The Truth about Menopause

If you are someone at the beginning stages of menopause, currently in menopause or post-menopausal and experiencing weight gain, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Let's start with why people gain weight in menopause in the first place. This is partly due to the decrease in estrogen levels, irregular sleep patterns (potentially stemming from hot flashes or night sweats) and age-related drops in the metabolism (Sullivan, 2019). How can we reduce the weight gain? If you aren’t sleeping you aren’t losing weight: finding a way to create a better sleep cycle. Cortisol plays one of the biggest roles in the reduction of sleep (Sullivan, 2019). Findings ways to destress and wind down for bed is optimal for improvement of sleep patterns Eating nutrient rich foods: the Mediterranean diet has been one of the most effective for those going through or preparing for menopause (Sullivan, 2019). This way provides your body with all the nutrients necessary to aid in the weight loss process and improve risk factors (Sullivan, 2019)! Planning ahead: this is the best way to go about things because you can anticipate your cravings and make sure that a healthy alternative is readily available. You can make sure that those temptations are not readily available to you so that you do not eat a whole bag of chips or a bag of candy while watching TV. Menopause is all about balance, whether that’s, hormonal, lifestyle or exercise. Taking care of your health should be your number one priority! Sullivan, D., Ph.D. (2019, June 4). How to lose weight during menopause: 10 ways. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325386 Don’t take life too seriously, Meg