Menopause and Weight Gain

There are many symptoms that a woman might experience as she nears the age of menopause. Unfortunately, one of the tendencies that many women see at this time of life is a greater challenge in maintaining an optimal weight.

It seems that the diet and exercise program that worked so effectively in the 30’s is no longer sufficient in keeping those extra pounds at bay when the mid-life crisis hits. The good news is that there is no reason why you have to accept menopause and weight gain as simply another sign of the aging process. In fact, with the proper approach to diet and exercise, you can have the same luscious body in your middle years that you have enjoyed up to this point. It may just take a few extra minutes on the treadmill and a more watchful eye on your menu to keep that weight right where you want it.

Why?

There are a number of reasons why menopause and weight gain seem to go hand in hand. By understanding some of those reasons, it might be easier to attack the problem head on and keep that weight down. First, women in this phase of life tend to exercise less than they did in their younger years. At the same time, they are probably eating more as life’s stresses can peak during this stage. Some women are caught between caring for kids and aging parents at the same time and careers may be getting more stressful as well. Finally, this is the time of life when our metabolisms tend to slow down, making it more difficult to burn calories as efficiently as we once did. When you put all of these tendencies together, the sum explains a lot about why we often see menopause and weight gain take place at the same time.

What can You Do?

Now that you know why menopause and weight gain are linked, the next logical question is what do you do about it? There are plenty of steps that you can take to head those extra pounds off at the pass and stop the weight gain before it even starts. First, increase your physical activity. Try to combine aerobic exercise with strength training for maximum results. The aerobic activity will be good for your cardiovascular system as well as effective in maintaining a healthy weight. Strength training will help you to burn fat more effectively and keep your bones strong to help prevent osteoporosis. It is also important to cut the number of calories that you consume every day, and to make sure that the foods that you do eat are packed with nutrients and fiber instead of fats and sugar. By paying extra attention to your diet and exercise plan, you will not have to greet the age of menopause and weight gain at the same time.