Menopausal Weight Gain

For many women and in my own experience a lot of the symptoms associated with perimenopause, and menopause can initially feel like a subtle shift in our overall sense of well being, we just don’t feel like ourselves somehow, but we may not be able to quite identify why!

Perhaps we are a little more irritable than normal or perhaps we are struggling to concentrate or even finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep!

However, when it comes to what seems a sudden change in our body shape especially around the middle this can feel far more challenging and upsetting!

I’m sure we have all thought “Oh no, I’ll have to exercise more and eat less” and when the weight doesn’t budge it can be soul destroying!

Interestingly, evidence from functional doctors such Dr Mindy Pelz suggests that this abdominal distribution of weight is the result of increased cortisol levels due to stress and the loss of oestrogen.

The best way to manage this increase in abdominal menopausal weight is to utilise our own natural production of Oxytocin, the feel good hormone by connecting with friends, love ones, animals and nature.