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Writer's pictureDr. Ashna

How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause

Updated: Aug 11, 2022


How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause



We all want to know the big secret to losing weight during perimenopause and post-menopause. It is pretty simple, and you need to get off the couch, go to the gym and start exercising. You can’t just sit around all day thinking about losing weight.

However, the battle does not just stop at eating well and working out for some people, and this is because there are often other lifestyle factors or psychological issues that may be holding them back from achieving their weight loss goals.

The key to losing weight during perimenopause and post-menopause is to do everything in moderation. You must realize that a little bit of everything can be good, but too much of anything is not good.

Specific changes need to be made in your life that will lead you to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause. You must start eating healthy foods, drink lots of water, and sleep at least 8 hours a night.

Losing weight during perimenopause and post-menopause may not be as easy as you wish. This, however, doesn't change the fact you must make changes in your life if you want to see results.


How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause


Understanding the Risk Factor of Menopause Weight Gain


The significant risk factor of menopause weight gain is hormone imbalance. Menopause is because your body stops producing the hormones that help regulate your weight. As a result, you have to balance out these hormones to get your desired results.

Other factors contribute to menopause weight gain, including genetics, overweight, and obesity. It is essential to realize that it's not just your age, gender, or genes that play a role in weight gain during menopause.

Understanding weight gains in perimenopause and post-menopause in a woman comes down to many factors. One is a decline in estrogen levels, so many women experience weight gain during perimenopause and post-menopause.

A drop in estrogen levels from menopause can cause extra weight after menopause. This is because estrogen is responsible for many functions in the body, including maintaining your metabolism.

So what can you do to avoid menopause weight gain? You need to balance your hormones and metabolic rate by eating a healthy diet and exercising. This will help regulate your hormones and stop you from experiencing weight gain during perimenopause and post-menopause.

The critical thing to remember is that battling menopausal symptoms is not something that happens overnight. You have a lot of time to take care of yourself during this experience of menopause. If you're looking for ways to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause, it's best to start now.

Suppose you are unaware of the risk factors of menopause weight gain and other menopausal symptoms. In that case, you will be more likely to have complicated health conditions like heart disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, or diabetes due to gaining weight during this period. Therefore, you need to know how to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause to stay healthy.



How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause


Battling Effects of Menopause by Healthy Eating

Now that we know how menopause can cause weight gain in a woman, we will look at the best ways to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause. You need to realize that it is not just exercise that can help you lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause.

Eating healthy is an excellent way to help you lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause. Eating healthy foods can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism, and this means that you will burn more calories than usual when you are eating healthy foods.



How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause


losing weight during perimenopause and post-menopause



Plan a Well-Rounded, Healthy Diet


If you want to learn how to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause as a woman, then start eating healthier foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and unsaturated fats like olive oil.

When it comes to losing weight during perimenopause and post-menopause, eating healthy foods is vital for many reasons. Not only does it help you stay healthy during this period, but it also helps with overall health by increasing your metabolism.


This means you will burn more calories than usual when eating healthy foods. Therefore, you need to eat a well-rounded diet and get enough protein and healthy fats in your diet.

Healthy foods can help you lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause by increasing your metabolism. Eating a well-rounded diet to improve your health and weight is also crucial, so you should get enough protein and healthy fats. It will be hard for you to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause if you do not.

Cut Back on Sweets

If you want to learn how to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause, you need to stop eating a lot of sweets. Sweets are full of empty calories and are not suitable for your health. In addition, they can negatively affect your blood pressure, which poses a heightened risk for a woman in a menopausal transition.

You need to cut back on sweets because they will increase your weight if you overeat them. You should also avoid eating too many refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, and white pasta.

Instead, you should eat more complex carbohydrates like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and beans, which will help balance your blood sugar levels. It is also crucial for you to cut back on sweets in general because they will increase weight if you overeat them, whether or not you're undergoing menopausal symptoms.



Watch your carbohydrate intake


Many scientists have argued for the importance of an unrefined carb diet for excess stomach fat and have said it affects the growth of the body. The weight loss epidemic in middle-aged women is destroying women’s health and their families, says the medical director.


A study released in April 2017 in The British Journal of Nutrition shows low carb consumption reduces postmenopausal weight gain. The study put two groups of women on different diets for eight weeks. One group ate a low-fat diet with 60% carbohydrates, and the other group ate a low-carb diet with 40% carbohydrates.


