When you get older, you will notice that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the weight off. Women are particularly affected by this, and even more so when they start to approach menopause. Menopause weight gain is incredibly common and is due to hormone changes, lack of exercise, diet, and your genes. That being said, what most women want to know is how to manage menopause and weight gain. After spending a lifetime dieting and working out, after all, they wouldn't mind just enjoying their later years.

How To Manage Menopause And Weight Gain

Menopause for some women can be a horrible inconvenience. It can make them feel miserable, give them hot flushes, make them lose their sex drive, and more. The last thing you want at this point in time is to try some jeans on and find that they don't fit anymore. Unfortunately, with our hormones changing, our muscle mass diminishes and the fat content in our body starts to increase. Take a look at your mother, did she put on weight during menopause? If so, you probably will too. You are also likely to put on weight if you are stressed, but then who isn't when they go through menopause?

Managing weight gain during menopause is very important. This is because putting on weight means your levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol will also be on the increase. This puts you at increased chance of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Plus, it increases your chance of developing breast or colon cancer.

It is important to go back to basics if you want to know how to manage menopause and weight gain. It doesn't matter how old you are, or how fit you are, you have to exercise. Take part in lots of aerobic activities, like taking a regular brisk walk, to help you burn fat on your body, lowering your body weight or at least keeping it where you want it to be. You can also consider adding some resistance training to your routine. Do also take a look at yoga. Yoga is gentle and is good not just for the body, but also for the mind. Remember those stress levels we discussed earlier? They will be lowered quite a bit as a result of yoga, which means you are less likely to put weight on.

Another important tip is that you have a healthy eating schedule. Rather than having three large meals, you should eat every two or three hours, choosing a small, nutritious snack. If you do this, your metabolism will constantly work, which means that you're always losing weight (so long as you don't overeat).

Last but not least, try to rely on your partner, family, and friends. You are likely to know other women who have gone through menopause and they can be a great source of support. Your significant other and your children should support you in your aim to lose weight, while understanding the fact that the transition that comes with menopause is quite a big one to manage.