By the time I turned 50, I felt like a balloon growing bigger and BIGGER, no matter what I tried.
I’d go up a pants size every year or two even though I ate cleanly and hit my step goal of 8,000-10,000 steps most days.
When I first asked my doctor about it, she just blew me off, saying it was "just part of menopause" and told me to eat less and exercise more.
So I did. I counted every calorie, hit the gym 5x a week, cut out all my favorite treats, carbs, wine... you name it.
3 months later I was back in her office and somehow, I'd gained another 12 pounds.
I felt like I had no choice… She suggested I start HRT, so I did.
Over the following months, the awful side effects of the HRT wore me down, inside and out:
- My body ached constantly
- My mood felt even more like a rollercoaster than before
- I was SO bloated which tanked my self esteem
Plus the looming risk of a blood clot freaked me out…
Even through all of that, the weight just kept creeping up, especially around my belly.