Hormones and Weight Gain in Perimenopause and Menopause
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- Many women gain 5, 10, 20 pounds from out of nowhere at menopause. Not 1 but 3 separate hormone issues have an impact on menopause weight gain. Find out what you can do to reverse all 3.
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00:00 Introduction - What's the deal with weight gain?
00:38 I'm Steve Goldring
00:50 Weight gain patterns in perimenopause and menopause
01:30 Belly fat that comes out of nowhere
02:22 What you need to know about (peri)menopause weight gain
02:57 Calories In = Calories Out Is that really true?
03:30 Hormones have major control over metabolism
03:43 3 Hormones with the biggest effect on weight gain
06:28 What can you do about perimenopause/weight gain weight gain?
09:28 Patients - need help with your hormones?
09:54 Providers - can you help?
DISCLAIMER: This information does not replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. Seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. CONSULT A LICENSED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES TO YOUR MEDICATIONS OR HEALTHCARE.
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Have to say a no on this point. I am peri with hot flashes all night and now during the day. LOL, sleeping has gone out the window. I was put on HRT combi patch which is Bio Estrogren but Synthetic Prog. I will be changing to Prometrium. However, within 24hrs of using this patch something shifted. A light bulb came on. My energy came back and depression left. So please don't discourage peri ladies from getting on Estridiol. I feel hope again.
Jackie, I’m looking for that hope. Thank you for your comment! Glad you’ve found relief❤️
This video is extremely valuable because of what women experience at this stage in life versus what traditional doctors and the fitness industry tell women. I am 5'4" and weighed 120 to 125 pounds until my mid 40s. I lost weight easily after all three of my pregnancies. I suddenly gained a lot of weight and kept gaining. This past year I lost 40 pounds, but I still have 15 pounds to lose. According to the calorie in, calories out traditional calculations I should have been at my goal weight last spring. At one point I was eating 800 calories (pescatarian keto and IF) a day, and doing 300 minutes of high intensity workouts a week and didn't lose a pound in over two months. I was objectively working much harder than the people in the "fitness community". When I shared my experience online I would immediately receive a barage of hateful disbelief and accusations of lying, with misogynistic vitriol thrown in for good measure. It's a real problem in society to ignore, minimize, condescend and attack women when they report a medical or health problem.
@deer105 Thanks for watching. I'm a firm believer that "Calories In/Calories Out" is a part of the story, but not the whole story. "The Hormone Theory of Obesity" offers a more nuanced and complete explanation of WHY women in menopause tend to gain weight and not be able to lose it. For those who haven't watched the video, there are 3 key hormones involved in menopause weight gain. Diet and exercise certainly play a role . . . but hormones may be even more important. The bottom line is: It's not your fault.
So how did you start loosing the weight? I'm the same as you and no matter what I try, it's not coming off😢
@@ivana547 Just continuing to do exactly what I had been doing. For some reason the medical community gaslights people about weight loss plateaus. Their immediate response is to deny they exist and tell people their bodies are simple machines like a gas engine that will consistently lose weight if you're in a calorie deficit. It's untrue. I started paying attention to detailed diaries of people who lost a lot of weight and they all had plateaus and short windows when their weight dropped faster. That's also what happened to me. Just not quitting or changing your lifestyle over a period of years is what you have to do.
@@deer105 thanks so much!
Thank you so much for all this information! I need a hormone optimization in my area . Thanks and blessings!
Im Mission , Tx
You are so welcome! The best way to find a hormone specialist, somebody who really knows how to manage all your hormone issues and get you to optimal levels, is to visit this page on my website and fill out my Patient Referral Request Form here simplehormones.com/referral If you leave a referral request on TH-cam or email it to me, it's extremely likely I'll drop the ball or it will fall through the cracks. Once you fill out the form, be sure to check your email for a message that says "Confirm your email address." Thanks!
THANK YOU ❤
Fabulous video! Thank you so much. I'm have my blood drawn by a Biote provider tomorrow. I'm so excited.
Happy to hear you're moving forward toward optimal hormones.
I love ❤️ ur videos
I apply both progesterone cream and estradiol gel at a low level. I tried to slightly increase estradiol and 2 or 3 days later I got a big belly ( like more or less in the forth month of pregnancy!) , so that I reduced my already small portion. Then I slightly increased progesterone cream and I was constipated. I really don’t understand what happened. Are these transitory effects or does it mean, that I have already enough of both.
I don’t live in the States. Thank you!
