Yasmin (45): "I needed more than just a diet"

It can feel unsettling when your body begins to change, especially when there’s no obvious reason for it. Yasmin found it challenging too. "I didn’t want to focus on my weight at all, but suddenly I had to start paying attention to what I was eating. I really didn’t feel like doing that, so I decided to exercise more instead."

Despite her efforts, the number on the scales stubbornly kept climbing. "It was frustrating. My clothes started to feel tighter, and I can’t deny that it affected my self-confidence."

Yasmin turned to the internet for tips and to read about other people’s experiences. "I came across so much information and started trying everything without much thought. I ate low-carb for a while, avoided fats for a bit, tried fasting, and even did a juice cleanse."

Some of these diets or adjustments helped a little, but over time, she would slip back into her old habits. "When I meet up with friends, we almost always eat or drink something. Sometimes it’s coffee with a treat, other times we go out to a nice restaurant. And I’m not one to say no to a piece of chocolate on the sofa after a long workday, or some chips from the chippy. I kept falling back into those habits because they were so intertwined with my social life, and I’d never had to watch what I ate before."

After trying everything, she decided to consult a hormone therapist. "I wanted clarity and a solution. During the consultation, I discovered that I was insulin resistant, something that apparently affects many women during menopause."

Insulin is a hormone that ensures the sugars (carbohydrates) you eat are converted into energy. It’s incredibly useful, but if you’re insulin resistant, your body’s cells don’t respond well to insulin. "My body struggled to process sugar effectively, which caused me to gain weight," Yasmin explains. "But that wasn’t the only issue. A stool test revealed that the bacteria in my gut were out of balance. That also contributed to my sudden weight gain."

The advice she received to return to a healthy weight went beyond just dieting. "My body needed to regain balance, the hormone therapist explained. I quickly realised that this wasn’t a quick fix. You really have to be motivated. The fact that I was working with a specialist made a big difference."

Yasmin started following a plan tailored specifically to her needs. "It felt good to know that this wasn’t a one-size-fits-all solution but something completely customised to my body in terms of nutrition, exercise, and supplements. I had a lot of confidence in it."

To keep herself motivated, she hung her favourite pair of trousers on her wardrobe door. "I would try them on regularly to see if they fit again. It took some time, of course, but after three weeks, I started noticing changes. And yes, after two months, they fit! That was a real victory."

The trousers became Yasmin’s way of tracking her progress. "The hormone therapist advised me not to weigh myself. Weight fluctuates and can be demotivating. Those trousers were a great way to monitor my progress instead."

In addition to losing weight, Yasmin noticed that the hot flushes she had been experiencing became less intense and less frequent. "That wasn’t my goal, but it was a nice bonus," she says with a smile. "I used to feel like an old woman sometimes, but thankfully, that feeling is gone now."

Her final consultation is coming up soon. "I’m so glad I did this and that I can now continue on my own. Are you struggling to lose weight during menopause? Work with a specialist to uncover the underlying cause. It brings so much clarity! I’m really happy with myself now." Then she laughs. "Not ‘big’ happy, of course, but very happy."

Want to lose weight during menopause too? A hormone therapist explains how to maintain your weight.