Menopause, Weight Loss and Staying Fit

[FIT AND 55]

Hello to all-
I came back to the forums as I have been erging on my Model D as a primary workout. Last night, I replaced the Generator and coil after the original one died, disabling my ability to record my workouts on my PM3. I have been rowing since I purchased my Model D in 2006 as a supplemental work out to Boxing training. I since have had surgery on both knees and have had to alter my workout routines and have done several different things. OUt of all of them, Rowing was the best.

In 2009, I began to suffer the full effects of perimenopause, the worse being the unexplained weight gain around my core, in spite of eating healthy with portion control and working out as I always did. It didn't seem to matter. In January of 2010, I entered menopause - TA DAHHHH! The sweats diminished to the point of extinction along with the insomnia. Unfortunately, what stayed is the spare tire around my core and the extreme difficulty in losing weight. I have gradually put on 20 lbs. since the end of 2008. Needless to say, it is frustrating.

I am now rowing six days a week, alternating long rows (;45 - 1:00) with alternating Tabata training sessions. My diet is healthy, having complex carbs, protein and veggies. I drink water like it tastes good!
I have no doubt that my story is familiar to many of you. I would appreciate any suggestions and advice you can give. Despite it all, I refuse to quit and will keep going. It just gets frustrating sometimes.
Thank you all for reading this.
Row on,

FIT AND 55

[Bob S.]

As a male, I can't exactly address menopause issues. But as a long time senior citizen I can offer advice on age and weight gain. It is clear that our daily Calorie requirement slowly drops as we age.

I am convinced that metabolism slows down a lot as well. The amount of physical work we can produce also slows down. Both of these would account for the lower need for Calories. What this means in the context of this thread is that the portion control needs to be gradually reduced as we grow older. It is good that you are getting in a lot of long rows, but is it at the same intensity as before? Not to easy to do. For most of us, the total amount of work done is slowly diminishing. Less Calories out, so there has to be a corresponding less Calories in.

Bob S.

[FIT AND 55]

Thank you for your response. My caloric intake averages 1,200 daily, well below what it should be for my daily activity. Again, therein lies the frustration. As for the intensity of my rows, the intervals training sessions are more intense, as in time you get accustomed to what you do. Hard work with very small returns. I'm sure the ladies out there will identify.

[Bob S.]

Thank you for your response. My caloric intake averages 1,200 daily, well below what it should be for my daily activity. Again, therein lies the frustration. As for the intensity of my rows, the intervals training sessions are more intense, as in time you get accustomed to what you do. Hard work with very small returns. I'm sure the ladies out there will identify.

Yes. 1200 is certainly low enough. Much too low I would think. I must admit that I am completely at a loss to understand it. With any exercise at all on that low a Calorie intake, I would think that you would feel constantly depleted in energy.

In my own experience, I weigh each morning under the same conditions and can generally account for the small daily fluctuations in weight. Usually those are due to items like the amount of exercise the day before, a rough estimate of food consumed, or a typical restaurant meal with too much salt. A high reading due to that last item usually takes a couple of days to drop as the excess salt is removed by a high water intake.

Bob S.

[Cikan Vuz]

When I was in my 20's and body building, my caloric intake was 1250 calories to 1300 cal a day with only 5 grams of fat and no more than 100 grams of carbs and I got ripped quick! I was in the gym lifting and rowing for over 4 hours a day. Now, some 30+ years later, I do the same and I gain weight... UGH! (54 & female)

So I totally relate to the OP. ( Also, daily, I walk into the little corner store, right by the door is the ice. I grab the largest bag, put it on my shoulders and neck and walk around the store like that. To heck with the looks, a hot flash is a hot flash! I get my little goodies, put the bag on the counter and plop my face down into it while waiting to pay. Do they think I am crazy? who cares? When a hot flash kicks in, I could crawl into that ice machine and take a nap, and fall asleep with a smile on my face LOL ( I am glad they diminished for you, I have had them 2006 and they are still going strong... )

[Nanc]

I am a 58 year old woman new to rowing. My rowing is horrible 20:13 4000M. I'm working on it.

I had gained 25 pounds over the past three years. I was eating a healthy 1200 calories a day. I felt so sluggish it was hard to make myself do the intensity I knew I needed. If I did workout with intensity I would fall asleep an hour later and then not sleep at night. Bottom line is menopause isn't for cowards. The numbers never make sense like they did in my 40's.

About three weeks ago I started changing things up. I always exercised 4-5 days a week (2 days on 1 day off), but I added 20 mins rowing to my 60 mins on the elliptical. I try to burn around 850 calories a session. I increased my calories to 1500 a day by adding a whey protein drink with blueberries after my workout and a little more lean protein with my mid-day meal while lowering my carbs from grains. It seems to help me avoid the fatigue I was going through earlier. (I believe when I increased my carbs and lowered my fat and protein to remedy the fatigue problem is what started me gaining the 25 pounds. That was the formula I used in my younger years.) Since doing this I have lost 6 pounds and my energy level is returning.

My biggest obstacles are working around an achilles tendon injury and an old L4-L5 injury. I'm hoping as my strength comes back my times on the rower will improve.

[Dragon Boat Paddler]

I started using the C2 several months ago.. wanting to lose weight and build endurance. I too was maintaining a 1200 calorie intake while rowing/weight training and not losing weight. Both my personal trainer and nutritionist told me that ironically you have to eat to lose weight if you are exercising at a high intensity otherwise your body thinks it is starving and holds on to every pound. When I increased to 1500 calories/day on days when i knew I was going to be in the gym, I started to lose weight again.. Hope that helps.. I am a 62 yr old woman so have been in the same boat. so to speak.. Best wishes...