Smack dab in the prime of life we can experience a long list of changes, symptoms and pains associated with menopause. The website 34 Menopause Symptoms reports about 70 percent of women going through menopause experience at least some of these inconveniences. Unfortunately for our figures, one of them is post menopause weight gain.
To keep our middle-age spread from getting the best of us, we need to understand why were gaining weight, what is considered normal and what we can do about it. Physically our hormones are imbalanced because of the drop in estrogen. Our bodies begin to store fat cells that typically hold estrogen in an attempt to restore usual levels. Psychological concerns like fatigue and stress can cause us to swing even further out of balance. It is not unusual for a woman to have a weight gain after menopause of between 10 to 20 pounds.
So what can we do about it? First, according to 34 Menopause Symptoms, determine if the weight gain problem is physical or psychological. Most women find its a combination. The following solutions can help with both. Lifestyle changes are the most encouraged and safest. They are also the hardest since it takes determination to live differently. Exercise and yoga are suggested for weight and stress reduction. Eating foods that are high in estrogen like apples, rice and yams can put your body back in balance naturally.
Next, alternative medicines like phytoestrogen (ex. Black ) and non-estrogenic herbs (ex. Macafem) can help with post menopause weight gain by restoring normal levels of estrogen. Other options include menopause diet pills, supplements and acupuncture.Finally, drugs are an option. Hormone replacement therapy is the most common drug treatment in our country for post menopause weight gain. Although it is the riskiest and has a list of possible serious side effects, some women choose this because theyve found no relief from lifestyle changes and alternative medicine.
