Menopause and weight gain: seven hard habits to break

Approximately nine out of 10 women experience mild weight gain during menopause. Those odds don’t sound very good, do they? Maybe it’s best just to resign yourself to the “it’s inevitable” attitude? The answer is “no,” because it is not inevitable!

Though your weight gain at this time may be linked with unavoidable hormonal fluctuations, particularly of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, this is not the only possible cause as slowed metabolisms and other physiological changes occur with age. So before you start shopping for tents instead of pants, try breaking these 7 habits and then see how you feel.

It’s a chilling 65 degrees F, better drive today.

Stagnant lifestyle is a major contributor to that muffin top (roll of skin that pours over the top of the pants) weighing about an extra 10 to 15 lbs you have acquired in the last few years. Exercising is so important as we age, not only for maintaining a healthy heart and avoiding osteoporosis, but for keeping off the pounds, too!

If it’s liquid, it doesn’t count.

Be it a cream and sugar filled latte from the coffee shop or a vodka packed Sex on the Beach during happy hour, many women are unaware of the amount of calories they are not only eating, but drinking. Next time you’re at Starbucks, try your coffee black (it really isn’t that bad) and let your bartender get to know you as the “one vodka tonic girl;” very classy and waistline friendly!

I can eat whatever I want, just like a 20-year old.

Not unless you want it to become more obvious that you gave birth to that 20-year old, 20 years ago. However, this doesn’t mean you have to entirely banish your favorite foods; instead, be more portion size conscious.

Water doesn’t taste good.

It doesn’t taste like anything, so get over it. Your body needs to be well hydrated for many reasons, including proper absorption of nutrients. If you really think your water tastes “funny,” try investing in a filtration system of some kind. There is a style available for every budget.

Cigarettes are the best accessory.

Make sure you trim your nails at least once a week. Keeping them short and manicured will help you avoid excessive chipping or accidental breaking, which is always more damaging than clipping them yourself.

Skipping breakfast will make me skinny.

My word, you’ve managed to make it through a lot of life operating under the assumption of misinformation! It is important to eat a protein packed breakfast to get your metabolism started. Plus, eating breakfast will make you less likely to binge at lunch.

I can live on wheat toast and a bag of spinach.

While both of these are healthful choices, your body needs variety in its diet in order to get all the different kinds of vitamins and nutrients it needs to function properly. So surprise your tummy and your tongue; mix things up!

Recommendation

If you are following a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and still gaining weight, you may want to talk with your doctor about having tests done to rule out other possible health conditions like thyroid complications. But remember, if you aren’t eating and living well, you aren’t doing everything you can. To find out more about healthy food and exercise choices towards weight gain treatments, follow this link.

To learn more about Weight Gain