Okay Ladies! Let's face it. Some of us are at that special age when our bodies are trying to tell us who's boss. You can maybe relate to the picture! I know I've felt all the emotions the dwarfs show... but heck, I felt those before I got to this stage! And who in the world thought that menopause would ever have the makings of a Broadway musical? What's this world coming to?
The 40's are supposedly the "new" 30's... but I'm not so sure that applies when you're peri-menopausal or menopausal.
My Story (of course, I have one!). Eleven years ago I had a "partial" hysterectomy ... removing all but one ovary. Because this ovary was/is functioning it was decided that I did not need hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - which is good because I hate taking pills (that's why I have three children!) and probably wouldn't have remembered to change a patch or put on creme either. At the time of my surgery I was a svelte 130 pounds. At 5'2" this was an okay weight; I was nicely proportionate. But what in the world happened since then?? The more I try to lose weight the faster it finds me! I've put on, ahem, a few pounds since then - taking me from svelte to being somewhat buxom. According to my dictionary - buxom means: ample, built, busty, full-figured, hearty, robust, stacked, well-made, well-rounded. Wow! A couple of those words made me feel like I was turning into a beer!
In the last four or five years I've been experiencing hot flashes and night sweats - but not on a real regular basis... also hyper-sensitivity to cigarette smoke & certain perfumes, although I'm not sure the latter is related to menopause. I take Black Cohosh for the hot flashes with some relief. Maybe it's because I take it that I'm not affected much by hot flashes? I also notice that I'm tired a lot. Maybe I need to take an iron supplement? Of course if I took iron it would only make me MORE constipated! Flashes, sweats... and constipated? My poor husband!!
When we're staying at the cabin we tend to eat better - smarter/healthier - than when we're not. Being in town & going out on weekends with friends makes it way to easy to over indulge. My jeans are being stretched to the max & I've resorted to buying tops come down a bit lower in an effort to cover my hips & behind! The thing I find really disturbing is not that my waistline has expanded - but I have this layer of fat around my ribcage. Very unflattering! As I got out of the shower the other day I noticed how awful this really looked. Mr. C. says it's just more to love (now isn't that sweet?) but for Pete's sake!! I'm starting to look like those enchiladas I've been eating! When I get on the scale it says: "please ask your friend to step off"! Wah!!!!
I refuse to join another gym or health club. I've wasted MORE money paying monthly dues to use these facilities and sadly, just wasn't motivated enough to go. I've tried organic diets, liquid diets, vegetarian diets, colon cleanses, cutting out carbs, cutting out meat, starving myself (not recently though) - but nothing seems to work very well for me. I'm pretty sure if I'd just get off my rear end & walk more that would help - at least a little!
Since it's Lenten season, I've given up beef and pork. Not a huge sacrifice but it will "force" me to eat chicken & fish (not fried!) for 40 days. While neither of us are gluten intolerant we've been trying to eat gluten free foods. I've been pleasantly surprised to find so many things - like pasta & baking mixes, etc.
Anyone else out there riding the menopause roller coaster? How's it treating you? How's your diet and/or weight management?
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