Along come Menopause
AND
Weight Gain
Are you finding that menopause and weight gain seem to belong in the same sentence? If you're going through menopause, have you been noticing a few extra pounds sneaking their way and hugging mainly around your belly?
Well, this may be a small solace, but you're definitely not alone. As I write this I'm 46, and I definitely have noticed that I seem to have MAS (Middle age spread which, I might add, is also middle-body spread).
And psssst... don't tell anyone but weight gain at menopause isn't the only thing I have going on. One of these days I'm going to have to start a chin hair acceptance society!
Weight gain at Menopause
isn't your fault
But here's the thing: weight gain at menopause, as well as a change in your body shape (more towards being apple-shaped) is a symptom that's happening not only to me, but apparently to about 90% of menopausal women.
But here's the good (or bad--depending on how you look at things) news: Menopause and weight gain most times are not your fault!
For example--here's what I can tell you with absolutely certainty: I AM NOT EATING ANY MORE CALORIES OR EXERCISING ANY LESS! My body suddenly seems to have developed a mind all of it's own, it's getting larger.
Of course, that doesn't stop people (usually those who haven't been through menopause) telling me: "Of course you must be eating more or exercising less." I usually don't even bother to argue.
Weight gain during menopause is one of those times when people love to point an accusatory finger at you when in fact research shows that menopause and weight gain has a lot more to do with hormonal changes than being more greedy or more lazy.
Why does it happen to so many?
Pull up any average height and weight chart for women, regardless of ethnicity or levels of thinness/fatness and you'll see that there is a steady upwards curve in weight until about the age of 50-55 before it starts tapering off again.Now here's the question I find myself asking: If such a high percentage of women gain weight at this time...is this not what nature intended? (And yes I know I might well be shot down in flames for daring to ask something that seems to go so against everyone handing out tips for weight loss during menopause)
And if that weight gain for most women is around the waist - is that not where it is meant to accumulate at this time in a woman's life cycle? I mean, we don't question where weight accumulates (and I'm not talking about pregnant tummies) during pregnancy which is also a time of hormonal fluctuation. Is there perhaps not some
protective function about belly fat
at this time of life that we haven't considered because all we ever read is that all fat around the middle is bad! bad! bad!Most women with weight gain during menopause will gain about 10 to 15 pounds. Most of this weight sneaks up gradually - maybe even as little as a pound a year starting at peri-menopause (the earliest stages of menopause proper). If you're one of those women who have experienced early menopause or surgical menopause (eg. a hysterectomy) you may experience more rapid and extreme weight gain. You may feel frustrated and even fearful when you start to experience that extra padding that accompanies weight gain during menopause. But ten chances to one, it's your body's hormones that affect not only your appetite, but also your metabolism and fat storage. No matter what you do, fluctuating levels of sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and androgen levels will fight you all the way when it comes to weight gain and menopause.
Have your menopausal body rant here
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