Weight Gain in Midlife

     Let's face it; your bedroom closet has become a battlefield for your changing body.

Unfortunately, weight gain is not only a part of aging. It is also a symptom of perimenopause and it does have an effect on the changes your body can experience as you approach the second half of your life. Hormones are essential for the proper functioning of a woman's body. Any disruption in the function of your hormones can, and will, affect how your body operates on a day-to-day basis. There are many biological changes that can actually make you gain weight; estrogen imbalances, changes in thyroid function, changes in insulin, and even lifestyle changes.

All of these factors will cause an increase in body fat.

You want to have lower body fat and higher muscle mass because higher levels of body fat increase your risk of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, and even depression.

Is there a correlation between insulin resistance and weight gain?

We gain weight around our middle as we age. The reason this happens is that a syndrome develops ('insulin resistance') where the insulin in our body, the hormone that unlocks the door for sugar to go inside the cells, starts to become less efficient. When we eat we start to store our calories as fat rather than burning them as energy. By limiting carbohydrates and sweets, you also stop yourself from developing this fat storage around your abdomen due to insulin resistance.

What can I do to take steps toward a healthier and leaner me NOW?

鈥?Change your lifestyle

鈥?Maintain a healthy diet

鈥?Get regular exercise

鈥?Manage your stress

鈥?Take advantage of relaxation techniques

鈥?Get adequate sleep

What if that's not enough? I'm a really healthy person and I still can't lose those pesky five or ten pounds.

Nutritional supplements aid in the body's ability to ward off disease and sickness. When the body has a proper nutritional balance, these supplements have been known to have beneficial effects when it comes to losing weight -

Conjugated Linoleic Acid:

This supplement promotes fat loss and muscle growth. We want to have low fat levels and high levels of muscle mass because muscle has a higher metabolic rate, which servers to keep us lean.

Green tea:

Drinking green tea extract has been reported, in recent studies, to produce a significant increase in energy expenditure; thus giving the body a metabolic boost when consumed.

Carnitine:

Not only is Carnitine important for our brain, but it is required for fat metabolism. Without Carnitine we cannot burn fat for energy. Carnitine will also benefit people who are suffering from fatigue and obesity.

Coleus Forskolii:

Coleus Forskolii stimulates your thyroid, which, in turn, increases your metabolism and aids in weight loss. This supplement also regulates insulin and blood sugar levels, one of the key ways to lose weight. In addition, it is a slight mood elevator. By dealing with things that cause anxiety and depression, we are able to engage in healthy choices that will cause us to be lean and to lose weight.

This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult your physician before taking any of the products above.

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