The body’s natural inclination is to gain weight during menopause. Changes in hormone levels, activity levels and sleep can all affect weight gain in women over 40 years old. Women who have never had weight problems may begin to notice it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the extra pounds off or lose weight during menopause.
If you’re in menopause right now and you’re beginning to gain weight, it’s helpful to understand why these changes are happening. Here’s what you need to know and how to lose weight during menopause.
Hormone Changes Affect Weight During Menopause
Menopause is the natural decline of the reproductive hormones. Most women go through menopause in their 40’s and 50’s, though some women can experience menopause as early as their 30’s. Women may find it difficult to lose weight during menopause in addition to a natural decline in estrogen. During the pre-menopausal stages, a woman’s period can become irregular. Women are not diagnosed with menopause until it has been one year since their last period.
This natural decline in estrogen can have many symptoms, including:
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Sleep disturbances or difficulty sleeping
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Night sweats
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Slowed metabolism
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Changes in energy levels
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Trouble falling asleep
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Pain during sex
Sleeping problems can lead to changes in physical activity and slowed metabolism, both of which can make losing weight while going through menopause increasingly difficult. Women going through menopause often begin to gain weight, in part because they’re sleeping poorly and exercising less. This is natural, but can be problematic.
While weight gain might be natural, it’s important for women going through menopause to manage their weight. There are many things you can do to increase estrogen levels and lose weight while going through menopause.
How to Lose Weight During Menopause
To lose weight during menopause, start by making changes to your diet. Eat a diet rich in phytoestrogens, the chemical found in some plants that mimic the body’s natural estrogen. Foods high in phytoestrogens include:
- Berries
- Garlic
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Tempeh
- Soy beans
- Flax seeds
You can also lose weight during menopause by watching your calorie and fat intake. Eat whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Avoiding foods high in saturated fats will also help your effort to lose weight during menopause. Eat more lean meats like chicken and fish.
Watch your exercise levels. You might be getting less physical activity than you realize, which can make losing weight during menopause increasingly difficult. Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, or 75 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. To Join a gym or find an exercise buddy who will help hold you accountable to your exercise regimen.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Weight Loss
Hormone replacement therapy and weight loss often go hand in hand. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a type of hormone therapy that must be administered by a medical professional. BHRT mimics the body’s natural production of hormones, to help women through the transition they experience when they’re experiencing menopause.
Natural hormone replacement therapy and weight loss is a safe way for women to curb the effects of menopause. Hormone replacement therapy can help with sleep and other symptoms of menopause. With better sleep and more energy, many women are able to keep off extra weight or lose weight during menopause.
Contact Us for Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause
Nava Health and Vitality Center provides menopause hormone therapy for weight loss with women experiencing hormonal changes like perimenopause and menopause. Our BHRT services help women like you increase natural estrogen levels to avoid problems like weight gain and sleep disruption. To get hormone replacement therapy for menopause and weight loss, make an appointment online.
Our medical professionals can answer your questions about hormone replacement therapy for menopause, assess your current health, and make recommendations based on your unique needs. With treatment, we can show you how to lose weight during menopause. Contact us today to start looking and feeling more like your old self.
Contact Nava Health and Vitality Center About Bioidentical Hormones and Weight Loss
Hormones and weight gain after 40 can go through rapid changes. The best HRT for menopause and natural aging should be administered by someone who is experienced in the medical field and who understands the body’s hormones.
Call Nava Health and Vitality Center today or make an online appointment.