Weight Gain During Menopause - Why Does It Happen?

The weight gain you are experiencing may be brought on by hormonal level swings inherent in perimenopause (precursor to menopause). If you are finding extra fat deposits building around your hips and belly that is a signature symptom of perimenopause.

Perimenopause weight gain is sometimes referred to as "the middle aged spread". It is something that most women think is an inevitable outcome of this phase of their lives - not so. Of course there will be hormonal shifts and more estrogen manufacturing fat cells retained. When it come to perimenopause weight gain there are several causal factors, some being:

Everyday Stress

There are many reasons for stress including physical, emotional and psychological causes . Inappropriate dietary habits such as fad eating regimes and over consumption of sugary foods wreaks havoc on your hormone levels. Unrelenting stress can set up an inflammatory response in your body, leading to disasterous consequences for your health.

Dietary Factors

Combine a high-stress life with a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet and sedentary lifestyle, and you have a recipe for huge hormonal imbalances. Weight gain is almost inevitable in this scenario. Food cravings can be triggered by hormonal variances because your body can’t regulate your blood sugar levels, you are addicted to snacks and fast food to fill the void.

This cycle becomes a part of your life and without even realizing it your weight creeps up.

Toxins In The Body

Another factor in perimenopause weight gain is the build up in your system of pollutants and chemicals present in our environment. Pesticides, cosmetic chemicals (western women will on average ingest a pound of lead contained in lipsticks and other cosmetic products!) and food additives all play a part in overwhelming you metabolism .

To rid you body of toxins, eat good fresh unprocessed foods and drink plenty of clean water. Your brain sees stress (toxins in your body) as starvation and thus stores excess fat as a survival response.The brain signals the body to retain fat to protect it through the imagined famine}.

So, take heart. There are strategies for you to use that will allow you to wrestle back control of your body. Start with reviewing your diet. Around 30-35 percent of your calories should come from lean protein whilst 32 percents comes from carbohydrate and the rest from quality sources of fat (Olive oil and oily fish such as tuna).

How active are you?. Thirty minutes of brisk walking followed by ten minutes of basic calisthenics ( ladies push ups, no-weight squats, lunges and side/front bridges) will deliver great results.

Be gentle on yourself. Yoga, meditation and avoiding stressful situations - as well as learning how to process them differently, will lower your overall stress levels.

Denise Saunders has researched and assessed cutting ege programs and information for women experiencing menopause.Discover how menopause affects your health, physically and mentally and how you can regain control of your body and life. Go to the Menapause Weight Loss site now at http://www.menapauseweightloss.com..