Hi,

It's me, again. I'm 49, going through menopause, totally stuck at 142. Need to loose 12-14 lbs., and no matter what I do, I've been stuck in the same place for the last 3 years. Skate 5 days per week (thinking about cutting that down to 4.) Cross train twice a week: weight lifting. Like to walk and run track from time-to-time. Rarely eat any processed foods; eat mostly organic. Seems like everytime I eat any carbohydrate (even a complex one) it's an instant weight gain. I also have a problem with oil--like oil and vinegar on salad=instant weight gain. Again, don't eat any of the "low-fat," or "artificial sweetened" stuff, unless I'm absolutely starving and beg my pairs partner for a Power Bar. Otherwise, no sweetened juices, or soda...just water. The only thing I have left is coffee Mostly, eat: fruits, veggies, small amount of protein daily, and plain yogurt with Asodophilus.

Help

Any of you gals in the same situation? Especially, the menapause part, which is new to me, and I'm not sure how it is effecting my weight. And, please, please, or pretty please, don't tell me to see my doctor...I've seen every doctor on the planet about this including having a compete thyroid run down at John Hopkins, and everyone tells me nothing is wrong with me. I excersise my brains out, eat very little, can't loose weight, and often gain weight from this plan. If anyone could help, or give advice, I'd be

You do exercise quite a bit... I know this may sound very strange to you, but is it possible that you are eating *too* little? Do you have an idea of approximately how much (calorie-wise) you eat?

(yes, it's possible to eat too little, and gain weight and/or have trouble losing it)

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--renatele

Thanks for responding.

I eat anywhere from approx. 700-900 calories a day. When people suggest to me to eat more, I do, but suffer enormous and rapid weight gains--anywhere from 2-3 pounds per day (and, that's with just eating more of the same healthy food.)

I'm really just wondering what role the menapause is playing in it, and if anyone else out there has experienced what I'm going through???

You are eating WAY too little. At the beginning, you will gain weight as you eat more, but then will drop it.

Whoa! That is far too few calories! Your body is now is survival mode and will not lose any more weight. Mother Nature does have a set point for you and fighting to get below that is hazardous. Yes, you will gain initially when you up your calories (and add more protein!) but then it will adjust and level off. I am concerned about the long term effects post-menopausal (osteoporosis) with such a restricted diet. Menopause does all sorts of tricks on our systems as we lose the estrogen - water gain, bloating, etc. Eating a well-balanced and correct calorie intake for the amount of your exercise is a must. You only mention pounds. What about the fit of your clothes?

Have you tried seeing a dietician?

I also recommend Nancy Clark's books on athletes and dieting - her stories abound with humor and insight. She used to have a column in the now defunct "Tracings" magazine out of New England. Go to a large bookstore and take a look at her books - she has several.

I had an appointment with her years ago (during menopause mainly because I was having awful weakness in the afternoon) and I was the typical adult skater - below adverage fat content below the waist, but she also said I was not eating enough! I changed my diet and after an initial few pounds gain, I gradually lost it and stayed within a 5 pound range ever since.

Too afraid to eat more at this point. I tried what you suggested about 4 times during the past two year, basically, bumping it up to 1200 calories. However, by week two of this, after gaining 8-10 lbs, I become really afraid and stop eating, again. This is what my pairs partner had me do--eat more, not a lot more, but eat a little more, and I gained 12 more lbs, which I really struggled to take off during the end of last summer and well into this year. Now, I'm just stuck at 142.

Has anyone tried this who is in a similar postion? Tried eating more--then the weight comes on--then it starts to come off? If yes, how long did you have to hold out eating more before it started to turn around?

I'm in exactly the same situation with the eating healthily and skating my backside off bit, yet have still been gaining weight. I'm 38 and so the menopause isn't the reason. I've been receiving advice from a former fitness instructor and he says that I've been eating way too little for the amount of skating I do. His advice is to not eat less than 1500 calories per day and at present I'm "calorie-cycling" (varying the number of calories consumed from week to week) in order to kickstart my metabolism which according to him has gone into mega slow mode due to years of eating too little. He recommends eating little and often and with that I'm eating three meals and three snacks per day. I've been eating a lot more and haven't actually gained weight which is surprising, but no weight loss for me yet. However someone else who trains a lot upped her calories by 1000 a day and lost seven pounds in a matter of days, so there may be so truth in it.

ETA...I've been told to eat more, but absolutely no chocoalte, junk food, alcohol etc. I've never eaten so healthily in all my life!!

