How to Fight Perimenopausal Weight Gain
Some women are quite surprised to learn that perimenopausal weight gain happens without any change in their diet or activity levels. A brief discussion on the topic is important, so that you can avoid what statistics tell us will happen to two-thirds of women.
Perimenopausal weight gain happens without any changes made by the woman because of the internal changes that are going on in her body. Perimenopause consists of those few years before menopause actually begins and may bring on some of the symptoms of full-blown menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and missed periods. Perimenopausal weight gain is another one of those symptoms of the beginning changes in a woman's body, largely because the hormones are starting to fluctuate wildly.
When the body is under stress-which the body considers fluctuating hormones to be-it sends out cortisol and adrenalin into the body. These hormones will, among other things, tell the body to start holding on to its resources. Perimenopausal weight gain happens, because the body has started holding on-literally, for dear life-to the existing stores of future energy, namely, your fat cells.
On top of that, your body has another valid reason for holding on to your fat. Fat can produce estrogen. So, when the ovaries have begun shutting down, and no more estrogen is available to the body from them, your body wants to keep all the other resources for estrogen that it can. It makes losing weight a little more difficult, but there is good news on that front.
Fat cells that are stored at and after menopause, and during perimenopause, is stored differently that before. Instead of being layers just under the skin level-which is called subcutaneous fat-it is now being stored viscerally. The good news is that visceral fat responds much more quickly to weight loss efforts than subcutaneous fat.
Which is very good news, because visceral fat is actually much more dangerous to the body than subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat is stored in and around your body's organs and directly interacts with them, often interfering in their processes. In fact, visceral fat has been linked to the onset of some very loathsome diseases, namely, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and heart disease.
Another factor to take into consideration is that perimenopausal weight gain occurs when a woman starts to slow down. Perimenopause and menopause both encourage slow metabolism. Add to that the fact that the demands on a woman's time start to slack off at this point in her life and she starts to slow down, and you have got the makings for some serious perimenopausal weight gain.
Needless to say, diet and exercise are going to be the key players to avoid perimenopausal weight gain. Speak with a nutritionist to learn vital tips for meal and menu planning. As for activities, anything that gets you up and moving, breathing and stretching counts as exercise. Try to work up to 30 minutes a day for a successful campaign against perimenopausal weight gain.
Perimenopausal weight gain happens without any changes made by the woman because of the internal changes that are going on in her body. Perimenopause consists of those few years before menopause actually begins and may bring on some of the symptoms of full-blown menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and missed periods. Perimenopausal weight gain is another one of those symptoms of the beginning changes in a woman's body, largely because the hormones are starting to fluctuate wildly.
When the body is under stress-which the body considers fluctuating hormones to be-it sends out cortisol and adrenalin into the body. These hormones will, among other things, tell the body to start holding on to its resources. Perimenopausal weight gain happens, because the body has started holding on-literally, for dear life-to the existing stores of future energy, namely, your fat cells.
On top of that, your body has another valid reason for holding on to your fat. Fat can produce estrogen. So, when the ovaries have begun shutting down, and no more estrogen is available to the body from them, your body wants to keep all the other resources for estrogen that it can. It makes losing weight a little more difficult, but there is good news on that front.
Fat cells that are stored at and after menopause, and during perimenopause, is stored differently that before. Instead of being layers just under the skin level-which is called subcutaneous fat-it is now being stored viscerally. The good news is that visceral fat responds much more quickly to weight loss efforts than subcutaneous fat.
Which is very good news, because visceral fat is actually much more dangerous to the body than subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat is stored in and around your body's organs and directly interacts with them, often interfering in their processes. In fact, visceral fat has been linked to the onset of some very loathsome diseases, namely, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and heart disease.
Another factor to take into consideration is that perimenopausal weight gain occurs when a woman starts to slow down. Perimenopause and menopause both encourage slow metabolism. Add to that the fact that the demands on a woman's time start to slack off at this point in her life and she starts to slow down, and you have got the makings for some serious perimenopausal weight gain.
Needless to say, diet and exercise are going to be the key players to avoid perimenopausal weight gain. Speak with a nutritionist to learn vital tips for meal and menu planning. As for activities, anything that gets you up and moving, breathing and stretching counts as exercise. Try to work up to 30 minutes a day for a successful campaign against perimenopausal weight gain.
I know how difficult it might be to fight perimenopausal weight gain. To make it easier you should choose healthy diet plan adjusted to your lifestyle,which not only helps you lose perimenopausal weight but also will protect you from gaining weight in menopause. Visit http://www.menopause-weight.com for more information on perimenopausal weight gain.
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