Over the past decades of dieting I’ve done a ton of research on diets and weight loss - even though there are no miracles cures and not many answers, I still hold out some hope of at least finding a little bit of useful info. out there somewhere. 

So with my recent unexplained weight gains I’ve been investigating and digging for clues yet again.  This time with a focus on being female and menopausal.    The odds for weight loss are definitely bleak and it is extremely difficult to lose weight at this point.  Below is a summary of some of the info. I’ve found so far.

Some of the key factors that contribute to weight gain or inability to lose to weight for a women going into menopause include:

  • a buildup of toxins (artificial food stuff, pesticides, etc. that are locked in the fat cells) that have accumulated over the years causing inflammation as well as causing the body to hold on tight to the fat cells so the toxins are not released into the blood stream;
  • food allergies or sensitivities that may have gone unnoticed until estrogen levels dropped which contribute to inflammation;
  • the body’s need to maintain bone now that estrogen has dropped, so it holds on to fat and won’t release it (because your body fat is a secondary source of estrogen that the body wants to keep).

Though it is not easy, it is also not impossible to lose weight even at menopause.

Here are some tips I’ve found:

  • Reduce stress (adds to the inflammation problem and the body’s will to hold on to fat).
  • Eat whole foods, cut out fake, artificial foods and toxins.
  • Cleanse the liver.
  • Be extremely careful of counting caloreis (even an extra 100 to 200 a day can keep the weight on).
  • Drink lots of water - flush out the toxins.
  • Don’t use artificial sweeteners, these just add to the toxins in the body, also they behave in the body same as sugar so contribute to insulin resistance (a condition that causes your body to turn every thing no matter what that you eat into fat, but your cells are starving).   I think I definitely have a touch of insulin resistance - I gain weight even from raw veggies sometimes!
  • Be sure to get enough essential fatty acids (helps support your body’s metabolism and healthy).
  • Build up the good flora in your intestinal tract (If you have intestinal problems you may want to have a doctor check for dysbiosis (an overgrowth of yeast, harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites in the intestines).
  • Be aware of how foods are affecting you, eliminate any foods that you may be sensitive to.
  • Get regular checkups to test thyroid, blood sugar, liver and to be sure to eliminate any medical reasons for weight gain.
  • Get regular exercise, keeping in mind not to over stress the body (which will only contribute to inflammation).

These tips are helpful for everyone who wants to reach a healthier weight, but they are essential for a woman who’s hormones are entering the menopause phase of life. 

Regular diet advice (i.e. eat more, exercise hard) probably isn’t going to work for a woman of 50+ years, the way it does for someone who is 20 or 30, and definitely some of the advice that works for men won’t work either. 

I’m going to up my essential fatty intake (capsule form), drink more water (I’ve already eliminated diet soda and cystal light months ago), and do a bit more investigating on dealing with insulin resistance - which I know I have a touch of from research I’ve done before and the symptoms I have.  And I’ll be keeping an even tighter reign on my calories, not even one more teaspoon or taste of anything!

My goal is to get healthy, I’m not going to let a stubborn scale and obstinate fat cells get in my way or affect my determination.

Related Posts:  Reasons for Rapid Weight Gain.

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