I really hope this might help a few people. I'm going on 43. I had every symptom you can think of ie. night sweats, pins and needles, massive fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations, low libido, wierd periods. I bumped into a pile of books on the floor at Borders one day - weight training made easy for women. You work out for half an hour a day at home with dumbells (3, 5 and 10lbs), at least 4 days a week. It's changed my life. No more symptoms, heaps of energy, down nearly 3 dress sizes (I'd really stacked on the weight along with all the other symptoms), oh and my cholesterol dropped from 7.5 to 4.5 in a couple of months. My doctor's happy and I'm happy. I eat low fat, low carbs during the working week, and whatever I like on weekends. I love food! I now use DVDs to do the weight training (follow the leader is easier than books). I got lazy recently and stopped for about a month and the pins and needles, heart palpitations and fatigue came back so I'm doing the weights again. It's been 3 weeks; the symptoms are gone again and I'm feeling great - so is my hubby as the sex drive is back - big time! I figure this will be a way of life for me from now on. Without doing adverts for products I can tell you that one of the DVDs I use is called Bottoms Up Gold Plus. You can Google it. Best of luck. I really hope it helps someone.

I started running for a marathon ( since stop the marathon) and do free weights and yoga on the in-between days. Not only is my self-esteem better, but my body looks good and is very toned , and lot of my symptoms also went away.
I do an hour of either walk/run every other day and weights and yoga/streches at home on the other days. I usually give myself a day off. It really does help with the symptoms and the emotionals part of it too. I am still struggling on days, but I now it would be a lot worse without the work-outs.

The workouts do not have to be to stenuous for those who have never done them. Just 20 minutes a day wil help. But do not do weights on consective days- give yourself a day rest in-between- the muscel needs to repair.

OZ GIRL,

Thank you. I need some reminders of how good it is to keep moving. I keep telling myself that I need to get back into excerize but just keep putting it off. So thank you for the reminder. Take care. Julie

Hi Oz Girl,
Thanks for the tip on this workout! I too use weights but am always looking for something new and different. I seem to be able to get the body fairly toned but it's losing the lbs. that just isn't working for me! Have a lot of questions, how long have you been using this workout? Aside from the Bottoms Up Gold Plus DVD, what other type of equipment are you using or is needed ? Isn't it hard using a book? (is it called Weight Training Made Easy for Women?).

Also, congrats on your accomplishments and am so glad you are no longer experiencing those symptoms. I had them all once too...

molly

It's good to hear about your success in getting rid of your symptoms with weight training. Unfortunately, when I first started having symptoms I was doing weight training 3 days a week and I was still over powered with severe symptoms for 3 years. It wasn't until recently, almost 3 years later because of the many symptoms that I dealt with, that I'm now able to get back into exercising.

Molly, I also find it difficult to see the pounds decreasing on the scale even though I'm also getting very toned. I had lost about 10 pounds only to see them creep back on the scale when I began using compounded progesterone. Although I don't like seeing the increased weight on the scale I must say that I haven't felt this good in years due to the progesterone, and I'm using the minimum dosage. Needless to say I'm not going to stop taking the progesterone instead I've decided to add a couple more miles on my recumbent bike and limit my carbs.

I might not regain my girlish figure, but I plan to get pretty close to it :).

Hi,

I also noticed a big improvement when I started using my treadmill every day. I am up to about 50 minutes a day at almost 4 miles per hour. I reduced my carb intake, and try and eat whole foods only...not a lot of processed foods. So far I have lost 11 lbs, sleep better, and most of my symptoms (of menopause) have decreased drastically. Still having the NS and ear ringing though. I intend to pick up some dumdbells and incorporate a weight routine to tone up some more. I'm 45, and feeling pretty good!

It is really difficult somedays to get motivated to workout, but the benefits are really worth it.

Good thread!

Me too. Iuse to be so thin, gained weight now going through perimenopause, also from the Prozac too. I exercise big time, but i feel more toned but haven't lost a pound on the scale, actually I believe it's going up! Help!

Don't forget: muscle weighs more than fat, so even when going down in dress sizes, the scales could give the same weight, or even more. Weighing is pretty unreliable, just measure yourself or go by how well your clothes fit.