At the end of the study, the low-carb group had lost an average of 2.3 kg (5.1 lb), while the low-fat group had gained 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). The low-carb group also significantly decreased their waist circumference, while the low-fat group did not.


Drinking Lots of Water

It is essential to keep your thirst quenched with water during the menopause transition or simply as a postmenopausal woman. You need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, especially during this period. You need to drink lots of water during this time because it helps your overall health by keeping your body hydrated.

This means that you will be able to keep up with the recommended amount of water each day so that your body can function appropriately throughout this period. Drinking lots of water is also essential because it helps your overall health by keeping your body hydrated.

Avoiding Hot Flashes

One of the most commonly felt symptoms of menopause is hot flashes. If you are currently experiencing hot flashes, you need to learn how to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause to stop them.

Hot flashes are very uncomfortable, especially during this time for a menopausal woman. Therefore, you need to learn how to lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause to stop them from happening.

The main thing to understand about hot flashes is that they are often connected to certain "trigger foods" that can cause them. This can differ from person to person. One possible type of food that can cause hot flashes includes spicy foods, such as hot peppers.

Therefore, you need to avoid eating spicy foods during this time because they will increase your weight if you overeat them. Other possibilities include coffee and alcohol consumption.

So, keeping these trigger substances out of your diet may help make your weight loss smoother. Make sure to keep your spice, caffeine, and alcohol intake at the lower levels, and you'll likely see improvements in health and weight loss soon.


Have Dynamic Exercise Routines

As postmenopausal women, you need to be dynamic in your exercise routine. It would help if you had dynamic exercise routines to help you lose excess belly fat during perimenopause and post-menopause.

A dynamic exercise routine is one that you can modify as you go along, and this means that you can adjust your workout based on how you feel and what your body needs at the time. It is also crucial for you to have dynamic exercise routines because they will help with weight loss and gain muscle mass.

This means that if you are currently going through symptoms of post-menopause or menopause, then it's essential to do something different from your regular exercise so that your body doesn't get used to it. This will make it easier for you to lose belly fat, gain muscle mass during perimenopause and post-menopause, and improve overall health.

Sometimes menopause can be interlinked to a lessening of bone health. As women age, they can become frailer and at risk of osteoporosis. But this doesn't mean that you should recede in your active lifestyle.


Instead, gradually sometimes, menopause can be interlinked to lessening bone health. As women age, they can become frailer and at risk for osteoporosis. But this doesn't mean that you should recede in your active lifestyle.

Instead, gradually reduce your exercise routines and make sure you take your active lifestyle easy. You can start with 30 to 60 minutes of brisk walking. When you think you can handle things, up the intensity by engaging in aerobic exercise and other moderate-intensity physical activities you can find.


​Aerobic exercise is critical for women during this time because it helps your overall health by keeping your body hydrated. This means that you will not get as tired, and you will also be able to sleep better at night. You must have a good sleep schedule to help you lose weight during perimenopause and post-menopause.


Keeping Stress Levels Down

To learn how to lose belly fat during perimenopause and post-menopause, it is essential to keep stress levels down. You need to make sure that you have a healthy lifestyle without experiencing any health problems.

It would be best to keep stress levels down because not doing so can cause health problems like insomnia, anxiety, and even weight gain when you're stressing out, whether due to mood swings from menstrual periods or menopausal transition, you release cortisol.

Cortisol stimulates your body's fat and carbohydrate metabolism to produce a surge of energy. Even though it is essential to release this hormone, especially during fight or flight situations, this process also increases your appetite.


In addition, elevated cortisol levels can cause people to crave sweet, fatty, and salty food. If you do this, the chances are that you will indulge in French fries and a milkshake more than you will indulge in a balanced meal.

So, if you want to stop your weight from increasing, try to combat possible weight gain after menopause by keeping your stress levels low.

Get Plenty of Sleep

One of the primary reasons for weight gain in a postmenopausal woman's daily life is poor sleep quality. Sleep is the most crucial factor in maintaining your body's weight, and this is because you need to sleep at least 8 hours a night to help your body repair and restore itself.

The amount of sleep you get also determines how much weight you gain during the menopause transition. Sleep is vital for weight loss after menopause because it helps you maintain a healthy body by promoting muscle growth and energy and helping with your body's overall functioning. This is also because one of the most common symptoms of menopause has to do with sleep deprivation, namely: night sweats.

