Hi Jess, I’m 42 and have been perimenopausal for the last 6 years.
My husband and I both started doing keto since this past December. I did have somewhat of a 5 month head start since I cut all processed sugars and most carbs out of my diet since June, 2017. I think it was this head start that has made my weight loss slightly ahead of his. It’s only by 3 or 4 lbs and I’m well aware based on experiences that he can easily pass me at any moment and for the first time, it doesn’t bother me one bit. For the past 6 years, I tried major dieting 2 different times, (complete lifestyle and menu changes), and both of those times, my husband decided he wanted to come along for the ride.
Needless to say I had a lot more weight to lose than he did, and it never failed. In the 1st month he would drop some major pounds and the weight would continue to fall off, mean while I was at a slooooow crawl and left eating his dust, so I know just how discouraging it can feel. It was so discouraging that both times I gave up anywhere between 3 to 4 months after starting the diet and I resented my husband and his happy ass weight losing self.
After the 2nd time, I was done! I didnt want to try anything anymore because it seemed the results would always be the same and I knew if I did try again, my husband would want to tag along for the ride and I would want to toss his happy weight losing ass out of the car and take off instead.
So to preserve my marriage and my sanity, I never went on any type or formal diet after attempting to do so twice.
Here’s what I didn’t realize 6 years ago that I discovered last year. 6 years ago, I started showing signs of perimenopausal but being that I was too young to be having perimenopausal symptoms, (this according to the doctors), they always attributed my symptoms to something else. During these 6 years, I was putting on weight even when cutting back or dieting. Weight loss was slow and for some reason, I would hit a stall anywhere between 8 to 10 pounds, then the weight would slowly creep back up and up and up. The weight was just piling on and my doctors always told me: Eat more veggies and fruit, cut out sweets, exercise, portion control. So I’d eat more veggies and fruit, portion control, started exercising and I cut out sweets, but the weight just kept coming.
Then after getting my blood test results for January of last year, the words PRE DIABETIC stood out like a neon sign and hit me like a freight train. Several months after test results, deeper depression ensued and 5 months after blood results and numerous tests, the doc finally told me I was perimenopausal. What advice did i get? Same old mantra: eat more veggues and fruit, portion control, blah blah blah! So in June of last year, I woke up one day and stepped on the scale and I was at the heaviest I had ever been. From that day on, I told myself I had to make a change and that something had to be done before it got any worse. I decided to cut out all processed sugar, rice, breads and pasta because the words pre diabetic were still pounding in my head! I still ate potatoes and ramen noodles, but very sparingly. Since it wasn’t a planned diet or something that gave direction on what to do and how to do, thankfully, my husband decided to sit this one out.
A few months later, he noticed I was a lot happier and more energetic, on top of losing some weight. I really didnt think anything of his observations that day because I never thought if certain types of foods affecting a person’s mood, other than energy. From June to Nov., I didn’t keep track of my weight at all because it seemed pointless based on what happened in the past, and at that time, weight wasn’t my focus, it was blood test results and pre-diabetes.
Then in November, a friend of mine mentioned keto to me, which is something I never heard of, but it was pretty similar to the way I was eating so I was intrigued. After our conversation, I did as much research and reading as I could before deciding to give it a shot and so I set the first week of December as my start date AND, I even decided to invite my husband to join me! Since keto has guidelines to follow, he didn’t hesitate and jumped right in with me.
Here we are, 3 months down the road and we are both healthier and happier than ever. He’s almost 30lbs down since starting keto and I’m at 33 lbs down. I lost 35lbs from June to Nov. of last year after cutting most carbs and sugar, so in total, I am now 68lbs down with 40 more to get to my goal. For the first time in 6 years I found something that works and has been effective. The more I continue on this journey, the more I continue to learn how badly sugar affected my body. After much reading, I now believe that sugars and carbs were sending my hormones out of whack and because they were a part of my diet, weight loss was not attainable and depression and anxiety sunk in. I am starting to find a healthy balance and all the meds the doctors had prescribed me in the past, I no longer take since cutting sugar.
This time around, my husband can pass me in weight loss and I wouldn’t even blink. I’m 42 and perimenopausal and this lifestyle change is the best thing I have ever done for myself, thus far. It takes sometime to find a balance but once you do, you will feel so much better…and you definitely won’t regret it!
One of the things my husbandand I are finding out about keto is what works for some, does not work for others. For example, we eat the same main dishes for meals, but change up portions and sides because we are finding we have different dietary needs to maintain weight loss. He eats 2x sometimes 3x daily, where as most times I eat OMAD. One of the best things I like about keto is that it forces us to be more focused and in tune with our own bodies so much that we don’t really have the time to look at one another’s weight loss like it’s a race to the finish line. We’re focused on ourselves but we’re also supportive of one another and help each other out if one of us hits a stall or starts to put on weight and we discuss on what we may need to adjust to get the ball rolling again.
Focus on finding your balance and you’ll do wonders! As you can see from my past mistakes, comparing my weight loss to my husband’s wasn’t healthy or encouraging at all. Keto is different for all of us and once you find your balance and how to make it best work for you, oh the rewards and benefits!
I’ve slept really well the last week, have not once woken hungry and have been completely uninterested in the various cakes, chocolates and snacks that have been floating about. Also have realised how much I was eating just accidentally now that I’m counting. Must confess, it’s hard to comfort eat when I feel full. Maybe that’s what’s getting me. I’m struggling with food not being a reward anymore…hmmmm tx for listening.