Perimenopausal and Menopausal

This is the stage in our life where we ask ourselves that simple question “What is happening to me?”

Menopause is not a disease …. It’s a natural transition all women go through. Just like puberty and pregnancy, menopause is a shift in hormones, but in reverse. Like puberty, the transition will end, weight will stabilize, moods will even out and thinking will clear. You got through puberty, and pregnancy for some of us….and you will make it through menopause as well.

Each of us are born with approximately 30 billion female fat cells. Each efficient, smart, stubborn fat cell has the power to store fat every single day, especially during puberty, pregnancy and the transition to menopause. The difference is during puberty and pregnancy an increase in estrogen will cause weight gain. But during perimenopause, a drop in estrogen will cause the weight gain.

You are gaining weight because your fat cells are responding to lower estrogen levels. You may not want to gain weight, but your body does. The average weight gain for an active women is approximately 12 pounds. You may think the best way to fight expending fat cells is through dieting, but as you’ll discover, your fat cells fight back now more than ever and will make you gain even more weight.

Are you between 35-55 and have the following symptoms:

	cranky, grumpy, tired, moody or have PMS from hell
	craving more chocolate, sugar and fat
	weight is starting to climb slowly for no reason
	waist measurement increases by at least one inch
	the mirror is showing more cellulite than yesterday
	breast are growing along with the fat on your back/font>
	have your periods changed to heavy, irregular or erratic
	loosing muscle mass and not feeling as toned as usual
	your hourglass body has changed noticeably to more of an apple shape
	hot flashes (or better known as power surges)
	insomnia
	sweating so much at night that you need to change your sheets
	heart palpitations
	fibroids
	incontinence (work those Kegals)
	mood swings
	migraine headaches…or if you are a migraine sufferer they have intensified
	vaginal dryness or painful intercourse
	loss of sexual desire
	fuzzy thinking (thank goodness for stickies)
	breast swelling and tenderness
	One size fits all label has crept into your closet along with elastic-waisted pants and skirts

The signs are there….you are perimenopausing…..hang in there when you are postmenopausal (12 months with no period) your moods will even out; your memory will come back; your weight will stabilize and the fat cells will get smaller.

Interesting information about women’s fat cell:

	a woman’s fat cell is five times larger than a man’s
	a woman’s fat cell has more than twice the fat-storing enzymes
	a woman’s fat cell has half the fat-releasing enzymes
	during perimenopause a woman’s fat cell increases by 20%

The only way to manage menopausal weight permanently is to forgo yoyo dieting and begin a new, natural way of eating small balanced nutritionally dense meals and exercising that works with your midlife fat cells instead of against them.

Check out our great personal trainers!