I take HRT (the conventional kind) due to extreme symptoms, like nonstop hot flashes. I've questioned my doctor closely about the risks and she feels that the studies showing increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer aren't well-done and not applicable to younger women (I guess I'm "younger"!) She's actually a big proponent of HRT and says she can always tell by looking if a woman is on it or not (she mentioned better skin and more youthful appearance). She's never said anything about helping with weight loss, however.

From what I've read, there's not much difference between conventional HRT and bioidentical except that one is FDA regulated and the other isn't. But there's been some news lately about the FDA clamping down on compounding pharmacies selling bioidentical hormones.

Tammy, I think that talking to your doctor is a good place to start. :)

I may have a small bit of good news to report. I was 65 last year, so that puts me squarely in the post-menopausal group. I am not taking hormone replacement medication. I have not reached my goal and have not lost any weight for about three months.

The good news is that I have maintained my 38 lb loss during these three months. I have never, ever maintained any weight loss before, menopausal or not. I think the reason I have maintained this time is that I have actually established some really good eating habits. The big three - low fat protein - many veggies and fruits - whole grains.

I think perhaps my (ahem) more mature attitude towards my eating habits may be partially offsetting the difficulty age brings to weight loss/maintenance. Whatever it is, I am very happy. Because I have been able to maintain for a bit, I feel hopeful that I will eventually be able to loose the last 15 lbs and keep it all off.

Also good news: during this short experiment in maintenance, I have not been one bit hungry. I was afraid I would have to starve for the rest of my life, but not so far. Someone on here said she thought maintenance would look like a stick of celery and a forty mile walk:lol:. Scary thought.

Gail that's great news! I had to chuckle when you said your mature attitude towards your eating habits help. I think I was just finally the right age to try to lose weight. I half heartedly tried when I was younger, but just never got it right. They say age brings wisdom, and for me and my eating habits, I guess it finally did. I really admire these 20 somethings and younger who can hunker down and lose weight, because I just couldn't! :)

A celery stick and a 40 mile walk, huh? Oh if I thought that was ahead of me, I'm not so sure I'd be fighting so hard to get to goal. ;)

Someone mentioned being on the pill. I guess I should ask my doctor the next time I see her, but if you are on the pill and enter menopause, would you still get your period?

Add me to the finally "mature" enough to lose weight. I wish I had been able to figure it out when I was younger, but I made lots of half-hearted attempts and excuses...

I had a hysterectomy (partial) when I was 40. I am now 54 and am smack dab in the middle of menopause. I was gaining weight like crazy (40 pounds last year!) and my doctor just continued to yell at me about dieting. I was soooo frustrated. Finally last November he tested my hormone levels and determined that I'm menopausal. So, I'm on a hormone patch. I said all of that to say this...today is the first day of my new life counting my calories and now I'm not so sure I'm counting in the right range in order to lose weight. I was going by what was said in the counting calories group. Should I adjust those calories down now, because I sure would hate to gain weight now that I've started dieting! LOL Jackie

Jackie - they are a pretty smart bunch of chickies over there. Why not give it a try for a couple weeks and see how you do. If you don't lose, you can begin to "tweak" your calories and exercise until you find the right mix. For me, it really was trial and error. AND - I have had to make adjustments as I went along. I know it is confusing at first, but it will get easier as you learn what works best for you. Come back often and let us know how you are doing!

Hi Jackie, CountingDown is right. It's never an exact science, it seems to always be trial and error. You might as well try what they suggested first, and if you aren't losing, you can tweak down some. I don't think they would have suggested a high enough level to actually gain. Welcome by the way, I don't think I've seen you post before.

I read Suzanne Somers' book too. I asked my Dr. about it (She prescribes bio-identical hormones) and she said she believes that Suzanne is having injections of hormones and not just topical ones(She doesn't really address this in the book, very vague about what she actually takes). She thinks that she is pretty radical, especially in light of the fact that she has a history of female cancers. I was prescribed bio-identicals for several months (Bi-est & Progesterone cream) as well as oral DHEA. I had absolutely no improvement in symptoms until I went on an estrogen patch. With a patch, your medication goes right into the bloodstream & bypasses the GI tract & the liver. She said this reduces the risk of breast cancer. She also recommended only short term use of HRT while a woman is symptomatic, and starting it right as your going into menopause, not in older women who may have more issues with cardiovascular disease.

I recently read a book by an M.D. who thinks that most people, men and women, are "estrogen dominant," which means they have too much estrogen in their bodies, compared to progesterone and other hormones, and this leads to weight gain, cardiovascular problems, and a whole list of illnesses. He believes that progesterone treatment is a better way to go than estrogen treatment. Just something to look into--I don't have any more details than that.

If you do a google search on "estrogen dominance" you'll come up with some sites to look at.

Jay

Jtammy - I've done tons and tons of research on the subject of hormone therapy. The only absolute answer I've been able to find is that medical science has sorely neglected women in this issue as they have in many other issues and there is a lot that we just don't really know for sure. I can tell you that, after much trial and error, I have finally found a wonderful doctor that practices a wonderful balance of conventional and alternative medicine. I am now on a bio-identical combination of estrogens, progesterone and testosterone and I have finally found the perfect combination for me for right now. Of course, as I lose weight, my combination will need to be adjusted as the hormones in my body fluctuate. But, I can say that I've feel better now than I felt for the first 1 1/2 years after my surgery. I finally feel almost normal again! :) I have my energy back, my positive outlook, I'm less irritable, I'm finally losing weight again....and, dare I say...the libido seems to be kicking back in.:o IMO, nothing is as wonderful as the hormone balance that God created, but bio-identicals are a great second alternative.

i think i may have you all beat. i had a hysterectomy a year ago and i'm in my 20s. talk about not being prepared!!! :dizzy:

i take bioidentical HRT and my doctor specializes in menopause and HRT. she told me that hormone imbalance can cause weight gain and cravings that are out of control. she told me i have no choice but to start getting my butt to the gym if i want to lose weight post hysterectomy and she told me that i have to live on fewer calories than i did before. so far i'm finding all of this to be true.

i'm just grateful that i'm still able to lose, even if it is harder than it was before. it was never easy for me in the first place. it may take more work and more time but it is definately doable. (personally i think it's worth the trade off just to not have a period anymore) ;)

Oh my gosh, Polkadot, you're so young to be dealing with menopausal issues at your age! But I have to commend your positive attitude toward weight loss -- no pity parties for you! Kudos, that's the kind of thinking that will get you to goal! :bravo:

oh well i'll be honest. tis a newfound positive attitude i have. i'm finally over my year long pity party. i decided once i hit the year mark i'm going to pick myself up dust myself off and march back down to a healthy happy weight. this surgery took my ability to bear children away, it took time away from my job and friends and it took a great emotional toll on me. but i won't let it make me fat to boot. just not going to happen. and i'm pleased to say i've lost 5 pounds in the last week and a half. :carrot:

:cp:

Polkadot, :hug: I'm glad you're here! Good for you for taking control and not letting it keep you down! You are very inspiring. Congrats on your weight loss too; that's a wonderful way to start off.

I'm wondering if the rate of weight loss has anything to do with sending the body into menopause. If one lost weight very slowly, and the hormones from the melting fat were then being released at a slower rate into the body, would that lessen the chance of flipping the menopause switch?

There's probably no answer, as it seems there has been very little research in this area. But, I have been thinking about it.