It seems almost impossible, but this is the time in a woman’s life it is very important to get back to your “normal” weight when the body begins to change. I’m there right now – so I’m going through this journey right along with some of you. The only way I know to lose weight in this phase of change is to initiate a calorie deficit. Some people turn to intermittent fasting, while others take a slow and gentler approach of small changes daily.
A very low-calorie diet might make weight loss harder and slow down your metabolism and use up some muscle mass. It’s important to hang on to that muscle mass, so if you are like me and your muscle is disappearing – fight back and build it back up again.
Some of the strategies to menopausal weight loss include:
- Eating plenty of protein (plant-based, dairy, clean meats) to keep you full, and retain muscle mass
- Eating plenty of fiber. This includes greens, as well as psyllium husk, other vegetables, and plant-based proteins with the skins on (mung dal, masoor dal, tuvar dal, etc)
- Drink green tea which supports weight loss
- Practice mindful eating to reduce stress and create a strong relationship with your food.
Join me in January for a weight loss workshop that talks costs versus benefits about weight loss and the strategies to make this happen in later ages. More details soon to come!
