Menopause Weight Loss

As a woman reaches sometime between the age of 47 and 52, she will begin to go through menopause, which is a normal part of aging. The reduction and eventually loss of estrogen and progesterone production is what sets the wheels into motion. During menopause, many things change within the woman’s body. Because of this, she will go through periods of mood swings, lack of concentration, hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, insomnia, and other unpleasant events. However, while those are bad enough, most women will tell you their greatest fear has to do with weight gain. Because menopause weight loss is such a hot topic, studies are being done often to find out if the two in fact go hand-in-hand.

One such study did provide strong indicators that when a women has a loss of the two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, she could be predisposed to gain weight, partly due to a decrease in the number of calories being burned. You see, when a woman goes through menopause, she often does not feel well. The result is difficulty getting motivated to exercise. In addition, the woman will often want comfort foods, which add on unwanted calories and therefore, unwanted weight. In addition, it has been determined that postmenopausal women do tend to carry more body fat than women who are premenopausal. The reason is believed to be a decline in metabolism.

Menopause weight loss is possible but it must be taken seriously. The biggest change a woman needs to make has to do with the resting energy expenditure, which means a resting metabolic rate. To maintain a healthy weight, keep in mind that resting energy expenditure accounts for as much as 75% of the total energy used. Since this depends strongly on muscle mass, this rate naturally decreases as a woman ages.

For menopause weight loss, a woman can also make changes with her diet. Instead of turning to the high caloric foods that tend to provide comfort, the diet should consist of lean meats, more fruits and vegetables, and only brown rice, bread, and flour. By eating four to five smaller meals each day that consist of balanced and healthy calories, the weight will come off and stay off. In addition to diet, proper exercise will make a huge difference not just in the weight control but in overall feeling during the menopause phase.

Menopause weight loss is very basic – the woman needs to eat fewer calories than what are being burned through exercise. Simply avoid fast foods and start taking a 30-minute walk every day. This will help improve bone density for women going through menopause, build up the heart muscles to fight heart disease, the number one killer, and help a woman through menopause with ease. If you are concerned about menopause weight loss, join a local gym or find a friend who enjoys exercising and set time aside every day for YOU!