Nicki

Hormones can be playing a massive part in this. When our bodies go through changes such as the change your metabolism will also change. Perhaps its an idea if you talk to your doctor and ask to be refered to a diet specalist? who may be able to reccommend something. You need to keep eating enough to keep your bones in good condition.
Its likely that once your body has gone through these changes that it will settle down again but it cant hurt to talk to your GP.

Andrea xx

I have the same exact problem (except for the menopause thing and the survival thing, since I am at around 1500 calories.) In my case, I think I need to cut back a bit more...

But in your case? Lemme ask 'ya, are you doing the same types of exercises? If so, it's possible that it's time to try new exercises so your body isn't used to it and you can lose the weight that way?

I unfortunately don't have much of a choice in my case for the cardio part. It's elliptical trainer or nothing. b/c I can't do high impact stuff b/c of my lower back and swimming just doesn't help me lose the weight. But I am changing the impact or the incline on the elliptical trainer to see if that works. We'll see, I guess. (It's really too bad on the lower back part, b/c that opens up a slew of exercise classes I would try now, like kickboxing.)

NickiT, you sound like me too! I think I'll try calories cycling for a while too and see what happens.

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

How tall are you? Is 142 within the guidelines for healthy weight:height ratio?

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Have you had your body fat tested? Do you know your BMI? Do you use a heart rate monitor to determine caloric consumption?

My spouse is an extremely anal triathlete and he swears by these things to consume as many calories as he wants.

It also sounds like you aren't consuming enough protein or carbs.

WOW, you guys have been so helpful, and I don't feel so alone in this anymore. Not that I would wish this on anyone, but you know what I mean.

Skateflo,

I know I'm in survival mode, I can actually feel it. But shouldn't the weight lifting help build strong bones and head off the osetoperosis? The bloating is unbelievable!!! I don't have any clothes with which to tell; I've been living in skate clothes for the past 8 years and my closet is full of spandex, which tells you nothing. Thanks for the Nancy Clark recommendation--I'm going to see if Amazon.com has any of her books. And, yes, by the time 3:00pm comes around, I feel like I'm going to drop dead!

NikiT,

WOW, I thought I was the only one. I'm between a real rock and hard place with the food and excersizing. I only eat either nothing, or a banana, or one egg before I do a 2 hour session with Pairsman2. He eats what I eat in a whole week before we skate together--it's unbelievable. I think I'm just skating on sheer will at this point. I think my metabolism is finally DEAD The calorie cycling sounds interesting, but I'm so terrified of food at this point, I'm afraid to make one false move with it, so I don't eat anything. I don't eat junk food at all, and maybe I've had two sips of wine over the past 6 years--I don't drink, or smoke. In terms of liguids--just good ole H2O.

My idiot GP and GN don't care...I've been through many of these people over the years...they just look at me like I'm a freak show. I've totally given up on conventional medicine, but even my homeopath thinks I'm a metobolic freak. I've been to ODs, too. However, I've never consulted a dietician. Mostly, because I'm afraid that they'll make me eat. But, maybe it's time to go that route. I just can't get over how much I excersize, how little I eat, and how my body will not loose weight, but even gain it under these condition. Pairsman2 thinks that I'm Budda Boy--that you can put me under a tree, never feed me, and that I will never die. I thought if you stop eating you waste away and the eventually die.

Jazzpants, GET OUT OF HERE...YOU, TOO!!! No, I'm varying the cross-training: sometime bicycle, sometimes track, sometimes really long walks. The skating and weight lifting are constants, though. Oh, I also do a lot of off-ice by myself and with Pairsman2.

Isk8NYC,

I'm perfect for a normal woman 5'6" 142, but not for a pairs lady.

Techskate,

Last time my body fat was 21%, which I thought was good. My BMI was in the right place, but I can't remember what it was. I eat enough protein, but hardly any carbs at all. No bread...only carbs I eat, rarley, are things like broccholi, and califlower.

You guys are awesome for trying to help me. I feel better and I'm going to look into talking to a dietician. Then I think I need to get my head fixed. I don't like how I look on the skating tapes. I used to be 128 four years ago and that felt perfect, and I liked what I looked like, and I felt that the effort and aesthetic pleasure that I got out of the whole thing really matched. Now I feel like I'm putting so much work into it with little to no pay off--it feels unbalanced.

Thank you so much for reaching out with suggestions!

