I'm Too Womanly for My Own Health: The Link Between Menopause, Fat Loss, and Estrogen Overload

Soon after a complete hysterectomy, I decided to take my health into my own hands and start losing weight and getting fit. The diet was simple and the daily exercise was a welcome relief from sitting in bed resting for 12 weeks. Little did I know that a simple diet and exercise plan was enough to cause mood swings, weight gain and tender breasts--not to mention increase my risk of bone loss and stroke. Fat cells store and produce estrogen, so losing weight actually caused an estrogen overload even though I was in menopause. If you are in menopause and trying to lose weight, take note of these simple estrogen-controlling tips.

Recognize the symptoms early to stop estrogen overload
Common symptoms of too much estrogen are tender breasts, mood swings and weight gain around the abdomen and hips. While you may not immediately notice the weight gain--I didn't--you will likely notice mood swings and breast tenderness caused by too much estrogen. Keep a daily journal of symptoms during weight loss. This will allow you to recognize changes if estrogen levels spike from fat loss.

Talk with your gynecologist about regulating estrogen intake
Many women take estrogen replacement therapy after menopause. The combination of estrogen intake and the spike in estrogen from fat burning is enough to trigger symptoms. I talked with my gynecologist about self-regulation of estrogen with variable estrogen replacement therapy. My estrogen pills are 1 mg, but they are scored to break in half - 0.5 mg for each small piece. I can choose to take 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mgs, based on the symptoms I am currently experiencing. Women do not need estrogen replacement therapy after menopause, but it does help maintain bone density and prevent menopausal symptoms like menopause migraines and hot flashes. In some cases, doctors prescribe too much estrogen after menopause, increasing health risks, so lowering your dose could help prevent breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Skip the estrogen for a while
If you notice you are losing weight rapidly, skip your daily estrogen dose to control estrogen levels. You should feel a difference within a day or two. If hot flashes return or you notice an increase in symptoms, simply start taking estrogen replacement therapy again to combat the symptoms. Many women fear life without estrogen replacement therapy due to potential increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Weight bearing exercise, like weight training, builds bone density, so take up weight training to combat bone loss.

Adjust estrogen replacement therapy as needed
Everyone trying to lose weight has suffered from a plateau or two. When you stop losing weight, fat cells are no longer being used for energy and estrogen may not be released at the same level. During these times, hot flashes are likely to increase or other menopause symptoms you commonly suffer. Start taking a low dose of estrogen replacement therapy during weight loss plateaus to keep symptoms at bay. When the plateau breaks and you start losing weight again, skip the estrogen and the estrogen overload.

Women in menopause are plagued with slower than normal weight loss and weight gain, but with a healthy diet and exercise plan, menopause can be a time of new beginnings and a healthier lifestyle. If you are experiencing estrogen overload symptoms, your fat cells may be releasing enough estrogen to fight off menopause symptoms, so take control of your health and regulate estrogen levels.

More from Summer on Menopause

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Could Estrogen Help Fight Post Partum Depression?

Resources

Pick OB/GYN, Marcelle. "Understand Estrogen Levels and Estrogen Dominance Related to Menopause."Women to Women - Changing Women's Health - Naturally. 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 06 Apr. 2011.

Zubryd, Sascha. "Doctors failing to Prescribe Low-dose Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Study Finds."Standford School of Medicine. 2 Dec. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2011.

"Control Estrogen Levels by Lowering Body Fat?"BreastCancer.org - Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures. 29 Sept. 2008. Web. 06 Apr. 2011.