Night sweats are caused by expanded blood vessels that cause more blood flow, then contract. As a result, you will experience a sudden wave of heat that spreads throughout your body. At the same time, you are sweating, reddening the skin, and having a rapid heartbeat. After night sweats, it is common to be accompanied by a cold chill.

Your treatment depends on what causes the night sweats. Hormone therapy is a good option when menopause is associated with night sweats. Hormone therapy is also recommended for women who experience other symptoms of menopause, like loss of bone health.

However, it would help if you did not use estrogen replacement therapy in women who have a history of breast cancer. All hormone therapies have their risks, including blood clots and gallbladder inflammation.

So, it is crucial to avoid sleep deprivation to combat weight gain for women in post-menopause or perimenopause. This is more important because the menopausal transition is interlinked to sleep issues like night sweats. You can keep your body in tip-top shape to optimize weight loss by having solid sleep quality.


How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause


What causes postmenopausal weight gain?


Researchers can not determine precisely how many people gain weight at the beginning or late stages of their lives. However, studies show some of what influences the effect.


The hormones during menopause are linked with increased body weight. These hormones are not just the sex hormones like estrogen but also include others like insulin. The metabolism of carbohydrates and fats is regulated by insulin. With age, there is a natural decrease in the level of these hormones, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight.


A common symptom of menopause is hot flashes, which can cause night sweats. These two body processes use up a lot of energy and can lead to weight gain if not enough calories are consumed during the day.


Other symptoms of menopause, such as fatigue and insomnia, can make it challenging to get enough exercise. This lack of activity can further contribute to weight gain.


In addition, menopausal women have a lower receptive rate of depression and anxiety, which affects them in the long run and reduces their appetite for healthy food. Aging also causes the loss of muscle, causing slower metabolism.



How to Lose Weight During Perimenopause and Post Menopause


How to Prevent Post-Menopausal Weight Gain?


It's possible to prevent weight gain after menopause, and having an active lifestyle helps reduce body fat. In 2013, studies showed that women 50 or over who engage in aerobic activities gain weight.


Aerobic activity requires greater oxygen levels. They are also referred to as exercise for cardiovascular. These activities have also shown their positive effects after menopause.


Weight training with a resistance band can increase metabolic rate and build muscle mass. Regular resistance training helps reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.


A healthy diet is crucial to reducing weight during menopause. Foods high in fiber and protein can help reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. Foods such as tofu, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are high in fiber. They help the digestive system run smoothly, which can reduce menopausal symptoms like constipation.


Additionally, foods rich in calcium can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis, which is a common condition during menopause. Dairy products, leafy greens, and certain types of fish are excellent sources of calcium.


Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is essential for maintaining a healthy weight during menopause.


Specific vitamins and supplements can help reduce the symptoms of menopause and make it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and can be found in fatty fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products.


Black cohosh is a herb that can be taken in supplement form to help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.


Red clover is another herb that contains phytoestrogens, which can help reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.


Soy is a food that contains phytoestrogens and can be taken in supplement form. It can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.


Getting enough sleep is essential for overall health and can help reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.


Stress reduction techniques like yoga and meditation can help reduce menopausal symptoms and promote a healthy weight.


Acupuncture is another stress reduction technique that can help reduce menopausal symptoms.


Hormone therapy can treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. It can also help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.



Weight loss for women over 50


Menopause starts with your last menstruation and finishes six months from then. In this stage of life, most women experience a heat flash or night sweat and may remain in place long after menopause.


Understanding the changing body functions can assist you with weight loss during menopause. In menopause, estrogen is produced less than usual. The body does not ovulate, so a change in the metabolism occurs: The body's ability to convert food into energy diminishes.


If you are menopausal, weight gain is more challenging to avoid, and you must be more mindful of what you eat and how much you move. Most women need to create a calorie deficit to lose weight by eating fewer calories and moving more.


Cutting calories doesn't have to be complicated or tasteless. Start by making minor changes to your diets, such as eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods. You can also try swapping some of your higher-calorie meals for lower-calorie options. For example, trade a 300-calorie hamburger for a 150-calorie turkey burger.