I’ve been on HRT for over a year now and the weight gain and belly fat has just recently caught up to me. I’ve switched from the cream to the insertion pellets and taking a progesterone pill each night but for some reason it doesn’t seem to be working or maybe it would be 10 times worse without taking HRT. It’s so frustrating to not only get older looking but to gain weight so freaking fast, have zero energy and be super depressed. I do try to have an attitude of gratitude and I usually have a very positive attitude but menopause has turned me into an emotional train wreck! My current doctor didn’t even go over the lab work with me I just paid over $300 for. So I don’t even know where my levels are. I feel like I’m just throwing my money away and the jokes on me. The HRT insertion pellets are supposed to last 3 months. I used to notice I felt great the 1st month but it seems the longer I’m taking it by month 3 it’s totally worn off. I also experienced hair loss and was told it was due to too much testosterone and they were going to lower that level. Just wish it was easier to feel better and to actually feel like myself again.
Find a different Dr.
Read the book “I’m too young for this”
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks for watching Maria. Happy to help where I can.
I have estrodiol patch and also taking 100 mg oral progesterone. My hot flushes are improving as well as my sleep though I would not say I am at optimal level.
My major concern though is anxiety some days and just bad mood swings. I get irritable easily to a point this is affecting my marriage. I was going to see a therapist but now I feel perhaps I should try a higher dose of progesterone first. Before the patch and progesterone I thought I was going to lose it after having been sleep deprived for months and having hot flushes and night sweats that left me drenched.. I feel better but like I said, that anxiety gets the best of me some days. I have always been a calm person to be around but after 50y.o I have felt like an alien has hijacked my body.
Ellen - Thanks for watching. It sounds like you and your doctor are on the right track. Estradiol and progesterone are my 2 strongest recommendations for menopause symptoms. What you're describing is something other women have also told me they've experienced. So you're not alone! Progesterone is very frequently prescribed at 100MG to start. That's almost always too low of a dose, in my informed opinion. Your suspicion that a higher progesterone dose might help is right on. You may want to request that first. It should make a difference in anxiety. The irritability part may also be related to a less-than-optimal estradiol level. You said "hot flashes are improving" but that implies you are still having some. After you've been on a higher dose of progesterone for a month or so, if you're still having irritability and hot flashes, you might ask for an increase in your estradiol dose. I recommend giving these dosage increases some time, since it takes your body a while to adjust to new doses.
@@SimpleHormones thank you so much for writing back , I really do appreciate it.
Hi I leave in uk. I love ur video
Thanks for all of the information! Are products like the Happy Mammoth Hormone Harmony worthless? This keeps popping up on my Facebook feed, and while it looks enticing, I'm just not sure. Thank you
I looked up Happy Mammoth Hormone Harmony and it doesn't look "worthless." It's a combination of several herbs, some of which may have an impact on a few menopause symptoms. The berberine can reduce blood glucose, which can have a positive effect on insulin resistance. The ashwaghanda can help reduce cortisol, which can help with some symptoms. But I wouldn't expect this herbal supplement to do all that much for menopause weight gain.
What estradiol blood level stops the bad effects?
I cut out grains and eat vegetable high fiber carbs and fast. A small breakfast with protein and one large meal a day, no snacks can help if your busy. Cutting back too much on carbs is dreadful for hormones so I eat carbs more when I feel like im getting more hormonal symptoms of fatigue. Fasting really helps with energy levels but it can take months or a year to get to that stage of satisfaction and not feeling tired and hungry. Depending on how overweight you were in the beginning, you'll see results if you stay in that routine. The little bit of belly fat is probably the body's way of keeping extra estrogen when your low on reserves so i exept it.
Unfortunately, most women I've talked with have found cutting carbs, exercise, reducing fat, and dieting have made ZERO difference in menopause weight gain. Hormones are the primary driving factor in weight gain at menopause. For the vast majority of women, if you don't address hormones, you'll find losing weight difficult, if not impossible.
@@SimpleHormones It's hard work thats for sure.
Any hormone provider in Calgary, Canada? Thank you for your efforts.
Fill out my referral request form here:
simplehormones.com/referral
I'm only 28 and have gained 35lbs in 6 months for seemingly no reason. I workout with a trainer 6 days a week and I don't eat anything processed. I've been strict keto since 2016 and lost nearly 100lbs. But now I'm gaining and it won't stop. My sex drive has been zero for about 3-4yrs. I just had my free t tested and it came back as less than 5 pg/mL but my doctor doesn't think it's an issue. :(
That happened to me after being on keto for years I started eating carbs again went mainly plant based and did some IF weight came off .I think women need carbs but that's just my experience good luck 🤞 all the best .
Every single person I know who has done keto gained it back like crazy. My dr is very opposed to keto.
@@canadiansfirst3636 me too! Also thyroid issues.
Great video! How about Men Andropause weight gain?
Great idea!. I've been wanting to do more videos about testosterone for men, focusing on sarcopenia (muscle loss) as well as osteopenia (bone loss). Weight gain is another great topic.
You mentioned low T3 & T4 can contribute to weight gain. I had my labs done but which T3's are you referring to? I was in range for everything except low in T3 Free and T3 Total. Waiting to have my results interpreted as the thyroid numbers are very confusing (10 total). Thank you. Your videos are fantastic!
