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I had a complete hysterectomy 6 years ago and I am now 44. I battle belly fat even after loosing 25 lbs. I've been told it is because I don't have hormones any more and I have never been on HRT since my hysterectomy. Would a natural HRT help me?

By Anonymous January 13, 2009 - 8:48pm
 
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I've been told without hormones, I will continue to store fat in my abdominal region, and there is nothing I can do. I recently lost 25 lbs. and still suffer from embarassment because of my dimpled belly fat. I vowed I would wear a bikini as soon as I lost weight, and fact is, I am repulsed at the sight of my own abdomen. I work out 5 days a week with no changes. Would natural HRT help me? I am not interested in pill popping, but hope maybe there is a natural alternative for me out there.

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Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I'm so thankful for your posting. Your posting and many others. I'm 46 and have some fibroids and they gave me hyterectomy as an option. Although my tummy is not flat, I would like to know that it could be if I worked hard at it. But all of the comments I am reading have made me see that my dream to one day have a flat tummy will vertually never happy if I have a hysterectomy. The doctor gave me a second option which is to just have the fibroids taken out. I think I'll just deal with menstural cycles until menapause, and tell my doctor hysterectomy is not an option for me. Thank you for sharing. It has saved me a lot of heartache, I'm sure.

August 22, 2014 - 2:26pm
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Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I feel the same way can you do. I have pretty bad depression and look pregnant all the time and I have to dress up for work for it makes it harder and I was a little chubby before this all happened and I can't take hormones due to the fact that they give me migraines. I don't know what to do does anyone have any advice?

June 24, 2014 - 3:53pm
(reply to christina30)

I just had my 61st birthday, I had my ovaries & uterus removed six months ago after my uterus and bladder prolapsed into my vagina. It has not been an easy road to recovery! I don't seem to have gained weight according to the scales but my belly is huge! I no longer have a waist either. By doing intense study I have discovered that HRT is mandatory. However, I nor my doctor approve of synthetic HRT. I read a book titled " Screaming To Be Heard" that gave me total insight to the fact that we WOMEN ARE OUR HORMONES !!! We cannot be anywhere close to normal without them. I have been using over the counter Estroil Cream & Progesterone Cream plus taking 5mg of DHEA a day for 6 weeks now. They have helped but not enough. I'm due for hormone blood tests in 2 weeks, my doctor will then send me to a local compound pharmacy to get a Bio-indental ( natural not pharmaceutical ) hormone cream made especially for my levels containing estrogen & testosterone. I will continue to use the OTC progesterone cream on my stomach at night. Women starting at age 35 need to annually have hormone testing and natural replacement to function normally.

October 7, 2013 - 6:01am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was searching for the answer to my 4 year post hysterectomy at age 40 belly fat but it seems that I have instead found the rest of the ladies in the same boat. I have no hormonal imbalances, eat a very low-fat, low-carb diet, exercise 6 days a week: 3 days cardio running 4-5 miles at a time, and 3 days strength/cardio. I think I'm the first woman in history who can gain weight by just breathing. If one more person lectures me on caloric intake vs. exercise I may be acquitted for justifiable homocide. I'm even beginning to believe my hyper organic sister who thinks that all the hormones/chemicals used in the various farming industries to plump up the meats and increase production might have a valid argument.

March 11, 2013 - 7:59pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

This is actually depressing, and not inspiring.
Some of you exercise a ridiculous amount and are still not losing weight.

I was "castrated" aka given a hysterectomy, which ruined my life --the weight gain is the least of it, but I was left with huge breasts after surgically induced menopause and HRT, and they are causing me a lot of neck pain.

I'd like to get this fat off, but there is no way I can work out that hard that many days a week.

Like other women in this situation, I eat reasonably, even well, most of the time.

Has anyone had any more luck with stress reduction techniques? I have read, but am not sure if it's just more useless talk, that high glucocorticoids (due to stress --think flight or fight response) can prevent fat loss. I am completely stressed and have been since the surgery 3 years ago.

Anyone have any success lowering stress and then losing the weight/fat?
I do some yoga but it's not enough, or else it isn't going to work.

I also keep reading (popular--possibly junk health information) that over exercising can cause the body to have a stress response. So on that theory some of you might not be losing from doing too much? That would be nice for you--to exercise less, but it might be the type of exercise that would have to change.

Has anyone tried High Intensity Interval training--instead of traditional cardio to lose weight? The type of training where you do shorter bursts of all out activity and then recover before doing another sprint or something of that sort? Any luck?

What about weight work? I read about that too, but have never been much able to do anything like that, not even rehab band work for my neck--just too straining.

"Balancing Hormones" is another thing the popular health press likes to tout. But I had horrible results with Bioidentical hormones (could not handle the progesterone after menopause ) and have been able to use less and less Biosimilar (Elestrin) as time has passed--it makes me depressed. Not that I don't still have horrible issues with anxiety and depression.

So that's not working. It's ridiculous to hear from advocates on that subject that you can't lose weight till you use certain hormones, but you can't handle it.

I would like to hear that women after a hysterectomy can get the fat out of the gut and breast areas.

I'm sick of positive thinking on forums, I'd like to see some game plans that have worked. And I'd like to see hysterectomy that's not for cancer or serious conditions -that are life-threatening--banned.

It ruined my entire existence.

Good luck to you all, if I can find a solution I will gladly share it.

Karen

December 24, 2012 - 4:34am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

At my wits end and hoping you found an answer (years later). Weight (belly fat) and fatigue are my biggest problems. On minivelle, couldn't take the vaginal dryness, figured I could fight past hot flashes when I stopped using it for 2 months but they dryness was itching and sex (ugh, the thought of it was a nightmare), minivelle solved that problem, so I will stick with this unless someone has a better idea.

April 8, 2015 - 11:06am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I have done HIIT and have lost everywhere BUT my belly! It's extremely frustrating!! My hysterectomy was in 2008. i went from a 42F to a 38J to now a 40H ....WTH!?!?! I seriously think my body hates me. I walk 3 miles a day plus weight training and entering my 2nd HIIT boot camp and only 1200 calories a day. I am

July 3, 2014 - 5:01am
(reply to Anonymous)

I am in THE exact same boat. I had a full hysterectomy 3 years ago and since I have gained uncontrollably 60 pounds. Which has caused me worse situations. Having it done was THE worst mistake I've ever done in my life! I have other doctors telling me I need to get the weight off- I've explained to them I've changed my eating habits, excercise, even went to taking adipex and still did not work. IF ANYONE has a solution PLEASE share I am HATING life and I am only 36 yrs old with 2 boys ages 7and 12. And I feel like I'm nt giving them the best life cuz I'm so depressed overweight and stressed:( Desperately seeking help!!!

September 10, 2013 - 11:10am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

This is good information. Glad to hear others struggling along with me on the belly fat issue. I'm 47 and had a complete hystorectomy 5 years ago. Since then I have continued to fight my weight. I work out 6 days a week for at least 1 hour. Usually I do 4 to 5 miles running, stair climbing and spin class 3 x a week. I only drink water, light soy milk and a glass a wine a couple times a week. Still I can't get rid of the belly. I wear a size 6 and weight 145. I'd like to get down to 130. Anything else I can do. I am on the patch for hormones. Could it be my problem. It's really discouraging.

October 5, 2011 - 3:18pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I had a complete hysterectomy 6 years ago and am taking 10mg progesterone every night and wear estradiol patch 2x weekly. i have gained about 30 lbs since surgery and have accumulated body fat around my middle. is this related to hormones and estradiol and estrogen dominance? how do i wean off hormones?

July 10, 2011 - 3:31pm
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