What I’m about to say might not be familiar to everyone. But it is a real thing for me and I bet there are some women out there who have been surprised to find themselves in the same boat, so I want to use my voice to let them know they’re not alone.
I am over 40 years old and transitioning into menopause. It has been one of the most challenging years of my life (and I’ve raised three kids, so that’s saying something).
I go through periods of feeling like my life is “just getting started,” and other times that it feels like it should be winding down. Those feelings aren’t unique to my age group, but they seem to come more often than they used to.
One thing that did get a lot worse around the time I turned 40: hot flashes and night sweats. These can sometimes last all day long, and no matter what you do you just can’t cool off or get dry enough.
Just when I thought I’d gotten used to those I encountered more symptoms. Migraines, brain fog, mood swings…the list goes on.
As I look back, it’s likely that my body was headed into perimenopause- the transitional period before menopause.
That’s the only explanation for why I’d frequently need some time on my own away from my family and partner, and to just be a bit by myself.
The Perimenopause Symptom I Never Saw Coming – Weight Gain
One of the biggest challenges has been weight gain.
I woke up one morning and found myself almost 20 pounds heavier than I had ever been in my life. When you’re younger, that’s maybe not such a big deal. But when you’re over 40, carrying around that extra weight can be exhausting.
I’ve always been pretty active and worked out regularly, but not being able to fit into my usual workout clothes or do activities I used to do with ease was really discouraging.
I’d heard about hot flashes, but weight gain wasn’t on my radar. Understandably, I panicked.
What I Tried Before Things Really Changed with BetterMe
When things got really tough, I tried to do something about my weight.
First, I sought professional advice. My physician recommended Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). For some women, this is the right choice.
It basically involves taking estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone in order to replace the hormones that are no longer being produced by your body.
I gave it a try but was disappointed months later when I had nothing to show for it. It just didn’t work as I’d expected. Not all women have trouble with HRT, but I did. And I knew that I was done with it after a few months.
I was determined to lose weight, so I decided to try switching up my diet. I hadn’t really done much dieting before this but thought, why not? If nothing else, maybe I’ll feel better if I don’t eat sugar all the time or drink so much coffee!
You can imagine my disappointment when 2 months later I’d only lost 3 pounds. What was I missing? I’d cleaned up my diet – almost no alcohol, almost no processed foods, and tons of veggies, and whole grains with some meat, eggs, and yogurt, thrown in occasionally for extra protein.
I was definitely hoping for a bigger change.
A Weight Loss Solution That Works for Women in Perimenopause
In my search for a way to lose weight without following a strict diet, I found intermittent fasting (IF). And not only that, I discovered the BetterMe App, which is like having a personal trainer in your pocket.
IF is a weight-loss method that consists of a short time period of fasting followed by a longer time period of eating.
Intermittent fasting is nothing new, but its use in weight loss has gained popularity recently since many research studies have shown it to be effective.
Here’s where BetterMe comes in: it’s a mobile app that makes it easy to follow the IF method.
BetterMe doesn’t believe in fad diets so they never recommend any strict, boring, and restrictive plan. You can choose from many different types of fasting protocols , ranging from 12 to 24 hours.
BetterMe is not all about losing weight, it can help you achieve a happier, healthier life by guiding you through what to eat and how best to take care of your body’s needs. For someone like me who was battling mood swings and brain fog, there couldn’t be a better solution than this app.
BetterMe also allows you to track your progress, set goals, and provide valuable insight into how well you are doing. You can also ask questions if you get stuck or need any help.
How Things Have Finally Shifted for The Better with BetterMe Fasting
I started with the 16:8 protocol, which has you fasting for 16 hours and limiting your eating to 8-hour windows.
Before I knew it, I’d made my way up to the 24-hour fasts, because why not? It wasn’t much of an adjustment at all since I was already skipping breakfast every day! With constant guidance, tips, and valuable insights from the app, I was more motivated than ever.
And guess what? I lost 20 pounds in just 6 months. I’m sleeping better than ever. I feel healthier, happier, more alert during the day, and much more attractive to myself.
How To Not Get Lost In The Search for Perimenopause Weight Loss Solution
When I started my search for a solution, I was faced with all sorts of information on the internet. I attempted a few and faced even more disappointment.
My advice? Don’t fall for weight loss gimmicks.
IF is not a fad–it’s science-backed by research studies conducted around the world.
However, if you don’t have the right guidance you will not see the results.
With BetterMe, you can rest easy knowing that you’re connecting with a team of professionals who just want to help you get results.
My honest thoughts on what my results would’ve looked like without the BetterMe app:
- I would have made slower progress
- I would have lost less weight
- I would have struggled with strong hunger pangs
- I wouldn’t have gotten as much relief from my perimenopause symptoms
I’m convinced that intermittent fasting and BetterMe have saved my life.
So, I hope that my fellow women over 40 can learn from my experience and have an easier time dealing with perimenopause weight gain.
Take this free 1-minute quiz to get a personalized fasting plan for weight loss from BetterMe.
