TriVita Health — Minimize the “Menopot”
Menopause weight gain is not inevitable
Many women gain weight around the middle in their mid-40s, early 50s and beyond. This accumulation of fat in the abdominal area has been dubbed the “menopot.” The exact cause of this weight gain has been blamed on a number of things including genetics, fluctuating hormones and reduced physical activity.
The good news? With healthy lifestyle changes, you can help control – and reduce – the dreaded menopot. This is good news not just from a vanity standpoint but from a health standpoint as well: abdominal fat – especially what’s called visceral fat – can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes and even certain cancers.
Visceral fat surrounds your organs, can be very dangerous and is the result of a sedentary lifestyle. The menopot is generally composed of subcutaneous fat, the fat that lies between your skin and your abdominal wall. Although less dangerous than visceral fat, it can still be distressing. The bottom line is that any type of fat is unhealthy.
Lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, cannot only help reduce the risks to your health, but they can also help “whittle your middle” – and help you minimize the menopot.
Burn away the menopot
Reduced physical activity can contribute to increased weight in the menopause years. Plus, as people age, they lose lean muscle tissue, which burns calories. By maintaining or even increasing your activity level, you can help keep the menopot at bay.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that adults get at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 1.25 hours of vigorous physical activity per week. If you’ve already noticed you’re getting a menopot, you may want to increase that amount to 5 hours a week of moderate intensity activity or 150 minutes of vigorous activity… or more! Be sure to include both aerobic and strength (resistance) training.
The key to consistent activity is doing something you enjoy. Make exercise fun with some of these calorie-burning activities:
• Swimming
• Bicycling
• Dancing
• Gardening
• Walking
• Tennis
The menopot menu
Your metabolism naturally slows down with age. This means fewer calories are needed to sustain your current weight. However, many people may continue to eat the same amount of food. So, it comes down to the old adage: To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. But that doesn’t mean you have to go hungry!
A study at Pennsylvania State University showed that eating foods that fill you up with water and fiber can help you lose weight. Participants in the study who ate more low-energy-dense, water-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, lost more weight than participants who went on diets that reduced portion size and fat intake.
Follow these basic diet principles from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (issued by the USDA and Health and Human Services) to get on the right track:
• Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
• Include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts
• Eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars
Need some food ideas? Try adding these tasty and healthy foods to your diet:
• Chicken breast • Fish fillets
• Lean beef • Lean turkey
• Lean pork • Salmon
• Asparagus • Bell pepper
• Broccoli • Cabbage
• Cauliflower • Carrots
• Celery • Green beans
• Spinach • Squash
• Beans • Bran/fiber cereal
• Brown rice • Oatmeal
• Pita bread • Wheat germ
• Apples • Bananas
• Blackberries • Blueberries
• Cherries • Cranberries
• Grapefruit • Grapes
• Kiwi • Nectarines
• Oranges • Raspberries
• Tomatoes • Zucchini
By increasing your exercise and sticking to a well-balanced diet that is high in fiber, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables, you can help minimize the menopot. For extra help, try Leanology® – the Smart Weight Loss System.
Source: http://trivitahealth.terryallison.com/?p=250
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Terry L. Allison, Sr.
TriVita
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