What is the most effective way to lose weight after menopause?

I don’t think the way to lose weight is any different after menopause than before. Find an eating plan you can stick with; don’t consider it a temporary diet. Make small changes, eat more foods that are healthy and fewer of those that are bad. Keep a food diary and count calories if that helps you.

The aches and pains sound worrisome and not normal. Have you talked to your doctor about them?

Yes, joint pain is a symptom of menopause, and I have some arthritis as well. I try not to eat inflammatory foods but often fail to adhere to my diet. at any rate, sticking to 1200 calories of healthy food is how I’ve been attacking the problem but this is the most stubborn weight to come off!

I’m still carry the weight I gained during menopause so I’m no expert but I have to agree with @janbb that best way to lose menopause weight is the best way to lose any kind of extra weight and that is: burn more calories than you consume.

It’s just harder after menopause because your metabolism is slower. Another difficulty for me is that I was lucky that during most of my adult life to be able to eat pretty much whatever I wanted and not have to worry about my weight so I’m not used to watching calories and having to deny myself the foods I love in the quantities I want. And I am less active than I was when I was younger. I just haven’t had the will power to eat less and make the effort do more.

Just don’t eat so much. Or change what you eat.

Swim in a heated pool. Swimming is a good calorie burner, and the warm water will help with your arthritis.
There are some places where exercise classes are held in water. Water aerobics, and such are pretty common.

All good advice above. Cut the calories, up the exercise and water exercise is particularly good. Lifting weights will help too. Try to build more muscle. Load bearing exercise is good because it can help ward off osteoporosis.

I used a thing from Russia that I forget the name of it helped a lot. The weight thing is just exercise and never ever snack or drink soft drink at all. Don’t eat much dough of any kind.

Be sure to consider other medical conditions. Doctors will dismiss women every day of the week. Make sure they check your thyroid, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 levels. Do you have muscle pain also, or just the joint?

Painful joints can also be Lymes Disease. Or, it could be some sort of arthritis unrelated to menopause.

I agree swimming can be a good exercise for joints, I know many people with arthritis who swear by water aerobics. I love water exercise myself. Although, a girlfriend of mine with knee trouble has pain doing water aerobics because the water drags on her joints. It really depends what is wrong with the joint.

As far as weight, healthier foods, veggies and fruits, and count calories. If you are eating more veggies and some whole fruit your calories will be less without even trying. The fruit should take away cravings for sweets.

Reduce the intake of junk sugar,beverages and fatty food. Include more fruits and vegetables and fiber rich foods such as wheat germ and wheat bran in your diet. Only a healthy food plan can help you in losing weight.

1200 calories might not be enough – your body can react badly to too little food, causing stress which can cause weight gain. Eat a normal diet for a few weeks but keep a strict food and exercise diary (online tools are available). Weigh yourself weekly. Tracking your calories, exercise and weight you can work out what your daily calorie needs are to stay at the same weight (1lb roughly equals 3500 calories). Eat 500 calories less than that for a steady weight loss. Or burn 500 calories more in exercise.

I lost 50lb during a year and have kept it off for a year

‘Clean food’. That means steaming, steamed veg steamed chicken and fish. I love steamed veggies and I find that odd, since I am a spice girl. Cut out bad fats (saturated) or at least limit, enjoy olive oil, avoid carbs at night, avoid sugar, fizzy drinks, hidden calories. No processed foods and all dairy fat free.