I am not usually a “blogger” but I really hope my story will help women in particular who are trying to lose weight post menopause!

I have always been very active and reasonably slim. I used to teach P.E. and Music in schools amd thjen had my own fitness club for 16 years where I taught a variety of classes, often up to 12 a week!!

I gave that up about 10 years ago and now work as a freelance musician and also teach music from home.

After doing so much exercise for so many years I had to adapt my body to a different lifestyle but managed reasonably well by walking a dog daily and buying an excellent treadmill!

All this changed when I hit menopause. I was quite late in finishing periods (55) and had a few gynie problems on top but I found from about 52 onwards my body just changed shape.

Despite not really eating any more, I never have had a huge appetite, I was gaining inches around my middle and hips.

Having always been a petite, small boned size 8/10, I was creeping steadily to a definite 10/12.

This does not sound huge I am sure to many of you, but you need to note my feet are only a size 3 and I am very small boned.

I saw Michael’s programme on T.V. and then also saw how well a friend was losing weight on this diet, bought the book and was most interested in reading about how the diet seems to ” re-boot” your fat cells.

I have been on this diet since mid January and have found it so easy to do. I actually have to make sure I eat enough on my “eat” days as I do not want to lose a lot of weight as being too thin as you get older is very ageing. I am almost 58 now.

I have actually only lost half a stone which is fine, I am now 8stone 10 pounds and do not bother weighing myself any more but it is the inch loss which has been most encourageing and the boost in my energy levels.

I have lost 4 inches off my waist, 3 inches around my bottom, 2 inches off the top of each thigh and sadly one inch around bust!! I think that is more off my back though. Think of that loss 10 inches!!

I am back in better shape than I have been since I was 50, almost 8 years ago.
I am back in a size 8/10 and I feel full of energy even on my low days.

My skin is glowing and I will stay on this diet for life now. If needs be I will just increase the amount I eat slightly to maintain my weight.

If you are wobbling because you are not losing much weight, then please follow my example and measure yourself. I measure myself once a month and write it down just to remember how many inches I have lost.

I would welcome comments from other women in particular. I can honestly say this diet has helped me manage menopause.

SORRY MY STORY SEEMS TO HAVE GONE ON TWICE THAT IS TECHNOLOGY AND ME !!! NOT A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN!!

I think you are correct Precious boo boo, given my petite size 6 pounds is probably more like a stone on a larger person but I REFUSE to become a scale addict! The proof is in my clothes, so annoyed I got rid of all my size 8 tight dresses last Summer as had given up them ever fitting would be great this year!!!Never mind I think more flattering to have things a little looser.

I think it is particularly important as my background in sports science I know how hard it is to stay motivated if just relying on scales. As post menopause women we retain water much more easily and our metabolism slows down owing to lack of oestrogen etc so physically you either have to keep working harder which is not always easy with wear and tear on joints!

Your shape definitely changes with your fat going around the middle etc. I have just found this diet easy to maintain and also it helps me feel in control!

I have a lot more energy and ironically find I want to exercise more on low days that on my eat days and exercise actually suppresses appetite so that is maybe my body’s way of coping with lower calories!