Menopause Weight Loss Solutions

The Day My Pants Split in Front of 23 Teenagers!

We've all experienced some embarrassing mishaps in life, and I've had my share... but the most memorable for me by far is when my pants split in front of a classroom full of teenagers!

The Set-Up

I was wearing my favorite pair of jeans, but they were feeling a bit snug these days. I was in menopause, and I had been gaining weight at an alarming rate. My selection of clothing was dwindling--- not much fit me anymore. Besides finding clothing that fit, I also had to find outfits that could be layered, since I was having hot flashes several times a day. I would often break into a sweat with little to no warning while I was in front of students. I could feel the sweat run down my back. And my armpits... ugh! So I had to find clothes that fit, were comfortable, breathable, layerable, and sweat proof. And these pieces must already exist inside my closet. I gave up on them matching, looking cute, or even being appropriate for my work as a high school teacher. I was getting desperate.

The Big Split

So my daily uniform for my job became jeans, an oversized tunic and a cardigan sweater just in case I got the chills, which was hardly ever. It goes without saying that I wasn't winning any fashion awards, and this look did nothing to boost my self esteem. But it kept me covered just enough to keep me from getting fired, so that I could continue my teaching career. But on that fateful Tuesday...

I was at the front of my classroom teaching an English lesson, probably about thesis statements or essay formatting, when all of the sudden...

Rrrrrrriiiiiiippppp! 

I heard the denim shred like I was transforming into the Incredible Hulk. I felt the fabric of my jeans give way around my midsection. I was horrified!

Thankfully, I was the only one that heard the ripping (I think), and my tunic was long enough to hide the now gaping hole in my pants. My students had no idea, and for that I'm grateful. But I was still horrified. My favorite pair of jeans... the only pair that fit me... well, they didn't fit me anymore, obviously. I was gaining weight around my midsection so rapidly that I had nothing left in my closet to wear.

The infamous pants splitting episode was just one event of many where I suffered pain or embarrassment because of my menopause symptoms. If I wasn't bursting out of my clothes, I was sweating profusely. If I wasn't sweating profusely, my joints were aching. If my joints weren't aching, I was awake all night with insomnia… you get the picture. I was miserable. After two years of no relief, I'd had enough. My doctors had no answers, except, “Well, that's menopause for you. Those are the symptoms. You just have to deal with it. Every woman your age is experiencing the same pain.”

The Big Reveal

So I started looking for answers elsewhere. That's when I discovered intermittent fasting for menopause. I began fasting every day for 20 hours. I fasted through breakfast and lunch. I would drink only black coffee and mineral water throughout the day. Then, at 4:00 p.m. I would eat my snack. At 6:30 p.m. I would eat dinner. I would stop eating before 8:00 p.m. each night. This gave me a four-hour eating window. After doing this for a few days, my hot flashes stopped. I was flabbergasted! After a few weeks, my joints stopped aching and I began sleeping through the night. That alone was a blessed miracle! After a few months of intermittent fasting, I started to fit into my clothes again. I started to feel like the old me again. 

Dear Reader, if you are suffering from symptoms like I was, consider trying something new, like intermittent fasting. It costs nothing, and you have nothing to lose except your hot flashes, weight gain, aching joints and insomnia. It's worth a try. If you've tried intermittent fasting or found relief from your symptoms, reach out to us here at Pain Free Over Fifty. We love to hear how you are living with less pain and more joy!

All the best,

Jennifer Kaye