Most women dread getting old and do everything in their power to stop the aging process. Many resort to cosmetic procedures to keep that youthful look, but not everyone can afford botox and surgeries so we make do with anti aging creams and potions and they may help some, but not everyone has the same results. Then we have to contend with menopause and lower hormone levels that add extra fat to our bodies. 

There’s so much information that can be found online about menopause and why we gain that extra weight and of course the main culprit is the lower hormone levels like estrogen which is the female sex hormone and when we go through menopause it stops us from ovulating. The body then tries to find other ways to get the estrogen supply and one way is through fat cells. Lower progesterone levels can cause water retention and bloating for some.

My poor old body has changed so much and I have always dreaded this time of life because I knew if I didn’t take hormone replacements that my body would be trying to convert calories into fat so it could get the estrogen it needs. The bad news is that fat cells aren’t as effective in burning calories so since I have slowed down and I’m not as active my metabolism is much slower.

Also when the testosterone hormone level goes down the body can’t produce as much lean muscle mass from the calories that are consumed and in turn there’s a gradual loss of muscle. Fat cells don’t burn as many calories as the muscle cells so the metabolism then slows down and burns calories much slower. Also the androgen levels (male sex hormone) usually increase causing that middle age spread around the abdomen.

Stress and developing insulin resistance will also make the body produce more fat cells during menopause. There is much literature that can be obtained from your doctor about all the changes that go on in your body. I know many people try using the synthetic or herbal remedies out there and some even swear by them. I have tried a few, but I really can’t say that they helped. Soy products I haven’t tried because I really don’t know if I can stand the smell or taste.

I am woman hear me roar, yep when I turned menopausal that’s definitely when I started roaring. Some women that I have spoke with have had very minor symptoms with menopause and others seem to have them all. I personally haven’t suffered many of the long list that I have read about on some of the forums, but I’ve had my share and I’ll certainly be much happier when it’s over.