Struggling with menopause weight gain?

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Menopause And Weight Gain

Many women that are over 50 years of age say that menopause and weight gain go hand in hand. While it is normal to gain weight as we age or our lifestyle changes this does not fully explain why we gain weight differently as far as which parts of the body. During menopause weight tends to be gained in the abdomen while in our younger years the extra weight usually went to our hips.

Changes in our hormones have a lot to do with this, but no one totally understands why. A woman stops ovulating in menopause, her menstrual monthly cycles come to a halt, and less estrogen is produced by her body which is involved in the process of ovulation. In animals it has been found that due to low estrogen they gain weight, this is probably why our body shapes change too. When women are at the age for childbearing they store their fat in the lower regions of the body, after menopause occurs they wind up storing fat in their abdomen similar to men. This is one of the causes of heart disease.

Women and men both suffer from muscle going to fat as they age, when their metabolism starts slowing down. So as you age you need to change the way you eat to prevent this weight gain. Someone that is 60 years old does not require the same daily calorie intake as someone who is 40 years old.

There are times that hormone replacement therapy, which contains estrogen, is used to combat symptoms of menopause. This hormone therapy has been found not to cause weight gain to the surprise of many women. Women may sometimes retain water or have some bloating but they do not gain fat, this usually is just a temporary side effect though. This therapy can cut down the risk of heart disease by changing the way the body is storing fat in the abdomen and also help to cholesterol to be lower. Some studies have linked the hormone therapy to the occurrence of breast cancer.

Should you discover that you are putting on some weight during menopause; there are a few things that you can try.

• Eat healthier by consuming a high fiber, low fat diet. Also you should stay away from sugar.
• Exercise on a regular basis. As we get older our activity levels usually slows down. There are no little ones to chase after to keep you in shape, we are just less active all together. It is recommended that you get at least 30 minutes daily of moderate exercise.
• You need to maintain the strength and mass of your muscles. Cycling and walking is great for the legs with this in mind.  Work out with weights for your arms.
• Learn to accept certain changes that are occurring to your body. As long as you are not overweight accept that your waist is a bit larger. It is okay.

Check with your doctor before beginning any kind of exercise regimen especially if you have certain medical problems or you are really out of shape. Your doctor will know how to advise you about menopause and weight loss.