Does Menopause Lead to Weight Gain?

Do you really know about menopause? We know… the word alone seems to make all women run into a corner and rock back and forth. Interestingly enough, through speaking with friends and family members we established that although menopause is an inevitable fact of life, a majority of women don’t actually know how it works.

But you know us and we’ve always got your back. We have looked into what really happens to our bodies when it is going through menopause and what the side effects of menopause is and we are bringing this information straight to you lovely ladies so that you know what to expect. 

So what even is menopause? Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t menstruated in 12 consecutive months and can no longer become pregnant naturally. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 but in some cases it can develop earlier. The symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse, insomnia, frequent urination, urinary tract infections, decreased libido, vaginal atrophy, depression and mood swings, skin hair and other tissue changes. 

Now before you start to freak out keep in mind that you will get a heads up if menopause is about to begin as most women actually start getting the symptoms four years before their last period and in some cases the symptoms will continue for four years after your last period. If you don’t want to wait around to find out when you will start experiencing menopause then we recommend you chat with your family members as genetics can have a big role in the commencement of menopause. 

Unfortunately one of the main aspects that go hand in hand with menopause is weight gain, which is mainly because our estrogen levels become low during menopause. A form of estrogen called estradiol decreases during menopause and of course, this hormone is the one that helps regulate metabolism and body weight therefore lower levels of estradiol may lead to weight gain. (Women rant) How frustrating is that? Out of all the hormones in our body, the one controlling our weight has to be the one that decreases!! (Okay rant over).

On top of the changing estrogen levels as we get older our exercise also tends to decrease, which means we have less muscle mass and burn fewer calories during the day. When we have less muscle mass it also lowers you’re resting metabolism, making it easier to gain weight. Most women also just find it harder to lose weight the older they get therefore when it comes to battling weight gain, there are a few factors to consider here. 

But it isn’t all bad, it’s not like you can never lose the weight gained through menopause. All you need to do is make a conscious effort to reduce your daily calorie intake by 400 to 600 calories to help manage your weight and try to exercise daily for a minimum of 30 minutes. By doing so you will increase your energy, have a better night’s sleep, improve your mood and promote your general well being.  

If you’re not sure how you can cut calories and modify your diet then we recommend the Thinco 25 Day Program or start cooking healthier, lighter meals such as Cod Cucumber Avocado & Mango Salsa Salad, Thai Green Pork Lettuce Cups or Chili Stuffed Peppers with Feta. 

Same goes with exercising, if you aren’t super excited about the idea or about going into a gym then we recommend you start implementing at home exercise into your daily routine. 

We also recommend making sure you get an adequate amount of sleep every single night and try to lower your stress levels as both lack of sleep and high levels of stress are associated with weight gain.  
So there you have it ladies, within a quick read you have learned about menopause, the symptoms, when to expect it, why it causes weight gain but also how to combat that weight gain. If you are ever stuck on recipe ideas or even work out routines, visit the blog section on our website to get some inspiration.