If you are menopausal, it is essential to get regular physical activity to help with weight loss and maintenance. Walking, running, biking and other aerobic exercises can help burn calories and improve your overall health. Strength training is also vital for keeping your bones strong during menopause.



Losing weight after 60 years


After menopause, estrogen concentrations are stable, but the symptoms gradually fade. As the hormone system is adjusted, the following can happen:


-The body's energy requirements change.

-There is a decreased need for calories and fat.

-Muscle mass is lost.

-The basal metabolic rate (the number of calories needed to maintain vital functions at rest) decreases.

All these factors make it harder to lose weight and keep it off after menopause.


A healthy diet and exercise are the best way to lose weight during menopause. Here are some tips to help you lose weight during menopause:


1. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

2. Get enough calcium in your diet.

3. Exercise regularly.

4. Get enough sleep.

5. Try stress reduction techniques like yoga or meditation.

6. Talk to your doctor about hormone therapy.

7. Keep portions in check and time your meals right.

8. Drink plenty of water.

9. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks.

10. Avoid processed foods.

11. Limit alcohol intake.

12. Avoid crash diets.

13. Don't skip meals.

14. Make sure you're getting enough protein.

15. Avoid eating late at night.

16. Avoid eating high-calorie foods and snacks.

17. Don't eat mindlessly.

18. Avoid emotional eating.

19. Address any underlying health issues.

20. Seek professional help if you need it.


If you are struggling to lose weight during menopause, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Hormone therapy and weight loss surgery may be an option for some women.


12 ways to beat menopausal belly fat


In older adults, hormonal changes can cause gain weight. Keep a healthy weight by following the following tips.


1. Get quality sleep and rest when needed. When you don't get enough sleep, the stress hormone cortisol builds up in your system.


2. Control your portions. As you age, your metabolism slows down, so you can't eat as much as you used to without gaining weight.


3. Fill up on fiber. Fiber helps you feel full without adding extra calories.


4. Eat more protein and fewer carbohydrates. Protein takes longer to digest, so it keeps you feeling fuller longer. Healthy eating habits are one of the most critical parts of menopause weight loss.


5. Avoid sugary drinks. Soda, juice, and energy drinks are loaded with sugar and calories. Sugary drinks increase the chance of the creation of abdominal fat.


6. Drink water. Water is essential for good health and weight management, and it can also help you lose weight effectively.


7. Avoid processed foods. Processed foods are high in calories and low in nutrients. Eating processed foods increase the fat mass and fat accumulation around your waistline.


8. Eat more vegetables and fruits, and these foods are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.


9. Get moving. Exercise helps you burn calories and builds lean muscle mass, which allows you to burn more calories. High-intensity interval training and strength training quickly help you to shed excess pounds.


10. Avoid eating late at night. Eating late at night can cause weight gain.


11. Manage stress. Stress can lead to overeating and perimenopausal weight gain.


12. Talk to your doctor. If you're having trouble losing weight, talk to your doctor; they can help you find the cause of your weight gain and recommend a treatment plan.


These tips can help with weight loss during perimenopause and post-menopause. It is essential to speak with a doctor before starting any new diet or exercise regimen.



Can a post-menopausal woman lose weight?


Yes, a post-menopausal woman can lose weight, and she should aim to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Additionally, she may want to consider taking vitamins and supplements to help reduce menopausal symptoms. Getting enough sleep and reducing stress are crucial for maintaining a healthy weight. Hormone therapy may also be an option for treating menopausal symptoms and promoting weight loss. Speak with a doctor to determine the best course of action.




Why is it so hard to lose weight during perimenopause?


There are a few reasons why it may be harder to lose weight during perimenopause:



  1. The body's metabolism slows down, and fewer calories are burned.

  2. Hormonal changes can lead to cravings for sugary and high-fat foods.

  3. Menopause can cause sleep problems, leading to weight gain.

  4. Stress can also contribute to weight gain during perimenopause.



Reducing stress and getting enough sleep are essential for maintaining a healthy weight. Eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly can also help with weight loss during perimenopause. Hormone therapy may also be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and weight loss. Speak with a doctor to determine the best course of action.


Final Thoughts


Losing weight during perimenopause and post-menopause can be a challenge. However, it is possible to lose weight by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Reducing stress levels and managing menopausal symptoms can also help with weight loss. Hormone therapy may also be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and weight loss. Speak with a doctor to determine the best course of action.


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