by: Cathy Taylor

During menopause, many women report that the challenge of weight
loss becomes even more difficult. The need to lose weight haunts
women most of the time, and now more men are reporting the same
struggle. When women hit menopause, weight gathers around the waist
and hips; despite our best efforts to diet and exercise.

What we know is that this additional body fat is linked to your
hormones. Most women follow a conventional low-fat,
high-carbohydrate diet with lots of processed foods. Eventually this
diet creates a condition known as insulin resistance; see Dr.
Schwarzbein's book on the book list. When you are insulin resistant,
your body converts calories into fat even when you are dieting.
Menopause feels like a losing battle, but it doesn't have to be.

When you are stressed, as the body typically is during menopause,
stress hormones block weight loss. Despite adequate food, the body
acts as if it's in a famine and stores all spare calories as fat.
This leads to a metabolic disorder called adrenal fatigue.

Many women combine a high-stress life with a low-fat, high-carb diet
which creates a powerful hormonal imbalance which causes us to gain
weight. Yo-yo dieting exacerbates the problem.
Also, when a woman is on a high-carb diet she is often barraged with
a craving for sweets. The body can't maintain optimal blood sugar
and serotonin levels, so you snack and drink caffeine to feel
better. That makes your insulin resistance worse and the vicious
cycle of gaining weight is accelerated.

During perimenopause, women lose estrogen which is an added factor
to this problem. As estrogen decreases, the body needs extra fat
resources. Other factors that play into this problem, are unresolved
emotional issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues such as
yeast, and even heavy metal toxicity.

So what do we do?

The most important step is to GET HEALTHY!

Follow an eating plan like the one in the Schwarzbein Principle or
the Zone Diet

You need protein at every meal, low carbs, very little to no
processed food, and lots of fruit and vegetables

Drink plenty of water

Take nutritional supplements

Try Supplements Designed for Menopause

Stop weighing yourself, use your clothes as a gauge (focus on your
health not your weight)

Start exercising - walk 4-5 times a week for 30 minute (it boosts
metabolism)

Get help for emotional eating - you have to face your fears to get
through them

Reduce the stress in your life, make time for fun and relaxation -
strive for BALANCE

Learn to love yourself during menopause and accept who you are and
at what stage in life you find yourself

Menopause can make weight loss even more challenging for both women
and men. But with the right knowledge and some hard work, it can be
done.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only,
and is not intended as medical advice.



About the author:
Cathy writes frequently on mid-life issues for women and men
particularly menopause, and a copy of her book can be found at
http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com
To read a sample of this book go to
http://www.everythingmenopause.com/currentissue.html