Yes, please seek out a dietician, and perhaps someone to help you with your overall body image. There is obvious issue about that, which is something a dietician can't help you with. If you are afriad of what they will tell you and will basically void the diet set in place over the fear of gaining weight, then something is wrong. Hopefully you can get the professional help you need ot have a normal view of your body.

Lovepairs,
I do not have any suggestions to offer you but what I am glad to see is that you are looking for healthy ways to accomplish weight loss.

It is very easy to get caught up in the ideals of what the perfect pair lady should be. However I have watched AN on the figure skating channel (since I am not at a bronze level yet, even pre-bronze, and cannot experience AN in person but that will be changing in the next few years, guaranteed! ) OH ... and that is a lovely dress you are wearing by the way! You and Pairsman2 skated beautifully.

I am a little concerned or confused by your reply to Isk8NYC,

By what standard do you consider a perfect pair lady? If it is 5'2'' 102 lbs, you and I are both out of luck (I am 5'5 about 130lbs). This seems to me to be the statement in your mind that is leading you as the main reason for weight loss. (as well a coming to terms with "the change" you are going through) There may be also a secondary motivator to simply be healthy. but you already are with the exception of your low calorie intake.

In case you didn't already know, you and your partner already make a perfect pair.

Oh, Skat8, please don't get me wrong. I have no desire to be a petite pairs lady. I'm actually not that turned on by large men skating with very small ladies. I'm more interested in the Tai and Randy model. It's more of a technical thing. Pairsman2 can lift me now, but I know if I'm about 10 lbs lighter that it would be easier on his back. It's amazing, but we can both tell the difference in our lifts every time I vary in 5 lb increments. What a lot of people don't know out there is that it is not just the man's strength that gets you and holds you up there, but it is also the ladies strength to hold herself up there, too. I know if I had more muscle to a little less fat ratio that not only would it be eaier for him, but it would be easier for me and cause less strain on my shoulders. It's more about safety and ease in terms of pairskating, but it is also appearance, too. Again, by no means do I want to be something extremely what I am not, but I do want to be the best I can be for myself. I just haven't figured out how to eat, train, and control my weight, yet.

Thank you for your completment about our pair team. I guess I'm just too close it to see it...I just see where it can be better, but, you are right...it is what it is, and it can always be better.

Also, I have a history with obesity. I lost 95 lbs and have kept it off for the past 14 years now. Skating is a big part of turning my life around. So, I think I'm afraid of my life going back to what it used to be, which was not healthy at all...probably over compensating.

I think what I have to say has already been covered, but I just wanted to add one more voice-

Please see a dietician and a counselor, at the same time. And soon. I'm shocked that the other doctors you went to didn't ask about your diet, or if they did, didn't refer you to both of the above specialists.

Bone loss is certainly a risk, but so is a heart attack, particularly with the amount that you exercize. The longer you continue this way, the higher your risk of death or severe complications is.

When you change your diet, you will gain weight, probably much more than you are comfortable with. This is your body responding to increased food in a time of famine (from your body's point of view). The weight you gain first will likely be in the form of fat (again, your body's way of saving your life!). When your metabolism calms down and realizes you aren't starving, you will return to a normal weight and a healthier body- and you will have more energy and feel better all day, your skating will probably improve, and so on. Seeing a counselor (try to find one that specializes in eating disorders) will help you feel more comfortable with these changes.

You have a hard road ahead of you- but you are NOT alone, and if you take it, you will live longer, and be happier and healthier.

You are not overweight. You do not need to lose wt. You probably can't lose wt b/c you are at a healthy wt for your body. In fact, you might be at too low a wt. You are eating far too little.

This "pairs lady" things sounds weird. So you like to skate pairs, great! However, not everyone has the genetics to be an ideal pair skater. You are an adult, so why are you obsessed w/ dieting down to a pairs skater size? What are your goals w/ Pair skating? That seems to be the big question here. Are you a professional skater and this is how you earn your living? If not, you might need to reevaluate your priorities. I do not mean quit pairs or skating, but be more realistic about your body and who you are at this point in your life. Are you enjoying skating or are you just upset that you are not small?

Please don't think I am trying to be unkind. I have been in a similar situation. I am a healthy woman, and bigger than you. I do not have a great body for axels and such. I was beating myself up over it. I finally had to reevaluate my goals and accept who I am.

Kay

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I must admit I thought pretty much the same when I saw how much you weigh against your height, lovepairs. I weigh the same but am shorter, so I know I need to lose some!

