Why am I gaining weight during menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when menstruation ceases. A woman’s body is also no longer able to bear children. This normal, biological process occurs between a woman’s late 40s to 50s, with the age of 51 years old being the average. Menopause is not official until a woman no longer menstruates for a time period of one year continuously.

A number of bodily signs and symptoms appear prior to this and can last years until menopause is an actual diagnosis. The signs and symptoms leading up to this point is defined as perimenopause. During the perimenopausal stage your hormones are inconsistent and periods will be irregular. Even though your periods are irregular during this time, it is still possible to become pregnant.

Many women ask the question, “Why am I gaining weight during menopause?” This is a very common complaint and you are not alone or unique. It has to do with metabolism. As we age so does our metabolism. Women experience a decline in their metabolism starting in her mid 30s.

A woman going through menopause has fluctuating hormones and this makes it difficult to maintain weight. One of the symptoms of menopause is an increase in abdominal fat. As we age we also need less calories and more exercise. Menopause depletes a woman of much needed energy to help her fight this problem.

Even so in order to combat the weight gain women must attempt to increase her exercise. We need to eat healthier, incorporating more fruits and vegetables into our diet. Calories cannot be cut to an extreme otherwise the body will think that it is starving and thereby conserve fat. It is a tough situation that many women face. By increasing exercise your body should react with more energy. The problem is getting started and sticking to it. It is an everyday battle and you need to be consistent.

By exercising on a regular basis, approximately 4 to 5 times a week for 30 minutes you will increase muscle mass, which does burn calories more effectively. A woman must be steadfast in her efforts lest she will backslide. By building up muscle mass and burning calories at an increased rate a woman can then eat normally although not to the point of complete fullness.

Remember, there is a way out and that is by regular and consistent exercise, eating smaller portions and concentrating on fruits and vegetables more. Once you get started you will have to keep up with it. You will then feel a little more energetic enabling you to exercise without fatigue. You will feel better, look better, and be in a healthier state.