How To Lose Weight During Menopause

The struggle is real. If you’re going through menopause you know how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off. When I was in my 20’s, 30’s and even my early 40’s losing weight was easy. I’d just have to cut back on some of my favorite foods that weren’t healthy and I’d lose the weight. But as soon as I hit menopause the weight starting slowing creeping up and I couldn’t stop it. Until one day I decided I had enough. I decided that if I wanted to feel and look better I needed to make a big change. So what did I do to lose the weight and keep it off? Before we get into that let me first talk about my addiction.

SUGAR IS EVIL!

I’ve been addicted to sugar since I was a child. I remember needing that sugar fix even before going to school in the morning. My teacher must have loved me. During my childhood years I would eat the real sugary sweets like the flavored straws, wacky waffers (if you grew up in the 70’s you remember those), jolly ranchers and bub’s daddy gum. Sour apple was my favorite.

As a teen I remember eating hostess cherry pies for lunch every day. And those fund raisers for candy bars, holy cow I could get my fix on even in class! I would sell some and buy some to eat it was a win win.

When I was an adult I tried many, many diets. I would always lose weight and as a reward after I lost the weight I would treat myself to something sweet like a cookie, or cupcake. But that little treat became another and another. I could not go a day without eating a sweet treat.

Then I turned 40 and my metabolism started to slow down. The weight started slowly creeping on and even though in the past I was able to cut down on the junk I wasn’t able to lose the weight. I’d visit my Dr. for checkups and everything was okay so they’d tell me to work out more. Really? Like I wanted to work out anymore than I already was. First off I hate working out. I mean I truly hate it! Second I could have worked out all day and it wouldn’t matter because that scale was not moving.

I Finally Made The Change

I heard about Whole30. It’s a cleansing kind of a diet. I knew that I had to kick menopause in the butt and get serious. With this diet eat a very strict for 30 days. One of the things you give up is sugar. And not just sugar treats but anything with sugar in it. I cringed at the idea of giving up my beloved chocolate and sweets. I thought no way I can’t do it. So I went about my life trying to figure out what to do. In the mean time I felt horrible, tired, bloated with aches and pains in my legs.

One day after eating ice cream I looked in the mirror and I couldn’t believe what I saw. My stomach was so bloated I looked like I was 3 months pregnant! That was the last straw. I decided to go on whole30 because I needed to change my lifestyle.

I’m not going to tell you that it’s easy because it’s not. Giving up sweets was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And if someone would have told me four years ago that I’d never eat chocolate again I’d say you’re nuts, no way! But I did it!

The first month I think I lost 4 pounds? I can’t remember. It wasn’t a lot of weight but more importantly I started to feel better. I no longer felt tired, or had pains in my legs. I had less headaches and I had so much more energy. I also liked the way I looked.

Remember this is a lifestyle change. If you want to look and feel better it’s time to get serious. As we age especially during menopause our metabolism slows down. So unless you literally want to kill yourself working out you need to change the way you eat.

Besides sugar treats I also rarely eat starchy carbs like breads or pasta or rice. That was something I ate many times during the week.We had bread with every meal and at pasta 2-3 times a week. Now it’s a treat when I eat bread, pasta or rice.

This has to be a lifestyle change. You have to get to the point of being sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I got to that point and I will tell you that’s it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Weight loss and staying in shape is totally possible during menopause.

But Wait Sugar Is In Everything

Yes sugar is in everything including table salt, condiments. I’m able to eat sugar when it’s in certain foods but I stay clear from sweet treats which is my trigger. I don’t even eat sweet treats that have sugar substitute as it would send me back to eating regular sugar treats.

Once you kick the sugar habit you will no longer crave it. Sugar addiction is real and I believe it’s like a drug. It’s not easy to kick the habit but once you do you will feel so much better I promise you. I can be around it but I know I can’t have it and it’s okay because I no longer crave it.

Here’s a video on me discussing my weight loss journey.

**Please make sure to check with your Doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I’m sharing what worked for me. See disclosure policy**