Women's Weight Loss After Menopause

Health and diet researchers have shown that it is much more difficult to achieve weight loss as you age. It's even harder for women. Not only must women deal with the natural slowing of their metabolism as they get older, but they must also take into account how their body changes after menopause. Menopause can affect weight loss and dieting. The Mayo Clinic says that "during your 40s or 50s - usually coinciding with the menopausal transition - you may notice that maintaining your usual weight becomes more difficult. Weight gain after menopause seems to be harder to lose, and the inches tend to accumulate around your abdomen, rather than your hips and thighs." (source)

In this health and wellness article, we'll show you how to deal with post-menopause weight loss. A woman's body is special, and the way you go about trying to lose weight is also special.

Women's Weight Loss after Menopause

On the average, a woman can gain a pound a year at this time. An average woman 30-40 years of age who leads an inactive lifestyle requires a rough estimate of 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day to maintain a normal weight. With older women menopause generally makes weight loss a lot more difficult to solve.

A woman in who is going through menopause normally notices that maintaining her usual weight or realizing weight loss becomes a lot harder. Research shows that approximately 90% of menopausal women gain some weight between the ages of 40 and 55. Still it is important to keep in mind that this weight gain is normal and to be expected.

This is not to say, however, that weight loss after menopause cannot be anticipated. It must be known that the hormones associated with menopause are not the only cause of weight gain.

Work habits and lifestyle play a big role in her change of body composition. Menopausal women have the tendency to be more deskbound than other women that can lead to weight gain. This inactivity while dietary habits stay the same or get worse makes weight loss seemingly impossible to achieve.

Menopause-related stress is also a contributing factor in weight gain. Struggling with your weight all throughout your menopausal years often affects your ego when you least expect it. Because of this you become anxious and frustrated, which in turn can prevent weight loss as they beckon your body to go into storage mode.

Another factor that should be taken into account is the fact that during menopausal years, insulin resistance can occur. This happens when the body turns the calories you take in into fat, making weight loss almost impossible. It is therefore recommended that you a low-fat but high carbohydrate diet. Avoid eating processed foods as well as refined foods. This may make your body resistant to insulin and can therefore make way for weight gain.

On the brighter side, weight gain during these years is regulated by the body. This prepares you against osteoporosis and other diseases. So try to be more accepting of new body instead of hating yourself. Strive to be healthy and more active, and not trying to fit into your old clothes.