How to Lose Perimenopause Weight

Perimenoopause refers to the period before you actually reach menopause, when your body is starting to experience changes and adjustments that often result in hormonal disruptions and weight gain. While some women have been told that some extra weight is an inevitable part of approaching menopause, the truth is that much can be done to lose any unwanted pounds that come your way. While traditional weight loss programs may not longer work for you, there are still things you can do to lose perimenopause weight.

STEP ONE: Get Back to the Gym

As you step over the line into your 40s, the rate at which your body burns fat dramatically drops. This means that it will take a lot more effort for a 40 year old to burn 1000 calories than it will for a 20 year old, even if both are following the exact same workout. Add to that the fact that once you reach perimenopause, you start losing muscle (about half a pound each year). The less muscle you have, the lower your metabolic rate. To contrarest this, you should plan a workout routine that includes resistance training (weightlifting).

STEP TWO: Learn to Relax

As you reach perimenopause, your body increases the production of oestrogen and cortisol, both good hormones to help you deal with the physical changes to come. However, an excess of these hormones also means an excess of fat, especially the one that accumulates in your mid-section. Aside from exercising the weight off, learning how to deal with stress effectively can also help you shape your body. Either learn to meditate or take up a hobby that helps you relax. If you have weight to lose, look for something that keeps your mind busy but also pushes your body, such as a walk in the woods or swimming.

STEP THREE: Look at Your Plate

Crash diets are one of the biggest culprits later on in life. Everytime you lose weight quickly, you usually gain it back plus an additional pound or two. The problem is that those additional pounds are usually fat, which means next time you go on a diet, you will have a larger percentage of fat to burn. Diets that encourage fast weight loss also tend to make you lose muscle mass, which causes a slower metabolism and makes it hard to lose weight next time you go on a diet. To prevent this, try adjusting your portions and getting rid of anything that provides lots of calories but no nutrients. This can mean little changes like switching to frozen yogurt (rather than eating ice cream) or using whole wheat bread in your sandwiches. Remember that the idea is to make changes you can live with, no starving yourself for a short period and then going back to your regular diet.