Weight and
Menopause
By William Miller
Menopause is normal part of aging most women
begin to experience between the ages of forty-seven and fifty-two. Menopause
is brought on by reduction of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. As
the process progresses, a woman will eventually completely cease producing
these hormones completely. Menopause brings with it many changes. Most women
find they have difficulty concentrating on tasks they previously enjoyed.
Many suffer terrible moods swings. Most endure potentially debilitating hot
flashes and night sweats. Others endure regular joint pain and headaches.
Many women complain of sleeping difficulties. However, one of the most
dreaded menopause-related problems is weight gain. In recent years, there
have been many scientific studies examining the link between menopause and
weight gain in an attempt to
understand how woman can prevent this problem.
One interesting study suggested that as a woman loses two very important
hormones, estrogen and progesterone, she will be predisposed to gain more
weight she no longer burns the calories necessary to manufacture the
hormones. Moreover, because most women experience fatigue and feel generally
unwell during this time, they do not tend to retain their motivation to
stick with their normal exercise routine. Couple this with the fact that her
condition brings on a sudden cravings for standard comfort foods and
desserts, which are usually high in calories, and you have a recipe for
certain weight gain.Menopause have also brings with it a decrease in
metabolism rate, which leads to even more retained calories.
All of these factors combined can also make it very difficult for a
menopausal woman to lose any weight she has gained. Losing weight during
menopause is certainly possible, but is a daunting challenge. The most
important adjustment a woman can make in is to work with her resting
metabolic rate or resting energy expenditure. To retain a healthy weight,
the resting metabolic rate should account for more than seventy percent of
the energy usee on a daily basis. Because this rate is related to an
individual's muscle mass, the resting metabolic rate will decrease as a
woman ages and loses muscle mass.
In order to lose weight during menopause, it is wise to begin by making
dietary changes. Refrain from turning to high calorie comfort foods during
this challenging time. A sensible diet should consist primarily of fruits
and vegetables, lean meats, brown rice, whole grain bread, and whole wheat
flour. It is also wise to change one's eating habits. Consider four to five
small meals each day, rather than the customary three big meals per day.
Each small meal should be healthy and balanced. This will help weight
disappear and stay away. Proper exercise can also assist in the fight
against weight gain. Moreover, proper exercise can give you a better feeling
of well-being during this difficult time.
For the most part, losing weight during menopause is as basic as losing
weight at any other point in your life. The bottom line is that you must
consume fewer calories than your burn during the course of your normal
routine. It might help to avoid fast food and start by walking for thirty
minutes daily. These two simple things alone can strengthen your heart
muscle and help you feel better about your life. If you are concerned
about weight gain, consult your physician and the two of you can set up a
suitable program.
About The Author: William Miller contributes to several popular online
magazines, including
http://jasof.
com and
http://nugad. com
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