Lola - Thanks for watching! Your T3 is the “active” form of thyroid hormone. The “Free T3” refers to T3 that is both active and available for your cells to use. Free T3 is the single most important thyroid measurement. This video explains the difference between “normal” (or in range) thyroid and “optimal” thyroid levels. th-cam.com/video/OLVs3_W6K5s/w-d-xo.html
And I’m thrilled that you’re finding my videos helpful. Teaching about hormones is what I’m here for.
@@lightingfires4jc285 You’re very welcome. It IS my calling and it’s very rewarding to me to get this kind of affirmation.
Could starting estradiol in peri menopause cause breast cancer because it increases estrogen too much? you mention estradiol is jumping up and down during this time and it can be unhelpful to take it before menopause. My friend took it for three years and got breast cancer, during peri menopause. She’s now on estrogen blockers and miserable, but otherwise cancer free due to early treatment.
That is an interesting theory. I like to quote a famous OB/Gyn, Dr. Leon Speroff, who says “Hormones don’t cause breast cancer, they influence breast cancer.” There is evidence that something called “estrogen dominance” can increase the risk of breast cancer. That’s essentially where your progesterone level is low and estradiol is high. It’s common in perimenopause and could be made worse by taking estradiol without progesterone. There’s a lot of evidence that progesterone (but not synthetic progestins like medroxyprogesterone) is protective of breast tissue. It may be a greater risk factor to have low progesterone than it is to have high estradiol. Then there are estradiol metabolism pathways. That’s about how individuals break down estradiol and remove it from the body. Some women have higher levels of estrogen metabolites that tend to increase breast cancer. Other women metabolize estradiol in a way that decreases breast cancer. At some point, I’ll do a deep dive into estrogen metabolism. This is where we start to have difficulty with “Simple Hormones.” There are many complexities and it’s not always easy to simplify them.
@@SimpleHormones thank you so much for your reply. That makes a lot of sense and will help me to navigate my upcoming hrt appointment. Yes please include more videos on the metabolism of estradiol. That would be great!
Insulin is a big factor
Do you know anything about perimenopause and asthma. My breathing is extra bad or improves with cycles. There's a ton of research out of the US , Canadian drs ignore this. Which hormone is responsible for agitating asthma.
I need a hormone optimization specialist I; in Northern CT I think ; menopausal at this point
If you can visit my website and fill out my referral form, that would be the best way to find a hormone specialist. I know 2 in CT and one quite well. I send a lot of patients her way. But those requests tend to fall through the cracks unless you use this form simplehormones.com/referral Don't forget to look for a "Confirm your email address" message.
@@SimpleHormones I just found your channel, super informative and I’m soaking in all the information I can! I started BHRT a few months ago and I’m struggling very much. I am looking for a second opinion. I was considering a Telehealth provider but I’d prefer a local doctor instead and live in Connecticut, I just filled out a referral form on your website. Thank you again ❤️ Maria
I’m basically on a permanent whole30 diet and can’t lose weight at all. It’s the most frustrating thing on earth. I’ve had some experiences in life that cause me to be pretty anti western medicine so I refuse to take anything for my perimenopause. I live an incredibly healthy holistic lifestyle and have lived this way for well over a decade. Then perimenopause came and turned my world upside down. The way I look does not reflect my lifestyle and efforts and maybe that shouldn’t bother me, but it does. The only thing I can think of to do now is go on a green juice fast. My previous record is 35 days. Maybe I should do twice that and see what happens.
I'm sad to hear that you've struggled so much. As this video and others explain . . . the loss of estradiol and thyroid at or around menopause are factors that have the biggest impact on weight gain. Your story - rigorous diet and exercise and weight just doesn't budge - is sadly the story of many other women.
Is your testosterone low? You can do natural things to increase it and it may help with the weight. That’s what I’m dealing with
I could have written this. I totally understand as it’s my lived experience!
I should update this. I’ve since found out I have Hashimoto’s and I’m currently trying to figure out how to beat it. It’s possible the Hashimoto’s and perimenopause double whammy is why it’s been such a hard battle with my weight.
Is there a risk of cancer with estrododial? What if someone has migraines too? How do you check insulin levels?
1. There's zero evidence that estradiol increases the risk of cancer. The idea is really based on the Women's Health Initiative, even though estradiol was not used in the study. th-cam.com/video/AyQiYyOzU10/w-d-xo.html 2. Migraines may be associated with estradiol levels, but they may be more about the relationship between estradiol and progesterone. When you don't make enough progesterone, then estradiol dominance symptoms tend to come into the picture. 3. The only way to check insulin levels is by having a fasting blood insulin test ordered from a lab by a doctor.
