Ever wake and feel like your body has changed overnight?
You look in the mirror and notice a little extra weight around your waist that wasn鈥檛 there before. Then you go in for a routine check-up, and now, your doctor is talking about higher cholesterol and high blood sugar levels.
WHAT? In your mind, you鈥檙e thinking, 鈥淣othing鈥檚 different! I鈥檓 still eating the same, still active - so why is this happening?鈥�
The answer is鈥�(drum roll)鈥t鈥檚 your hormones.
Welcome to perimenopause and menopause - a phase that can feel like a roller coaster. Here, there are unpredictable changes from one day to the next.
Why is this happening?
Let鈥檚 talk hormones, specifically estrogen. Estrogen is one of the main players in our body鈥檚 balance. It helps keep weight distributed around the thighs and hips.
When estrogen levels start to drop in perimenopause, this distribution changes, and more fats tends to be stored around the waist. Unfortunately, this shift often brings with it higher blood sugar levels and cholesterol changes, leading to an increased risk for metabolic issues.
In fact, women in menopause are 3 times more likely to experience:
1.Weight gain around the mid section
2.Higher blood sugar levels
3. Elevated cholesterol levels
Why does your body feels different?
During perimenopause and menopause, your metabolism slows down, meaning your body doesn鈥檛 need as many calories as it once did. You might feel like your usual healthy habits stop working, even though you are eating well and staying active.
Clients often tell me things like:
-I didn鈥檛 change anything about my diet or activity
-I had no idea this could happen to me
-Why didn鈥檛 anyone tell me this was coming?
This sudden shift in how your body behaves can be unsettling. You鈥檝e known it for 40+years, and now it鈥檚 acting differently. But here鈥檚 the good news: this change doesn鈥檛 have to feel like a loss of control.
Taking Charge: Small Changes Make a Big Difference
Understanding what鈥檚 happening in your body is the first step. Once you know your hormones are shifting, you can start making informed choices. Adjusting your nutrition, focusing on stress management, and staying active can all help reduce the impact of these changes.
It鈥檚 Never Too Early (or Too Late)
Remember, these changes don鈥檛 mean you have to give up on feeling your best. Starting even with small shifts now can set you up to feel strong, healthy and resilient for the years to come. This phase of life can be challenging, but it鈥檚 also a powerful opportunity to connect with what your body needs and make choices that support you in the long run.
Tanya is a Registered Dietitian with over 17 years of experience and an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner. She is passionate about helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause by focusing on root causes and empowering them to take charge of their health. Tanya鈥檚 simple, practical strategies boost energy, reduce bloating, and build confidence, helping women feel stronger, healthier, and more in control of their lives.
