Every woman knows that at some point in their life they are going end up going through that life change known as menopause that they have heard so much about. Menopause marks the end of one life phase and introduces women to the next phase of their life.
This concludes menstruation and is a normal phase of aging. With menopause, a woman becomes unable to become pregnant, it is a breath of fresh air for some but a depressing thought for others. Also, the levels of estrogen and progesterone go down.
While the typical age for menopause is fifty-two, it can happen anywhere between the ages of forty-two and fifty-six. A woman can confidently say that she has begun her journey of menopause if she has gone an entire year without a menstrual cycle.
While there are advantages of this changing phase in life, there is the issue of gaining weight which many women experience. To keep out the weight gain situation, there are certain things that any woman should know.
Weight gain is almost bound to happen due to hormonal changes. To what degree though will be different from person to person. Aside from the common changes in hormones, there are also some lifestyle issues that you must have in mind.
One may realize that, although they had no problems eating their favorite foods, about a year back, now, with the onset of menopause, that very same unhealthy lifestyle would be taking a toll on their bodies. Preventing weight gain during menopause should be done by changing to healthier eating habits and sticking with them.
You can of course do a lot to get back in shape by dropping the extra pounds if there is still some wieght gain. While it is easy to say that the weight gain should be prevented, it is not always that easy. If you have gained twenty pounds or more it’s very important for you to seriously do something about it.
It is extremely important to make sure that you are doing everything possible to get the weight off and keep it off. Because, when you gain excessive weight, you have a much higher risk of developing diabetes, knees and joint problems, and lower back, lung and heart problems. Even breast cancer is a possibility.
Start by keeping track of your calorie intake. Calories are not just calories as it is important to pay attention to exactly where you are getting them. Carrots will give you better health then a bunch of red meat. Along with watching closely to what you eat, make sure that you are getting enough exercise in. Aerobic exercise and stretching is a great way to get started.
After you get into the swing of things, you can add in some weight training to help burn fat and build some muscle mass. Whether it is running, walking, or yoga, as long as you are in motion, you are heading in the right direction. It is also important to make sure that you are continuing with your healthy eating and exercise habits even after you drop the weight so that you can continue a healthy lifestyle that will keep the weight off for good.
