update: hormones and weight loss/maintenance

I posted a few weeks ago in a panic because after several months trying to regulate my hormones after a hysterectomy my weight was climbing no matter how good I was with my food.  It was very scary to follow the rules and each morning the scale was higher and higher.  I found my problem and since then I've lost 6 of the 13 pounds I had gained since on this roller coaster - and that was just this week so I'm really encouraged I'm on the right track.  Here is what I found out.

 8 oz of Edamame, although a delicious low calorie food and good fiber and protein source has about the same effect in our bodies as 1 Premarin tablet.  Now if you are pre-menopausal DO NOT stop eating your edamame or soy products because you have the natural progesterone and other hormones to balance you.  But for those menopausal women taking hormones eating edamame as much as I was, just wanted to let you know it can affect your weight.  I was eating a 12 oz container of edamame a day as a snack - 125 calories, kept my hands busy, good protein and fiber but I was gaining weight.  I thought it was the salt so stopped the salt.  Weight gain continued.  It was only after a friend's suggestion that it could be the soy that I began some internet research, checked with my pharmacist who was compounding my bio-identical hormones and he confirmed.  I now only eat the edamame occasionally - like a normal person would :). 

I also visited my nut and found although all my food choices were good, I was really eating too many good carbs and good fats even though I was in the right calorie range.  I was eating for maintenance and the hormones put me into gain rather than maintain.  It was a good thing to find out because I already wasn't losing and thought it was my metabolism.  Turns out I just needed to go back to some wls diet basics.  My water, protein and exercise were all good so it just proves to me it's the little things we don't even realize that others can point out to us that can make a big difference.

I'm very relieved now!  There's hope even with menopause!

How interesting! I am glad you figured things out and are starting to lose the weight you had gained. I don't eat edamame very ofter but I do have a soy protien drink every morning, maybe I should switch to whey and see if I can't lose a few more lbs. I have not heard that link before. I am post menopausal and don't take any hormones. It couldn't hurt to try a change.

Thanks for sharing

Sher

Good to hear you've got it under control...and interesting info since i am right around the corner from menopause...(which my DH refers to as mental pause)....

I've already decided that when it actually happens..I'm sticking all my left over pantiliners on his car (he goes to work in the dark....hehehe  He'll notice them on his ride home AFTER he's drove all the way into work and parked in a full commuter lot) And tie tampons on his windshield wiper blades...and pray for rain so they get all swollen with water and flop back and forth across his windshield as he looks on in horror!

Today he put my seat heater on in 100 degree weather...By the time I noticed my arse was on fire and I was sweating...I still had 30 minutes in the hot seat!  That's only only trouble being a practical joker...You gotta take what you dish out!  LOL

Glad to hear you got things in order! 

OH MY GOSH!!!!

This is the post I have been hoping to see, and lately have been taking Premarin, as I had a hysterectomy 15 yrs ago and have had hot flashes lately.  I have no ovaries either.   Anyway, I have gained like 10 lbs and haven't changed the way I eat or exercise or anything!!!

I wondered if the Premarin makes you gain weight, so thank God I have found the answer.  I would rather have hot flashes than gain weight, so I am off of the Premarin from now on!!!!

I have been SO SO depressed, and just hating myself and scared, no terrified is a better word to describe how I have been feeling since gaining 10lbs.

I am 3 years post op on 8/24, and was thinking that I must be at the point where I will gain no matter what??

I have also gone back on protein drinks, salads, tuna fish, chicken and fish for meals, and nuts or seeds, (raw) and fresh fruit for snacks, and I also juice carrots and celery to help with the issue of fiber and nutrients needed for my body.

Anyway, I think the Premarin is the cause, so I will never take it again!!!!!  I hate being 150-153 depending on constipation and how much water I drank, so hopefully I can get back to 140 soon!!

Thanks again

Deb

Boy, I understand the depression and fear over the weight gain and all the thoughts of doom over the unexplained gain.  No one could understand why it was such a big deal to me but I was afraid I'd wake up and be 320 pounds again.  Even the drs were telling me it's normal to gain 10-15 pounds with menopause so just understand that.  But you know we've come too far to accept that so I knew there had to be something else I could do.  I'm so glad to have found out. 

As it turns out I haven't lost anymore of what I've gained and I'm watching every morsal that goes in and exercising and following all the other wls rules but at least I stopped the weight gain.  I'm much more careful now.  Good luck to you and I know you'll get back to the weight you want to be!  We'll both stay determined!