Post-menopausal Weight Gain Explained

Post-menopausal weight gain is avoidable, but the averages are against the average menopausal woman. The statistics state that as many as two thirds of women in their menopausal years will gain from 10 to 20 pounds. And this is regardless of whether she changes her diet or activity regimen.

In other words, unless you find out what’s really going on so you can easily combat post-menopausal weight gain, you are likely to become a statistic. However, knowledge is power and reading as much as you can about what’s really going on inside your body at this time is going to prepare you for the post-menopausal weight gain battle.

Part of the problem lies in a two-fold whammy: as a woman gets older and demands on her time are lessening, she might start slowing down. The other half of this slow down is an actual physiological process inside her that is making her metabolism slow to a crawl. Less activity plus no alteration of the diet plus a sluggish metabolism equals post-menopausal weight gain.

The answer to that, of course, is to get active and stay that way. Post-menopausal weight gain can be avoided and eliminated with 30 minutes a day of aerobic activity that gets you up, stretching and breathing. Note that we said aerobic “activity.” It doesn’t have to be the dreaded exercise of yesterday. Push-ups and sit-ups and rowing machines are not necessarily your only choice. Do you like to dance? Dancing is an awesome aerobic activity and you don’t even have to go to the gym to do it. Turn on the radio and start moving.

If you are not accustomed to 30 minutes of heavy breathing, then work your way up to it. Use care when training like this. Do some proper warm ups first and be sure to incorporate a cool-down period after your “workout” as well.

What’s nice about fighting off post-menopausal weight gain with aerobic activity is that you don’t have to do the same boring thing every day. Swimming is a fantastic weapon in your arsenal. Or yoga. If you’ve never tried yoga, start out in a class with an easy routine.

Take a hike! Literally. Walk around the block a couple of times. Don’t do this directly after eating, as it tends to interfere with digestion, but don’t go on an empty stomach, either. And of course, drink plenty of water. Water acts as a coolant and a lubricant in the body, much the way oil does in your car. If you are dehydrated, your body will get the fluids it needs from your systems, specifically, your bowels, first. Constipation is not conducive to post-menopausal weight gain, so keep everything flowing smoothly—literally—by drinking plenty of water.

And of course, we cannot talk about post-menopausal weight gain without talking about food. Be aware that the changes going on in your body are going to require a change in your diet. Many of the minerals and vitamins you need are just not supplied by today’s over-processed foods. It would be a good idea to speak with a nutritionist about better food choices for fighting off post-menopausal weight gain.

Related article:
Weight loss after menopause.