Menopause weight gain, is the number one complaint within my circle of women friends and family (Hot flashes were second!) . Yet weight gain at this special time, seems to be expected and accepted as a natural process, but why?

Why accept it?. There may not be much we can do about hot flashes, and other symptoms that seem to come out of now where, but we can control the menopause weight gain.

The key, I found, was to change up your exercise routine and diet. Your body is going through changes of its own, so what worked for you before, probably no longer works now. You hear women, going on about weight gain, when they haven’t changed much in their diet and blaming it on menopause. Actually menopause gets the blame for many unexplainable symptoms.

But, have you also noticed, that maybe you don’t sleep as well, and you are tired and cranky, and therefore pickup that extra snack or treat, a few extra lattes here and there to get you through your day? Then too tired to exercise, and this all adds up to weight gain, no matter what stage in life you are in!

If you do exercise, and you have a certain routine, now is the time to change it up. If you walk all the time, try adding a minute of jogging or trotting, or what I call “wogging” which is very fast walking. Get your heart up a little bit, then walk again, then jog again. If you walk outside, try jogging between telephone poles, then walk for the next one.

By adding these extra blips of cardio you will notice that your mood becomes a little brighter, you feel a bit more energized after your workouts, and your waistline will shrink.

Start looking at those 100 calorie snack packs out there, and if you must eat after 7 pm, eat only one of those 100 calorie pop corns, or treats and nothing else. Go through your day, and cut back on any sugary snacks.. they will just make you want more in an hour or two and make you feel sluggish. But personally I found adding some more cardio and zing to my workouts, helped me get rid of that menopause weight gain, and as a side effect, have a better outlook on this stage in my life.

click here for tips on dealing with menopause symptoms and feel great again! Article and website by Diane palmer

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During Menopause, so many changes are going on, that the list of symptoms you see on some websites is huge!

Some women manage to get through the process without even a hair out of place and others are dropped right in the middle of the worst symptoms.

I thought I was going to be one of those lucky ones, but NOT!

But with a few changes to your routines, you just may make it out the other end unscathed!

One of the symptoms that most menopausal women are familiar with is “hot flashes” or “hot flushes”.. either way, you get this intense heat, then the chills, and you are sure you are coming down with some kind of international flu..

Anything that can get you overheated, will quite often, trigger a hot flush which can be a real issue, especially if it is already hot outside. You have to be extra careful exercising, as you are more prone to heat related issues such as heat exhaustion etc… Personally cutting the lawn has always been something I enjoy, but now with the “extra heat” I have had to change my scheduling, or risk feeling dizzy and overheated.

I used to enjoy cutting the lawn during the day, but now I have to cut it at night, just before dark, armed with bug spray! The same with walking the dogs.. night or very early AM.

The family, of course look at me like I have lost it, or have been taken over by aliens as I weed my garden by moonlight, but I monitor all my activities based on the temps outside now. Right now it is summer here, so I garden at the crack of dawn, and take it easy during the hottest part of the day, which is probably what you are suppose to do anyways, but with menopause, these times can be extra special..

I was surprised to see other women in my age group, on my early morning treks, and we nod, in that “knowing” way, and realize that I am not the only one going through this “change” as my grandmother used to call it!

So, shake up those routines, and don’t let this menopause stuff get you down, this too, will pass.. They say you feel liberated when it is all done.. I am hanging on to that! But for now, I will garden by moonlight and keep the bedroom freezing cold!

click here for tips on dealing with menopause symptoms, and feel great! Aricle and website by Diane Palmer

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Natural Remedies for Coping with Menopause

* Menopause Defined

Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when she has not menstruated for one year, indicating the end of fertility. Menopause typically occurs around the age of 50, but some women menstruate well into their 50s, while others experience menopause sometime in their mid-40s.

Perimenopause refers to the period of hormonal changes leading up to menopause; it can begin as early as the late 30′s. Women in perimenopause may experience such symptoms as irregular periods and hot flashes.

Menopause is not a disease — rather, it is a natural part of the aging process. The hormonal changes which accompany menopause are often responsible for a number of unpleasant physical symptoms, and women may experience some emotional distress as well.

