Most women are likely to start to gain some weight around the age
of 50 and this extra weight starts to appear in different places. Even
women who remain at the same weight will typically find their middle
section getting fatter.
As women grow older, many experience menopause weight gain. When
both men and women get older and less active, there is a tendency to
gain weight but there is something unique about the menopause for women.
This happens because a women's body produces less estrogen, the
female hormone, in the post menopausal stage of her life. The
distribution of weight on a woman's body changes at this time to be more
like a man's which means that it is focused on the belly rather than
the hips. Low estrogen may also be the reason for some extra weight
gain, or at least a tendency to put on weight more easily. Dieting can
become more of a struggle, too.
Weight and the Menopause.
Post
menopause weight gain does not mean that you should stop trying to have
a healthy body within a normal weight range. It is possible to avoid
menopause weight gain if you are mindful of the potential problems and
resist the temptation to eat too many high calorie foods. It is also
important to keep up your levels of exercise.
This is important
for other reasons as well as avoiding menopause weight gain. Exercise
helps to maintain a healthy heart at a time of life when the risk of
heart attack for women rises significantly. Women of childbearing age
who have fat on their hips rather than their belly have a lower risk of
heart attack than men, but that changes at the menopause when more fat
is stored on the torso.
Hormone replacement therapy or HRT can
prevent these changes and help you to avoid menopause weight gain.
However, it is only available in consultation with your doctor and it is
not recommended for everybody because there can be other risks
associated with it. Besides, you cannot put off the menopause forever.
Avoiding Menopause Weight Gain.
1.
Eat healthy with more fresh vegetables and fruit and less foods which
contain fat and sugar, like processed and packaged foods.
2.
Exercise regularly and maintain your muscle mass with strength workouts.
It's natural that you tend to exercise a little less as you grow older,
but it's important not to stop. Muscle that is not taken care of will
turn to fat.
3. Try to accept that there will be some changes in
your body at this time. If your weight is within the normal range, do
not worry if your weight increases a little. This is redistribution of
weight, not gain. If you are overweight, avoid crash diets and find a
healthy eating plan that will serve you well for the rest of your life.
No
matter what stage you are in life, the healthiest option for losing
weight is to make changes that will allow you to lose weight slowly on a
healthy eating plan that does not ban any foods completely, but allows
you to incorporate occasional treats.
If you suffer from any health conditions
,
do consult with your doctor before starting any weight loss or fitness
program. Your doctor will also be able provide more advice on menopause
weight gain and what is best for your individual circumstances.
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Avoid Menopause Weight, Menopause Weight Gain, Avoid Menopause, Menopause Weight, Weight Gain
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