A common complaint of women in the age group of 40 to 50 after their menopause is weight gain. Menopuase and weight gain seem to go hand in hand in many women. During this time maintaining present body weight becomes very tough for the woman. Interestingly most of the weight is accumulated in the abdomen and not in the thighs and hips. This creates even more problems for the woman.
Most women become frustrated as well as shocked to see the drastic changes in their body after menopause. They feel that although they are eating and exercising in the same way as earlier they cannot control the extra pounds that are getting added to their body everyday.
It would be hard to accept but this is actually a natural phenomenon. The changes in hormonal levels in the body are responsible for the weight gain. These hormones that are likely to be affected are progesterone, estrogen, androgen, and testosterone.
Also, change in lifestyle is another reason for weight gain. Menopausal women often reduce the amount of exercise they do in comparison to their younger life and thus it leads to accumulation of fats in the body.
They also tend to increase their caloric intake that is beyond their requirement. This again results to weight gain. As if these causes are not enough, genetic factors are also partly to blame for weight gain during menopause.
Being aware of the connection between menopause and weight gain can help women get rid of the problem. One obvious tip is for women to be more disciplined and careful with their health. If you are having the same problems then these tips are for you.
Firstly, a balanced diet can always help you. Try to avoid sugar and junk goods and at best stick to fruits and vegetables. Also take lots of water.
Secondly, do not use a crash diet for weight loss. This is a misconception that a crash diet can help lose weight. In fact a crash diet deteriorates your health even more.
You must also remember that losing a drastic amount of weight in a very short period of time can be dangerous. It can in fact lead to osteoporosis. So your weight loss should be a gradual and balanced one.
You should also avoid food and drinks containing alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. These foods are going to exacerbate water retention, which means they are not good for the body. Make sure you drink lots of water everyday.
Finally regular exercising is the best solution for this problem. Try to do aerobics as it burns excessive fat and increases metabolism in the body. Also do a number of weight bearing activities to escape from menopause weight gain. These activities can be anything from walking, cycling to swimming also. But most importantly, do it on a regular basis.