However, it is important to remember that not all women have difficulty coping with the physical changes that occur during this time. Menopause does not signal an end to sexuality or femininity; in fact, many women embrace their new-found freedom from worries about becoming pregnant and the discomforts of menstruation.

For women who do experience uncomfortable symptoms during menopause, there are many options for treatment. While some women opt for hormone replacement therapy, a growing number of women are finding that lifestyle changes and natural remedies are highly effective in easing this mid-life transition.

* Causes of Menopause

As you approach middle age, your ovaries begin producing increasingly lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate menstruation and fertility. Fewer eggs are produced, and ovulation becomes less regular during this time.

Throughout this process, your periods may become unpredictable; eventually, your ovaries will shut down completely and menstruation will cease altogether.

Although some women menstruate every month until their final period, it is much more common to experience a gradual cessation of menstrual periods. This process can take several years, and it is not possible to predict which period will be your last.

* Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause symptoms vary from one individual to another; not all women experience the same indicators of the change of life, but the following are the most commonly recognizable signs:

- Irregular periods;

- Vaginal dryness;

- Hot flashes;

- Mood swings;

- Anxiety or depression;

- Sleep disturbances;

- Thinning hair;

- Increased abdominal fat;

- Decreasing fertility.

* Diagnosing Menopause

In the majority of cases, a description of the symptoms should be enough for your doctor to determine that you are going through the process of menopause.

Hormone tests can detect decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone and confirm the diagnosis; in addition, hormone testing can rule out any other condition, such as impaired thyroid function (which can produce many of the same symptoms as menopause).

* Treating Menopause

In the past, many doctors treated women for menopause using hormone replacement therapy to replenish estrogen levels. However, amid increasing concerns about the dangers of hormone therapy (which include increased risks of heart disease and caner), women are more and more frequently turning to lifestyle adjustments and herbal remedies to treat their menopause symptoms.

- Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies for Menopausal Women

Some simple adjustments in your day-to-day habits can alleviate many of the unpleasant symptoms and discomforts of menopause:

> Keep hot flashes under control. Dress in layers, so you can remove one or two when hot flashes strike. Exercise regularly, eat right, and try to identify and avoid things that cause them. Common triggers are alcoholic beverages, foods that are spicy, hot coffee or tea, hot rooms, and hot weather.

> Get plenty of sleep. Exercise during the day, but not too close to bedtime; this can increase melatonin levels necessary to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid caffeinated beverages if you have trouble sleeping.

> Eat right. Good nutrition is more important than ever as you grow (gracefully) older, and getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lots of calcium can counteract many diseases associated with aging.

> Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces stress, helps to balance the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, controls hot flashes, and helps to prevent many age-related diseases. These include heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

> Don’t smoke. Smoking is never good for you. It increases stress levels, brings on hot flashes, and

contributes to heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. It is never too late to quit smoking.

> Combat vaginal dryness and discomfort with over-the-counter lubricants.

* Herbal Remedies for Menopause

Herbal treatments and natural supplements can effectively ease menopause symptoms safely, without the health risks associated with conventional medications. Many effective natural menopause treatments contain one or more of these herbal extracts:

- Ginseng increases the production of estrogen and protects against hot flashes;

- Dong quai helps to maintain reproductive system function, boosts heart health, and increases the efficacy of other herbs;

- Damiana increases libido and calms hot flashes;

- Black cohosh is a natural pain reliever;

- Aloe gel relieves vaginal dryness naturally;

- Sarsaparilla improves sexual desire;

- Calendula relieves vaginal dryness

- St. John’s Wort relieves mild depression.

In addition, many women find that soy products are extremely helpful in reducing hot flashes. Phytoestrogens are also helpful for relieving menopause symptoms, and they are often available in supplement form.

With herbal remedies and adjustments to your lifestyle, you can cope with menopause and enter the next phase of your life without undue distress or difficulty.

Visit http://www.HealthRemedies.com and receive FREE shipping on any order by entering the discount code FREE upon checkout. Valerie Balandra NP takes a naturopathic and functional medicine approach to help her clients achieve optimal health.

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