Weight management and exercise is an issue for many women, not just those going through the menopause. The feeling of frustration when the scales tip in the wrong direction can be very disheartening, particularly if you have been “good??? with your diet and exercise regimen. Unfortunately, in the middle years and beyond, the metabolism slows down and your body burns fewer calories than it once did.
“Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness??? – Edward Stanley
For those of you in the menopausal years you may have found that you are gaining weight primarily in the tummy area, whereas pre-menopause you may have gained in the hips and thighs. This is mainly due to oestrogen depletion, and beyond 50 there may be issues of insulin resistance which makes letting go of weight a challenge.
Many women find that by reducing the amount of carbohydrates they include into their diet helps them to stay in control of their weight. After all, white bread, white rice, and white pasta have no real nutritional value, so why would you eat it when you can fill up on tasty natural vegetables? This really is the time to clean up your diet.
Start by getting rid of the following:
- Food additives
- Processed foods
- Boxed cereals
- Sugar
- Alcohol
- Takeaways
Here are some tips to help you to let go of excess weight:
- Don’t buy unhealthy food and bring it into the home; if it isn’t in the cupboard you cannot eat it
- Eat mindfully and slowly, chew your food thoroughly and savour every bite
- Put your knife and fork down between mouthfuls
- Eat from a smaller plate
- Hypnotherapy may also help you to stay on track
You are an adult. Stop being controlled by cakes, biscuits or sweets.
Do your best to eat your food in as natural state as possible. Go organic as much as you can. Eat little and often and keep your diet healthy, natural and clean.
The menopausal years do bring changes such as a slower metabolism, hormonal fluctuations, and disrupted sleep patterns, but the thyroid may also become more sluggish too.
Think of your body like a high performance car. You would take care of it, put good fuel and oil into it to ensure optimum performance, and you would put it into the garage to fix it if something went wrong. The same applies to your body. If you do not put the correct food into your body, or take care of it, it is likely to fall into a state of disrepair as a result of neglect.
Respect your body, it has served you well to this point. Maybe it has carried and fed your babies, and it deserves love, attention and care, through diet, exercise, and good lifestyle choices.
You already know that your body is going through changes during the midlife years. How you deal with those is a significant factor in how your overall health and wellness will be. Will you sit back and accept that this is happening and do nothing to help yourself? Or are you willing to make a commitment to the management of your weight, fitness and wellness goals?
It is a true saying, “if you keep doing the same thing, you will continue to get the same results???. Now is the time to really pay attention to your diet and what you are choosing to put into your mouth. Now is the time to ensure you incorporate exercise into your life. This can be as simple as a 20 minute walk every day, or attending exercise classes.
The key to staying motivated with exercise is to do something that you really enjoy and look forward to doing. If you really dislike going to the gym and working out with other people, then why not exercise at home? Instead of sitting on the sofa watching a movie in the evening, why not buy a small trampoline and jump up and down a little while watching TV? Simple, effective, fun and easy on the joints.
There are so many exercise options available and keeping it varied will help to keep you motivated and on track:
- Yoga
- Zumba
- Spinning
- Swimming
- Bootcamp
These are only five of the many different types of exercise that you could do. Aim for four times per week and maybe walking each day. Remember that exercise burns calories, speeds up the metabolism and gives you that feel-good endorphin rush. You may wish to ask yourself why you are not exercising.
Exercise is not about making the time to exercise, it is about creating the time. It is a tiny percentage of your day.
If you have enjoyed this Blog and would like to know more, why not head over to the Flourish Beyond 40 Services and Shop to see how we can help support you in your journey towards health and wellness. We even have a Weight Management & Excercise Module along with a range of other programmes.
Have a fun filled day!
Isobel McArthur
Founder of Flourish Beyond 40
