I just entered menopause surgically last week, with the removal of my ovaries and the rest of my reproductive system at 45. I'm just beginning to wonder what this means for my weight loss and have enjoyed perusing this forum.

I've lost 5 pounds since the surgery, but some of that I'm guessing is that within a week my breasts have gone from firm and dense to very light and fluffy feeling. Other weight is from not eating for 4.5 days due to the surgery, and then low appetite for a few days after that. Anyway, I'll take the loss!

But I'm wondering if as one ages, should we be moving our "maintain" or "goal" weight number down to account for things like less dense breasts, less dense bones, loss of muscle mass, what-have-you? I just have a feeling that I could maintain at a certain number as I age, but find that I am getting bigger by just staying at the same weight as the years go by, if that makes any sense.

Does anyone have thoughts about this?

Hi Heidi,

From my experience, it is more difficult to lose weight as we age. Part of it might be because of attitude - deprivation is REALLY difficult over 50!

Another aspect is metabolism - for me, it has slowed down a LOT. I know that weight-lifting helps with this - muscle makes your metabolism speed up - but because of aches and pains, weight-lifting becomes difficult.

If I could go back 20 years to your age, I would try to eat healthy and develop a routine of daily exercise.

Good luck & have a speedy recuperation from your surgery.

Lynn (post on the Golden Girls thread).

There is a wonderful book by Dr Christiane Northrup, the Wisdom of Menopause. She talks about diet too. I loved the Schwarzbein Principle for a diet specific for women. Yes, as we age, we need less food.

I thought I was in menopause, I just went 15 months without a period, but then KAPOW. lol I have had many changes to my body from this, thinner skin, less firm, breasts losing their firmness, it's natural and I am learning to accept it.