Helen’s Diet Blog

Unexpected weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. Do you know more than 90% of menopausal women start gaining weight between 35 to 55 years of age? The studies indicate that weight gain during menopause occurs due to hormonal changes, and certainly not due to your eating habits. So, is there a hope? Read on.

For a woman going through menopause, it is quite normal to gain around 10 to 15 pounds of weight. In fact, the weight gain can be more rapid if you are experiencing early menopause or have opted for surgical menopause. In fact, you lose your old pear shape and assume the shape of an apple. This occurs when you start gaining weight around your abdomen, instead of your hips and thighs.

Not only this, the hormone changes can also affect your appetite and metabolism. You tend to store more fat in your body and find it difficult to control weight gain during menopause. However, you can minimize the impact on your body and mind if you start accepting this process as natural and good for your health. Do you know a small weight gain during menopause can reduce the intensity of the symptoms related with menopause, such as anxiety and hot flashes? Therefore, you must try to accept your new physique and opt for a healthy and active lifestyle.

Listed below are few tips that can help you minimize the impact of menopause:

• Avoid eating friend foods and refined sugar. Eat a balanced diet and lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Never starve yourself. This will severely affect your metabolism, and you may gain more weight later.
• Reduce your intake of nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol as they can aggravate water retention in your body.
• Lead an active life. You can follow your favourite game or sport to enhance your metabolism and burn fat. For example, you can start walking, cycling, or join aerobics to boost muscle mass and fight off osteoporosis.

If you have been experiencing abnormal weight gain during menopause, it may be due to hormone levels, blood sugar level, and eating habits. Therefore, you must meet your healh practitioner and discuss the options for weight control.