Why am I Gaining Weight During the Prei- Menopause?
Men and women struggle with weight gain. But women’s bodies change over time in so many ways. So, let’s start with the pre-menopausal phase of a woman’s life. Firstly, menopause is not an illness, although the changes it can bring can be a significant challenge to some women. I need to state that every woman is different and will experience menopause uniquely. But what we do know, is that there are common symptoms, and one is weight gain.
So, let’s see what we can learn about why a woman is suddenly putting on weight and or finds it more difficult to lose It.!!!!
Most women have looked for quick-fix solutions to weight problems, and so unfortunately, they are the main purchasers of low-calorie and low-fat foods.
Facts about what can cause weight gain.
Women have more fat cells than men, we are built differently. Men have 26 billion fat cells in their bodies, while women have 35 billion. Fat comprises 27 % of an average woman’s total weight, as opposed to only 15% for men.
Fat is essential for reproduction and ovulation. It is a well-known fact that a girl’s body needs to comprise of at least 17% fat, before she will start to menstruate. So, if a woman is too thin, her periods can stop, and she will be unable to conceive.
Fats are not our enemy, it’s the wrong fats that are the problem.
Each woman is built differently, and our body shapes make a big difference to the amount of weight we can carry healthily. So, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is the guide used to identify your “ideal weight”. Your BMI is the ratio of your height to your weight.
One of the causes of weight gain is dieting. Yes, that’s right, your body is programmed to hold onto fat, it’s nature’s way of protecting the body.
When you crash diet, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy and make the most out of the small amounts you are eating. So, when you go back to eating normally for you, your body deals with it at a much slower rate and more fat is stored. This is why yo-yo dieting will not work.
Calories in = Calories out??? Not true because people can burn and store calories very differently.
Gain weight & fat only because you eat more calories than you burn?? We know that thyroid problems can also play a big role. An underactive thyroid can be a cause of your gradual weight gain, and it should be checked out by your Doctor.
Food Intolerance – Here the reaction to different foods eaten, can take place between one hour and three days after ingesting the food. Symptoms such as weight gain, bloating, and water retention can be present.
Damage to Leptin (hormone) receptors in the brain causes overeating. This is similar to insulin resistance; in that it results from frequent exposure to high levels of the hormone. If you eat a diet high in sugars, low-fibre foods, and processed carbs, the cells become resistant, and you will not feel full. The good news is that it can be re-established by eating your fruit and vegetables, good fats and whole foods!!!
Most of us do not drink enough water. Ironically, women who suffer from water retention tend to restrict their liquid intake thinking that the less water they drink, the less their body will retain. Actually, the opposite is true.
Increase your intake of fibre, this will not only benefit the bowels and prevent constipation. Fibre is also useful when you want to lose weight because it helps digestion, increases your feeling of fullness and removes toxins from the body. Fibre plays a major role in balancing our female hormones. Fibre contained in grains and vegetables helps to reduce excess oestrogen in the body.
The liver is the waste disposal unit of the body, not only for toxins, waste products, drugs and alcohol, but also hormones. It also plays a vital part in metabolising fat, and it helps to use up fat to produce energy. The liver optimises the function of the thyroid.
Scientists have begun to study the benefits of a group of plant hormones known as phytoestrogens. These hormones naturally occur in certain foods such as soya (organic soya milk, miso, tamari, tofu, tempeh, edamame) and in other forms which include linseeds, brown rice, oats, legumes, chickpeas, lentils, garlic, fennel, celery, parsley, cauliflower, broccoli, sesame seeds, cabbage, sprouts, edamame beans. They have a protective effect, as well as helping to balance hormones.
The benefits of regular exercise cannot be exaggerated. Regular exercise has been linked to an improved immune system. It helps to keep your bowels working efficiently, which means you are eliminating the waste products your body does not need. It stimulates your thyroid gland, and it helps to improve thyroid function, which has a direct effect on your metabolism.
In conclusion, there’s no point in adopting strict measures that prevent you from living life to the fullest. After all, food is to be enjoyed!!!
Make sure your blood sugar is kept level.
Follow an exercise programme that you enjoy.
Improve your diet, based on the recommendations above.
Use specific nutritional supplements that are known to help with weight loss.
Drink plenty of water and herbal teas.
Keep stress under control, do things you enjoy and have balance in your life.
Aine O Reilly Mc Dermott C.F.C.P.
FertilityCare Practitioner
Nutrition, Food & Health Coach
Fitzwilliam Food Intolerance Testing
0871346038------ aine.nutrition@gmail.com
