It's also due to hormones. Once you get to a certain age, and once a gal's hormones start changing, the body changes, too, and there's no escaping it. You can eat nothing but string beans for the rest of your life, and you will gain weight. And not only that, but it puts itself in places where it wasn't before. Very uncomely places.
I'm certainly living proof of that.
I have a basketball parked on top of my abdomen.
I'm long past the muffin top stage. Menopause has just completely wrecked my body in the last two years and that has taken a huge toll on me mentally.
I watch what I eat carefully. I am active, walk regularly, etc. and it doesn't do any good. The fat just keeps coming around my middle. I simply cannot be more
active than I am now as I just don't have the time. Plus, menopause has created a situation for me that makes it very difficult for me to be active. The slightest bit of exercise, even just my regular walks puts me in some serious pain. Even though I regularly do it, I still hurt after every time. I also gain no strength or stamina from it and certainly do not lose weight. That makes it very difficult to stay motivated. I went from very active and strong to struggling to be active when menopause hit. I've felt like crap ever since and nothing i've tried helps. Its very frustrating.
I have been reading a couple of books lately that are based on the theory that this is all due to your thyroid. Doctors test your thyroid and it show within normal ranges but they rarely order the appropriate test that really tells them whether or not the thyroid is functioning properly. Even the slightest drop in thyroid function can affect your body but doctors won't address the issue if your tests come back within their "normal" range. This book also says that many of the menopause symptoms women experience are more thyroid related than anything.
One of the key things the book talks about is if you keep gaining weight even though you diet and exercise, its probably your thyroid.
Its just like if we have a big fire and I'm working on the fire and even though I'm in turn-out gear, sweat like a horse, etc., etc. I'll actually gain weight afterwards rather than lose it. Before menopause I would easily lose 5+ pounds after fighting a fire.
The more I read these books, the more it makes sense. One of the books also teaches you how to eat to support your thyroid and help your body to stop fighting your attempts at weight loss.
