was 91kg. Nothing I did moved that weight. Hence my decision to get a sleeve.

I experienced some weight regain (good 2 almost 3 kgs) almost 4 yrs ago after I had my gall removed. We worked out I had an absorption issue and wasn’t absorbing Protein well or it turned out my HRT tablet (hot flushes, etc. had returned). Switched to a patch and lost the weight without doing anything & no menopause symptoms.

Had a hysterectomy in September 2024 & then couldn’t access the HRT patch I was using (damn supply chain issues) & this is when my body turned against me again. ALL my menopausal symptoms returned: hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, headaches, creaky joints, acne, etc. & weight gain. Only three kgs so far but that’s in the last three months. And so here we go again. My body working against me.

Since this regain began in January (used my last HRT patch in December & was my usual weight at the end of Dec) I’ve made some modifications to my eating. Dropped a snack, reduced some portions (which were still only recommended portion size or a little less). I eat pretty carefully anyway & stick closely to my plan of eating. Was eating about 1600 calories a day and now am probably at about 1300/1400. So at the very least I should have slowed the regain but nope.

It’s scary & upsetting. I recognise it as being how my body & my hormones work (or don’t work!) but that doesn’t help. My doctor is trying to help me sort out alternative HRT but nothing is working yet as it all involves at least taking one tablet. I wish I was completely past all this hormone crap & I wish supply chain issues for pharmaceuticals were a thing of the past for everyone affected.

I so wanted to be my maintained slim self when I turned 60 in 4 months. I always have been overweight at significant birthdays. This one was going to be different. The way I’m going I’ll be a stone heavier. Not overweight but more than I want to be & have been happy at. Very sad face.

[DaisyChainOz 475]

Oh I am so sorry you are having these issues @Arabesque hormonal weight gain sucks! Those of us post menopausal have it so hard when it comes to getting the weight off, nature whats us to be chubby grandmas it seems!!! 😆

But... and not to diminish your concerns, You are still very tiny, if you are still 48.5kg as per your profile, so whilst I know it's driving you nuts, maybe try not to be too distressed about it, you look amazing still, and I am sure that the HRT issue will be sorted out before too long and your doctor and yourself will find the right combo!

Your birthday will still be amazing, and you will look stunning!

[SpartanMaker 972]

So sorry you're struggling @Arabesque! I know how frustrating it is when you go from thinking you're got weight maintenance down, to finding that no matter what you try, you can't get things under control.

You may not be looking for advice here, but as a guy it's in my nature to try to "fix" the issue. Please forgive me if I'm off base.

I may be misremembering, but I think at one point you mentioned you don't really workout. While I'd never recommend exercise as a way to lose weight, we know from a significant amount of data that it is really beneficial in helping those that have lost weight to maintain that weight loss. You may not be in love with the idea, but it might be time to consider a change?

Aside from the benefits for maintaining weight loss, we also know that cardiovascular endurance is actually a better predictor of overall health and longevity than any other single factor including obesity and smoking! This means the single best thing any of us can do for long term health is improve our cardiovascular health. In addition, we also know that regular strength training is important for several reasons, but in your case I want to point out three of them:

1. Regular strength training improves muscle mass, which is probably the single biggest way any of us can actually improve our long-term metabolism.
2. Overall strength is highly predictive of minimizing fall risk as we age. Since falls in older people can be catastrophic, it's something all older people need to keep in mind.
3. There is a significant link between strength training and bone health. As I'm assuming you already know, osteoporosis is a particular problem for post-menopausal women.

I wasn't very familiar with the Australian recommendations for physical activity, but unsurprisingly it's almost identical to the US recommendations: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-adults-18-to-64-years

Best of luck. I hope you get this figured out.

[ms.sss 15,748]

what @SpartanMaker said.

increases muscle mass which drives up metabolism. good for physical health and side benefit of looking hawt. AND probably the number one, oft-ignored-yet-totally-obvious, underrated, oh-so-accessible producer of positive mental health...❤️

also...what @DaisyChainOz said.

while it really doesn't matter what WE think you look like, you do look fab as ever. if u didn't see the number on the scale, would you still look pretty effing awesome in all those gorgeous clothes in your closet?

but i get it, fear of going back to our pre-wls selves is a big thing in our demographic, no matter how unlikely that is your case.

hugs.

p.s. you know what i did last week when i was feeling down and annoyed? i bought a new pair of shoes. just saying...

[SpartanMaker 972]

12 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

p.s. you know what i did last week when i was feeling down and annoyed? i bought a new pair of shoes. just saying...

Maybe a new pair if running shoes? 😉 Always works for me! 😁

[Arabesque 7,492]

Thank you @spartanmaker, @ms.sss & @DaisyChainOz. No I don’t work out as such. No gym and no running miles. Have never found any enjoyment in it at all which means I find it a struggle to do it & then I give it up. And I’ve done it all over the years. Plus I’ve been told by my retinal specialist not to do any strenuous activity which was when I gave up the 2x50 sit ups I used to do with my stretching & resistance band routines. Been doing these routines for more than two years now usually every day and even do a modified version if I’m away because I actually enjoy doing it. They include yoga moves and poses as that was the one thing I used to enjoy. Strength is pretty good. Had to buy all those new pants last year because my thighs had got larger thanks to the resistance bands & my shoulders are starting to look like I swim laps. Added a new stretch with my bands which is working on my forearms. I might end up looking like Popeye. LOL! Recently added some pulse squats to my routine as the other so called butt building things haven’t helped yet (it’s still flat and running down the back of my thighs 😁). So my metabolism should have increased at least a little over the last 2 plus years. Flexibility is good too as is bone density (had most recent scan last year). I started doing these routines because I was missing my old flexibility, to tone muscles and keep my bone density (was worried that my malabsorption may affect my Calcium absorption too). Ugh, I don’t want to HAVE to add in another activity but …. Sigh!

Actually bone density is becoming an issue for middle aged and older men too these days too @SpartanMaker. I know several men in their late 50s early 60s who have been diagnosed as having osteopena or osteoporosis. One was very surprised as he is an avid cyclist & thought himself very fit & healthy but cycling doesn’t help with bone density. He got tested after his wife, also a cyclist, was diagnosed & was worried.

PS Buying shoes and clothing always makes me feel better @ms.sss. I bought a new dress last week & yes it made me happy (another Victoria Beckham) though I had to buy a larger size which then depressed me. It’s going to be my back up dress for my niece ‘s wedding. Waaah!

PPS To add to my niece’s wedding & my 60th this year, I found out this week I have a school reunion too. Scheduling all my Botox, facial and hair appointments for the year now so I don’t look grey and wrinkled at any of them.