Thank you
Thank you. Currently intermittent fasting along with keto to address insulin. And recently prescribed an estradiol patch 0.05 mg, and progesterone 200mg pills by ob gyn. I need to get a hormone optimization done.
Seven - sounds to me like you’re on the right track.
@Seven I've just been prescribed that exact same hormone combo. Let's see what it does for us
What about trstosterone levels? Womens testosterone levels fall almost as much as progesterone. I cant say thid will work fir everyone....but 10 mg of testosterone a week as injectoion divided every 3 days along with 20 mg of nandrolone divided same way has worked wonders for menopausal and perimenspausal women
@@josephmanning1647 They added the testosterone cream in for me and it was way too much and I felt pretty strange. So I opted not to do it for now until I get everything else balanced and then I may readdress it with a lower dose
@@SimpleHormones Something weird happened. Because I was still having menopause symptoms (even though estradiol serum level was 122) they upped my estradiol to 1.5 mg, but also changed me from a patch to a compounded pill. My estradiol serum level dropped to 33. Then they upped me to 2mg pill. Serum level went up to 53. I asked to go back on a patch. But opted for 0.1mg patch. We shall see. 😧
I feel pretty bad, getting zero sleep. The progesterone was 400 mg so I'm assuming the insomnia is based on low estradiol. The new 0.1 patch will begin Thursday.
I started hrt last year. weighing barely 100 lbs at 55.. I have not changed my diet and have gained weight. I am not sure how much at this point because I quit weighing after 6 lbs gain.. Can hrt cause weight gain. in particular progesterone. thinking of getting off of hrt..
I need a real answer as each dr I discuss this with all have a different answer.
Carla - Thanks for watching. It's possible that optimizing your hormone levels can cause some weight gain. You haven't mentioned your height but 106 pounds definitely doesn't sound overweight or obese. As women age, there are serious risks for bone loss (osteoporosis) and muscle loss (sarcopenia). The ultimate risk is a fall that leads to a broken hip, surgery, and a wheelchair, a walker, or even a nursing home. The less a woman weighs, the greater her risk for bone loss. It's well-documented that having just right hormone levels can help prevent both bone and muscle loss. I'd strongly encourage you to stay on HRT. Also make sure you eat enough protein (about 75gm/day - a 3 ounce chicken breast has 25gm) and get 30-60 minutes of exercise, at least 3-5 times a week - preferably including some sort of resistance training, like with dumbbells.
@Simple Hormones I'm 5'2".. and I know I weigh more than 106! what about instead of micronized progesterone I try norethindrone? don't know the difference.. and if I'm on .01 estradiol patch and 100mg micronized prgesterone is the 100 mg even enough?
What causes tinnitus and migraines
Probably not hormones . . . so I'm not really sure. Although it's possible thyroid could be involved.
thank you so much awesome info..i sent you several request trough your website for reference of HRT specialist.. can you please help? Miami Beach / FL ..
Running a bit behind on my referral requests. They keep pouring in! I'll get to yours soon.
dose it will take still long to get back with me on referring a HRT specialist ?
@@starbettypink I checked my email referral system and I'm not sure I see you on there. It's possible you haven't confirmed your email address, so my system is hesitating to send you my emails.
@@SimpleHormones thank you I sent you a new message from csilla_usa……..
Hi do you know a doctor in Uk?
I know a small number of doctors in the UK, mostly in Central London. The best way to find a hormone specialist, somebody who really knows how to manage all your hormone issues and get you to optimal levels, is to visit this page on my website and fill out my Patient Referral Request Form here simplehormones.com/referral If you leave a referral request on TH-cam or email it to me, it's extremely likely I'll drop the ball or it will fall through the cracks. Once you fill out the form, be sure to check your email for a message that says "Confirm your email address." Thanks!
Is it that estradiol is low? Because estrogen makes organisms grow. Doesn't estrogen make you gain weight, while Testosterone maintains muscle strength.
Estradiol can increase growth of certain tissues, but that depends on multiple factors. Low to moderate estradiol levels in girls going into puberty cause growth of genital and breast tissues, along with bones. But higher levels tend to slow that same growth. In menopause estradiol levels that are just right help women maintain a just right weight. Too low or too high can have an impact on weight gain.
@@SimpleHormones interesting ... hormones is a delicate balance I see. Thank you for your videos & time. 🙏
Keto has helped a lot. Fat produces hormones
Hi there. I am in South Houston Tx area. I need a referral in my are. Thank you so much. Great information
The best way to find a hormone specialist, somebody who really knows how to manage all your hormone issues and get you to optimal levels, is to visit this page on my website and fill out my Patient Referral Request Form here simplehormones.com/referral If you leave a referral request on TH-cam or email it to me, it's extremely likely I'll drop the ball or it will fall through the cracks. Once you fill out the form, be sure to check your email for a message that says "Confirm your email address." Thanks!