Why do women gain weight at the menopause?

Serenity

This process, during the menopause, becomes even harder because our bodies want to store the fat for later - a bit like "puppy fat" stored at puberty. We develop "insulin resistance" making our bodies store, rather than burn, calories. What changes is how you handle food due to the increased "insulin resistance". For example , if you eat 1000 calories before the Menopause you will burn 700 of them and maybe store 300. After the Menopause you will store 700 and burn only 300!
HRT can only partly help reverse this process.

The only things that can effectively increase your metabolism are activity and exercise.
Therefore, calculate (honestly) what percentage of your day is spent being active (actually on the move) and how much of it sitting, driving and sleeping. Compare that to when you were 40 years old and 30 and 20...! Watch a small child - they are constantly on the go and usually their mothers are too.

Weight distribution

When women gain weight after the Menopause the distribution of where it settles alters. An extra pound before the pre-menopause will settle evenly over hips, bottom, thighs and arms. After the menopause it ALL goes round the middle! Hence the term "middle age spread" or " midriff". A fairly modest weight gain can thus result in a change of dress size.

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redhead · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject:

oh god didn't know about the weight gain I 'LL look like a beer barrel

Amber · Member User Online: Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 381

I have already started yuccy the hot sweats at night times are the worst, or talking to someone and i go bright red

. So far i have been lucky my weight has gone in reverse lost about 3lb yippee. As for mood Swings there not a problem again something that has stopped , but my mirgaines are worse, can't have it all going right i suppose

Serenity · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

I only have the odd hot flush and its usually in the morning after my shower lol but the weight has deffo gone to my middle and storing there, hence me starting the diet forum lol !
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