nicholaix's Journal, 19 May 15

I have observed OTHERS make this statement about your situation: "This too shall pass."...I offer that thoughtfully (and cautiously)...but hopefully as a perspective that can be helpful...I hope you day is filled with strength, joy, and affirmations that are helpful. 

STT is absolutely correct, "this too will pass." But in the now, it isn't fun. I always compared myself to the female version of the Michelin Man which was exactly how I felt. No need to record weight as we know and understand that it isn't pretty. Wait a few days and you will log in a nice loss. I do want you to know that once you get to the other end of this particular female journey that it is wonderful! Take care, my friend!  

Hormones do go a bit crazy. Do weird things to your body. watch your sodium intake and drink lots of water. I used soy supplements through mine and they helped a lot. I had a doc back then who believed on a one size fits all theory on menopause, not happy on that. Fired my doc and did the research and took some natural herbal supplements that helped one was cohosh but now there are warnings out on that one.  

Be happy that you still have TOM. Once you get in menopause, the lack of estrogen will make it even harder to lose weight. I got pushed in chemical menopause in May of 2010 by the chemotherapy. Then had to take for 5 years an aromatase inhibitor (to prevent cancer recurrence) that was stripping my body of whatever estrogen was left. That was the main cause of my weight gain. I struggled for 5 years to at least keep that weight and not put on more, then last year started practically starving myself and lost 12 lbs in 8 months. Stopped taking the aromatase inhibitor at the beginning of February, and lost 19 lbs since the 11th of February. Estrogen is a key hormone in losing weight, together with the thyroid hormone. Talking of which, did you ever tested your thyroid? I mean, not just the TSH, because that can be misleading even if normal, but also the Free T3 and Free T4? 

wholefoodnut, all the warnings are mostly because in recent years it was discovered that most breast cancer tumors are estrogen-dependent, that is, they feed on estrogen. Any extra estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer. Phyto-estrogens - that is, plant estrogens, like the ones in soy and black kohosh - act the same as regular human estrogen. Moreso, there are studies done now to verify that isonoflavones (like the ones in soy) increase the breast cancer risk or not. What it has been discovered until now was that Asian women have a lower breast cancer incidence, and it was connected to the consumption of soy. Then when the study was published, Western women started eating soy - only with them it seemed to increase the breast cancer incidence. Right now researchers are on the fence on that, but the general idea is that yes, soy isonoflavones have a certain percentage of reducing the breast cancer incidence, but only in women who have been consuming soy from childhood, and on the women who introduce soy in their diet in adulthood the risk is increased. 

MMM had not heard that, interesting facts. Haven't done much research on it for at least 15 years. It did help me with the hot flashes and sleep issues. I am on a low dose hormone thing now not for menopause but osteo arthritis. I do have some osteo per the bone scan for it and doing everything I can to increase that bone density without the drugs. However, I'm also on a steroid asthma med daily which contributes to decreased bone density issues My doc understands I would rather not take it so when the schedule roles around next year to re-do the scan we will re-evaluate. My Mom had rather severe osteo degeneration--would prefer not to go there.  

I am not getting on the scale until TOM is over. It would just piss me off. I gain up to 8lbs per month during this time... 

No comment. My dad taught me well. Oooh, but it's so funny though! 

Right there with you, Glen. 

I have an autoimmune disease so I have been tested for everything under the sun lol and continue to be every year. My med list is pretty light these days thank goodness. Weight loss and change of diet has helped tons with symptoms and meds. Because of years of being a vegan my body was pretty wrecked( not because of veganism, because I was doing it WRONG) nutritionally as well so tons of improvements there. But this perimenopause garbage is kicking my butt. Night sweats, water changes, even acne, yikes. 

And I hear you boys in the corner celebrating your manhood...gives you the evil eye.... 

Easy to do wrong Nicholaix, I cringe when I hear people say they are and only eating salads and some cooked veggies, no proteins. I'm not vegetarian more the new category flexitarian, as you know, but I can go for weeks not eating any meat. Without the complementary proteins I would be a mess! My start to eating less meat began around 1972 or 1973 with the Diet for a Small Planet book which delved extensively into complementary proteins.  

cool  

Heading to the corner with the other males....HOOAHHH!! We are being looked at guys act like we don't know anything. This way they'll think we didn't do it ;) .....Good Luck Nicholaix, I can't say I know how ya feel, but I'm sure it suxs.... 

Don't blame you one bit for not recording! Evil eye? LOL  

No comment. My dad taught me well. Oooh, but it's so funny though! 19 May 15 by member: northernmusician <---- that is most definitely a comment  

Yup - I remember that well... 

Hats off to you ladies. Honestly I'm glad that as a guy I don't have to worry about that stuff. It might even be worth dying sooner than women. :) 

I think I got through that stuff pretty lightly, but I suffered from a nervous breakdown from anxiety, depression, and the pain from the car wreck. I gained a ton of weight and was on all kinds of meds (but not enough thyroid which was being counteracted). I topped out at 335. So some of the usual symptoms weren't bad but I got others. Honestly I don't remember much of about 2 years. But here I am on the other side healthier than I've been in 20 years. 

NIC....just wanted to let you know...I sent you a PM asking your advice...(NOT about TODAY"S topic...LOL)..(and that's NOT a joke about the way you are feeling currently)......I'm not sure I completely trust the FS delivery system...but I guess it works MOST of the time...Take Care!!!!!!!!