Yes, stress would definitely be a part of it. Stress puts more levels of the hormone cortisol in our blood (the "fight or flight" syndrome), which does make us gain weight if it happens over and over again.
Belly fat is a big problem with menopausal women; we get quite a few questions about how to move this incredibly stubborn fat. Like you say, it often is a double frustration to those for whom it's the only "fat" place on their bodies!
You want to try to get your waist to 35 inches or below -- that's where the risk of heart disease increases quite a bit.
Prevention magazine has a book called The Flat Belly Diet, in which they talk about the effect on the body of MUFAs -- monounsaturated fatty acids. They are the "good fats," which are present in healthy oils, olives, avocados, nuts and seeds, and chocolate. Here's an article about this:
I have this book, and am going to get back to it as soon as I find it in the midst of all of our moving boxes! It is also full of recipes, and has a four-day jump start that WORKS. Thanks for reminding me that I needed to get back on the program. ;)
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Yes, stress would definitely be a part of it. Stress puts more levels of the hormone cortisol in our blood (the "fight or flight" syndrome), which does make us gain weight if it happens over and over again.
Belly fat is a big problem with menopausal women; we get quite a few questions about how to move this incredibly stubborn fat. Like you say, it often is a double frustration to those for whom it's the only "fat" place on their bodies!
You want to try to get your waist to 35 inches or below -- that's where the risk of heart disease increases quite a bit.
EmpowHer HER writer Mary Kyle wrote about this:
https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/08/26/woman%E2%80%99s-heart-how-round-too-round
and she also writes about that dang belly fat:
https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/05/07/menopause-belly-fat-what-causes-it-and-how-much-too-much
Prevention magazine has a book called The Flat Belly Diet, in which they talk about the effect on the body of MUFAs -- monounsaturated fatty acids. They are the "good fats," which are present in healthy oils, olives, avocados, nuts and seeds, and chocolate. Here's an article about this:
http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/meet-the-5-flat-belly-foods/bea4682e373c6110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/weight.loss/flat.belly.diet/flat.belly.diet!.foodhttp:/www.prevention.com/mealbalancer/?cm_mmc=MSN-_-We+Lost+14+Inches+of+Belly+Fat-_-Article-_-5+Flat+Belly+Foods
I have this book, and am going to get back to it as soon as I find it in the midst of all of our moving boxes! It is also full of recipes, and has a four-day jump start that WORKS. Thanks for reminding me that I needed to get back on the program. ;)
October 20, 2009 - 10:10amThis Comment
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