I'd definitely try increasing your calorie intake. Like I say I'm doing that, and I haven't actually gained anything given the increase in calories. Not lost anything yet either but I'm determined to stick at it and hope that in time I see a loss. At the end of the day I couldn't continue the way I was. My body needed food and I wasn't giving it and it looks like it was storing EVERYTHING I ate as fat. I now know for a fact that dieting does make you fat because I'm living proof of that!

Nicki

Well I am 96kgs, which is 211 lbs. I am definitely way too fat for my 5'6".
I am finding this thread intriguing though, because I also struggle to lose weight.

My husband, who is a chef who specialises in nutrition and special diets, shrugs and says it's my metabolism. I would add my voice to those urging you to consult a sports dietician or nutritionist, someone who will look at the whole of you and the exercise you do.

I build big muscles very fast, so although my weight hasn't changed much since starting skating, my shape has. Muscle weighs more than fat.

Lovepairs, a large proportion of your body weight has to be muscle, from all the skating and weight training you do. On that Joubert off ice video clip that was posted recently, wasn't it said that he doesn't do weight training because he builds too much muscle and that weighs him down?

It's just a thought, but this could apply to you too.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Well Kayskate, I never said that I wasn't genetically disposed to pair skating, or that I wanted to be "small." If you would have read the previous thread, I mentioned that I was more interested in the Tai and Randy model for pair skating then I was with matching very tiny women up with very tall strong and big men on purpose. However, unless you've ever been in a pairs relationship and pursued this sport, I would imagine that it would be hard for anyone to understand what I am trying to do here...So, I will stop talking about it, because all my words and intentions are getting twisted around, and it is starting not to become very helpful. It doesn't matter if you're a kid, adult, professional, non-professional, or why you do, or pursue pairskating at all...pairskating has the same "blueprint" if you will for anyone doing it, and my reasons for becomming the best "I" can be at it are very very personal, and I feel that I am entitled to that.

Anyway, I did find and order Nancy Clark's "Athlete's Nutrition Guide" book, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Thank you so much for that suggestion, it is very helpful! I will also look into working with a Nutritionist/Dietician, too, since that is one path I haven't explored as of, yet.

Nicki and Skating on Clouds, thank you for understanding. I agree "dieting" never works, which is why I had to go through a complete life style change 14 years, ago, and am still working on it. Thanks everyone for you help and advice. I'm going to step off of this thread now, and leave it to other skaters who might want to continue talking about this, or similar issues.

Thank you all, again, I do sincerely appreciated everything everyone has said about this issue.

Lovepairs

*** Dianne raises her hand ***

Yup. I know what you are going through, EXACTLY!

I am 56, 5' 9", and was 225 pounds when I started skating last January ('06). Losing weight was one of the reasons I started skating again. I cut my calories in half and cut WAY down on carbs. (I had already cut refined sugar out of my diet a few years ago.) I skate 6 hours a week in 3 sessions and usually do off-ice training on the other days.

Despite the high level of exercise, I have not lost weight When I was back into skating for awhile, I found myself craving protien so I have become a real carnivore, but I try to keep to low fat. Oh, I did drop about 8 pounds initially, and then it came back I know muscle is part of the weight gain - I skated as a teenager and "the thighs that could crush a bus" reappeared within the first few weeks! - but I too am astounded at how little I can eat ("healthy foods") and not lose an OUNCE!

My off-ice trainer suggested that my weight might NOT be a problem, that I have been losing fat and gaining muscle and that my weight might be my "natural weight" and that my shape ("round") is a matter of conditioning those midriff muscles. She might be right because my waist came back (I hadn't seen it for YEARS!) but I've still got too much tummy.

I have had problems with bloating to and it seems to be the worst when I am playing herbivore (too many salads) to try to lose weight. When I stick with the protien, it doesn't seems to be as much of a problem.

I haven't found the answer! If you do, LET US KNOW!!!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Well, in that case my advice would be to quit pairs and skate singles... seriously! Your weight is perfectly normal for your height and especially at your age, your body fat is perfect too... don't wreck your health over skating, it's not worth it!

Further, I do think that you're not eating balanced enough, you're lacking carbs for proper energy production in your body which might explain your sluggish metabolism.

Someone asked earlier if you've ever been to a dietician to have a plan put together specifically for your needs. If not, please give it a try!

@Rusty Blades,

I think you have the same problem in that you're just not eating a well balanced healthy diet. I think you too would benefit tremendously from a consultation with a dietician.

Another question though, do you do any aerobic exercise?

Been there, done that, no help.

Aerobic? Yes, regularly.

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

What kind, how often and how long?