Weight Loss in the Menopause - Don't Surrender to Middle Age Spread
Those extra few pounds just seem to be getting harder and harder to shift. As if there wasn't enough to deal with at the change of life. This is an all too common complaint from women in their 40's and 50's going through the menopause. But should you just put up with it and surrender to 'middle age spread?' Although weight loss in the menopause is more difficult, it is still something that you can achieve. In fact many women have done this by following a healthy lifestyle and been delighted with the results.
There are a number of reasons that we tend to put on weight at this time:
Less activity: We are less active at this time partly because of our age but also because some of the other symptoms of menopause tend to make you tired. It is quite common for women to have disturbed sleep, which can lead to lethargy during the day.
Lower metabolism: As we grow older we need less food energy. Anything extra will be stored as fat
Eating more: many people tend to eat more as they get to this age.
There are a number of things that you can do to maintain a healthy weight. The main one is to take more exercise. This will help improve your metabolism and burn off calories. Weight bearing exercise is especially good for increasing bone density. In a gym this usually will be achieved by using small weights. But you can get good results by brisk walking. Aim to do 30 minutes of exercise per day.
The other aspect to weight loss in the menopause is your diet. As we grow older we need about 200 calories a day less. This is the equivalent of a couple of slices of buttered toast. But in addition to the quantity, you should also look at the quality. Try to include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet and replace saturated fats with fats from healthier sources such as olive oil.