Have you noticed that you are storing more belly fat than usual? No matter how hard you exercise or how little you eat, does your stomach continue to grow? If you are over 50, or possibly even younger, menopause or perimenopause is likely to blame.
Studies show that “the change'' and weight gain are related and that much of the fat accumulation goes straight to the mid-section, often deemed “menopot” and “meno belly.”(1)
Hormonal belly fat can be the hardest to lose. This article will help you better understand why this is happening and what works to get rid of it.
Menopause results in a significant change in hormone levels, specifically estrogen and progesterone. Genetics and other lifestyle factors contribute to how soon these declines occur, but they typically begin around the age 45.
A significant change in these hormone levels, especially decreased estrogen production, is one of the primary causes of meno belly. A decline in estrogen can significantly impact how body fat is distributed. Studies show these drops cause fat cells to store more fat in the abdominal area. (2,3)
There are many signs you can watch out for that will tell you if your weight gain is hormonal. Luckily, if you find your hormones are to blame, there are effective ways to get them back in a normal range.
There is evidence that postmenopausal women on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) have lower levels of belly fat than those that aren’t. But before you rush to your doctor to explore HRT, which can be expensive and comes with a laundry list of potential side effects, there are natural ways to readjust your hormone levels.
Natural remedies for low estrogen can include:
These dips in hormones, specifically estrogen, can cause your metabolism to plummet. When the metabolism slows, you risk gaining even more weight all over your body, including your midsection.(4)
Here are some ways you can give your metabolism a natural boost:
Another major player in meno belly is high cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone. Mood shifts are very common during menopause. When your body senses this added stress and anxiety, it goes into “fight or flight” mode, which increases cortisol and signals the body to store more fat.(5)
We know it’s easier said than done to stop stressing out, especially if your hormones are all over the place (another reason to get them in balance).
Here are some ways to naturally promote relaxation and lower cortisol levels.
If your insulin receptors have become less sensitive to insulin, which is common in menopause, it can result in higher levels of blood sugar and lower energy, causing the body to more easily turn calories into fat and lead to weight gain, especially around the belly. Additionally, chronic stress and abdominal fat also encourage insulin resistance.
Oh, and those hot flashes you have, studies show those are at least partially due to increased insulin.(7)
The good news is you can do something about insulin resistance. Here are a few ways to get your blood sugar levels under control.
A sleep deficit is widely known to promote weight gain due to the effects that sleep has on hunger hormones that regulate appetite and cortisol.(12,13)
Sleep is already an issue for millions of women, and trouble winding down and falling asleep only worsens during menopause (hello, an overly stressed mind and night sweats).
Whatever it takes, you should ensure you get enough sleep at night. Here are some tips to help you wind down and sleep deeper and longer.
If the excess weight you carry in your midsection is due to “meno belly,” doing more and eating less will not fix the issue. In fact, as we mentioned throughout this article, it could make things worse.
Balancing your hormones, lowering stress levels, improving insulin sensitivity and metabolism and focusing on quality sleep are your best lines of defense in getting rid of the extra weight around your midsection caused by menopause.
When it comes to many of the hormone-balancing and stress-reducing herbs, vitamins and minerals in nature we've mentioned throughout this article, the supplement company Inno Supps makes finding them easy with their top-rated female health supplement Inno Drive: For Her.
The formula is natural, third-party tested for safety and effectiveness, manufactured in an FDA-approved facility in the United States and is endorsed by doctors.
Here's a quick breakdown of just a few ingredients in Inno Drive: For Her that have clinical backing to get to some of the root causes that could be causing your menno belly…
But that’s not all.
Some of the above-mentioned ingredients in Inno Drive: For Her, such as KSM-66 ashwagandha, are also clinically shown to lower stress and boost libido — two other frustrations women going through “the change” typically face. (14,15)
They also include an accelerated circulation blend in the formula. In case you didn’t know, blood flow is crucial for climax and pleasure and is something else that slows down with age.(16)
Several ingredients in Inno Drive For Her are shown to enhance circulation, the most promising being a plant-based superfood called S7®, which is clinically shown to effectively help the body increase its own production of nitric oxide by up to 230 percent.
Inno Drive: For Her is already helping thousands of women feel their best at any age. Inno Supps is so confident it can help you, too, that they even offer a money-back guarantee if you aren't satisfied.
Click here to visit the company webpage to learn more.