Hi,
i changed shape, .. Gained weight, and my skin aged a decade within a week. (my sons commented on it !!!)
that was the second to last time I had a period.

I am 45 , and I have also had very regular periods until feb of this yr . I missed a period , had two in april ,and the rest have been spuratic . i feel like I am about 5 months preg . Have went from 104 to 127 . I also am very active , I waterski on a waterski show team , that does show skiing , similar to what you would see at cypress gardens , or sea world . Im thinking its menopause , but not sure I guess...

I am 48 and passed the 1 year mark of my last period in april of 2004. You must change your eating habits and reduce the portions. There is no way around it. I am a cpt and run 30 or so miles per week, lift atleast 4 times per week and very active. But I had to reduce my portions etc... You just can't eat the amounts that you did years earlier. Doesn't matter that you work out , your metabolism is going to slow down. You can maintain your weight but it takes hard work. I don't eat junk at all. That is my choice, I know, but being a trainer , I want to look the part... No matter what. I would suggest you have your thyroid tested. I had mine completely removed in 2002 as I had a benign tumor on one of the lobes. Could be something to look into. Ladies ,you can keep that weight off. It depends on you priorties. I'd rather look and feel good with less food. Believe me, I eat sweets but only once a week. Don't let anyone tell you that you will gain no matter what ... It's just not true. :d

I went thru menopause 4 yrs. Ago and someone shared what they were doing and I decided to try it. I have not had any symptoms and have not gained weight. Every year when I go to my gynocologist he tells me I should keep on doing what I am doing because he said usually woman my age put on weight and I am not. Last time he told me I looked great!

I am 52yrs. Old and if anyone is interested in hearing what I am doing I will give you my e-mail.

I am 44 and have been experiencing symptoms for atleast a year now. I'm thinking probably the last two years really. I've had weight gain, headaches, some restless nights, i've always had hot flashes and sweats, but I can't even wear normal clothes anymore without feeling hot. I never had headaches before either, and I know they are hormonal because I only get them before and after my periods. I always feel bloated and yes my skin has gotten dryer and more wrinkly just this year. And I look older and more tired. I have lost pretty much all sexual desire, but my husband doesn't help much with that either, all he does is complain about it because he has no clue of understanding! Sometimes my periods are a little lighter too, although they still last the same duration. Another woman mentioned age spots, those seem to be coming a plenty also, but I do freckle easy and have always had freckles. I've heard that there's an over the counter at home saliva test you can take to see if you are perimenopausal. Anyone heard of this or tried it? Let me know. And, talk about moody? Jekyll and hyde have nothing on me lately! I get so touchy and cranky I can't stand myself. I don't think I can try the new low dose birth control pills because I am on high blood pressure meds. Iv'e heard that those can alleviate some symptoms quite well in most women. Iv'e been checking out books at the library on the subject and have found some really good ones. Anyone interested let me know and i'll pass on the titles/authors. Thanks for reading this, I hope you're "time" is going better than mine. Subie....

i will be 55 in a couple of months and in perimenopause but lately i've blown up like a balloon around the middle! i've gradually been gaining weight over the last few years anyway, but recently i've been going through a divorce so i think the stress is holding every single calorie i consume. i've noticed i have a much harder time losing the weight now too. i was exercising regularly as well, but hardly saw any results at all in firming up. my question is - how much of a factor does stress play in weight gain or the inability to lose weight and how much firming up can i expect to do if i follow a regime of cardio and weights? also.....anyone know a good beer drinking diet? LOL (yes, unfortunately i do like beer.....a real NO NO)!

I am 41 years old and have never had a problem with my weight. I have always had rock hard abs, even after my two kids. In the last 4 months I have gone from 125 pounds (I am 5'6 and work out intensely, with a trainer), to 136. My body feels exactly like it did when I was in my first trimester of pregnancy. While my stomach is still flat, you cannot see my abs, and it just feels like my weight has redistributed. Jeans I could wear 3 months ago, I can't even do up. My hair is falling out in the same way it did after I had my kids. Where I used to be able to allow myself some wine and the occasional "binge" of food, I realize now I have to be completely clean, have stopped drinking any alcohol and have ramped up my exercise. We'll see what happens.