Sandwiched
As promised, I’m going to tackle another subject that many perimenopausal women are facing as they navigate the sandwich generation – weight gain. Many people who aren’t in this category are now battling extra weight thanks to being stuck at home due to COVID-19. I understand – having that food around all the time is so tempting if you’re not used to it!
I began to notice the perimenopausal weight gain a couple of years ago. One day I stepped on the scale and literally gasped – an extra five pounds came out of nowhere. I even changed the scale batteries to see if that was the problem. Nope.
I hadn’t changed my eating habits, which overall were good. I was still exercising regularly, drinking a lot of water, and doing all the things that help most people keep a healthy weight.
Then it hit me – I was approaching menopause and gaining those pounds I’d heard so much about over the years. And months later the five pounds turned into seven. Then eight. Then, last December – 10.
I know these are relatively small numbers. But small numbers eventually add up to large ones. I started some research to see what I could do to gain back control.
My husband was also working on his weight and had been doing intermittent fasting and seeing success. I seriously considered this option. If you know me at all, you’re probably laughing at this idea. I’ve always been one of those “hangry” people who became, shall we say, agitated when I didn’t eat regularly.
But one intermittent fasting plan appealed to me – eating within an eight-hour window each day (called 8/16 fasting). I actually ate within a 10-hour window most of the time so I figured it might not be too tough reduce those hours.
On Dec. 26 I started to eat only between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. most days. I also reduced my sugar intake along with items made from white flour. I made certain to not overeat at each meal.
The only time I was hungry was in the morning, but I usually just dove in to work with a cup of herbal tea, got focused on my tasks, and that helped me get through. I took a quick breakfast break at 10:00 and then got right back to work.
By mid-January, I had lost six pounds. By the end of February, I lost eight. As of today, I’ve lost all 10 of those perimenopausal pounds! No special diet or super-strict meal plan required.
As always, if this idea sounds appealing to you, please do your research and also chat with your doctor. Dr. H supports what I’m doing and has been happy with my weight.
There are a gazillion reasons why it’s important for anyone to maintain a healthy weight. But if you’re taking care of both your family and an elderly or disabled relative, I think it’s one of the important keys to staying energetic so you can handle it all!