As women age, it’s natural to experience weight gain. In fact, when trying to lose weight, many women undergo a yo-yo-ing effect. They commonly experience losing weight only to gain it all back, and sometimes gain more than they lost. If you gain weight easily and you’re tired of yo-yo-ing, we’ve got a solution for you.
Here we break down everything you need to know about the cause of weight gain and what you can do to mitigate it. Let’s dive in!
What to Know About Menopause Weight Gain
Menopause weight gain is natural. Though frustrating, it’s a common occurrence amongst women. Most women we work with, who are 45 and older, tend to get caught in the cycle of losing weight and gaining it back.
Let’s break down menopause for a moment. Menopause is a biological process that women begin to experience between the ages of 45 to 55. It marks the end of the reproductive years. A common symptom includes weight gain, especially around the waist and abdomen.
This is mainly because hormonal changes occur, affecting a woman’s metabolism. A slowing metabolism makes it difficult to maintain and lose weight. Moreover, as women age, muscle mass decreases and body fat increases. These things also contribute to weight gain.
Managing menopause weight gain is possible! First and foremost, getting to the root cause is vital. Some additional suggestions for management include:
- Eating real, whole foods
- Managing (and eliminating) stress
- Getting adequate sleep
- Moving your body
- Hydration
- Balancing hormones
- Not overdoing it on exercise
Optimizing metabolism will be the best way to regain strength and keep weight off permanently. Remember that weight gain is a symptom of inflammation and imbalanced hormones. Tackle that, and you’ll be on the path to restoring your bodily autonomy!
Why You Gain Weight: The Causes and Solutions
When we help women lose 20 to 45 pounds in 6 weeks, it’s always by rebooting their metabolism. And here’s the thing: we don’t want them to gain weight again! This is because it makes the process of losing weight much more difficult. Not to mention, you’ll likely gain more than you initially had. Some other downsides of regaining the weight include:
- Insulin resistance
- Reduced muscle mass
- Increased fat
- More difficulty losing weight in the future
Overall, it’s hard on the body to be in the cycle of yo-yo-ing. It’s actually worse for your body in the long term.
The Real Reason You Gain Weight and Yo-Yo
If you gain weight and yo-yo it’s because you are losing it incorrectly. Though highly recommended by health gurus, taking a calories in/calories out approach is one of the worst things you can do. Why is this a problem? Because it’s not getting to the root cause of anything. Lessening your calorie intake is a surface solution to a deeper root problem.
Remember, weight gain is a symptom of something bigger happening in the body. Without addressing the root cause, you’ll never permanently keep the weight off.
The Effect of Stress
Reducing calorie intake causes stress in the body, and stress causes a slow metabolism. Your body doesn’t know the difference between an actual famine and self-induced starvation. Because of this, your body begins storing fat because it’s trying to stay alive. This creates stress-related imbalances, which cause midsection fat storage.
If all you do to lose weight is cut calories, your body will never permanently lose weight. You’ll hit a point where you plateau, then gain it back, thus bringing you back into the exhausting cycle of yo-yo-ing. Moreover, it’ll never be a sustainable weight loss process.
Refocus Your Attention
So, what can you do instead? Refocus your attention. Instead of concentrating on weight loss, focus your attention on getting healthy. Ditch starving your body and fixating on exercise; these tactics will only cause more stress.
Your attention is better used by focusing on foods that heal inflammation and blood sugar. Focus on nutrient-dense, pro-metabolic food that promotes optimal metabolic function. This is the key to getting healthy and addressing the root cause of weight gain.
Revive Your Health and Confidence Today!
If you’re experiencing a few extra pounds you don’t have to battle it alone. Here at The Metabolism Reboot, we help women address the root causes of their weight issues. With our programs, you’ll heal inflammation and hormone imbalances, resulting in healthy and sustainable weight loss.
Ready to regain your health and confidence? Our 10-week coaching program will help you tackle your slow metabolism, and our 1:1 guidance will ensure you have the support needed to flourish. Reach out to us today to get started!