I Beat Menopause Weight Gain - Here is How I Did It

I knew it was coming, the menopause weight gain, I saw it happen to my mother and my older sister. My sister was great shape prior and she put on 40lbs in the first year. Last year when the first signs of menopause were evident, I started to see if there was a way to beat this symptom, here is what I found.

There is a whole list of symptoms that you can have from menopause. And last year I started to experience some of them. But when I noticed my weight go up 5lbs one week I knew it was time for action.

I knew it was because of a hormone imbalance that made these symptoms appear. And what I came to find out was that just like any other time in life when internally we have a chemical change various bodily functions react to the change. Sounds confusing I know, but trust me it's easy to get a handle on it.
I knew that metabolism can be affected by internal chemical changes. I also knew that metabolism plays a huge role in rather we gain, lose or maintain the same weight. It burns calories based on our normal rate of activity.

It knows on average how many calories you will need tomorrow because chances are you are going to do the same level of activity you have for the past 20 years or so. It then made perfect since to me that if my metabolism slowed down due to the chemical changes and if I did everything the same as I had for the past 20 years, I was going to automatically gain weight.

I had the answer. I had to get my metabolism to start reacting to a new higher level of physical activity. Eat a sensible diet, increase my activity and my metabolism should speed back up causing me to burn more calories. So I started to add more physical things into my life daily.

I did not start any exercise program, I just looked for ways in everyday life where I could make things a little harder physically. For example here are a few of the things I did;

• At the mall I started to us the stairs next to the escalator, as well as anyplace else that I can.


• I love to bake bread, but instead of using the mixer to knead the dough, I now knead the dough by hand, another good 10 minutes.


• We used to go bowling when we were younger, so I suggested that we do that again every now and then. Not only is it fun but its physical activity


• I got a used bicycle at yard sale for $10, got it tuned up and now ride for 30 minutes to an hour most nights after dinner, it is fun.

So I had two things now going for me, I had a physical fitness plan and I was eating right and my weight gain did begin to stop and it actually reversed, more on that in a minute.
But, by then l had another set of problems, I really started to have some of the other symptoms of menopause like vaginal dryness, some urinary problems, and a lack of libido. Sure I beat the weight gain but I wanted these to go away fast. Soon a friend told me about a product she had just started taking.

It is called Menozac and all I can say is "Wow", what a relief that a product likes this exists. It is an all natural product so I had no issues with trying it out. Within weeks after starting on the product I was back to feeling like I did before menopause. Gone were all of the symptoms I was feeling.

So what a victory! I was able to not only lose 13lbs, I have since lost an additional 8lbs. I truly beat menopause weight gain. I was able to get rid of all my other symptoms thanks to a great product called Menozac. And to be honest with you, my new life has me feeling like I'm 35 again.

Herbal Menopause Relief: St. John's Wort and Black Cohosh

Are you or someone you know tired of dealing with the extreme discomfort associated with menopause? Then you might be interested to know that a combination of two popular herbal remedies may be able to provide real relief.

German researchers recently found that a combination of St. John's wort and black cohosh is "very effective" for easing the psychological and physical symptoms of menopause. Both herbs have been widely used by menopausal women in the past, but this is one of the first studies to prove their effectiveness. St. John's wort is often used to treat mild depression and black cohosh is a popular menopause symptom remedy.

One of the goals of the German study was to see if the herbal medicines could offer a viable alternative to hormone replacement therapy, which may cause an increased risk of disease. The researchers gave women a supplement containing 1 milligram of triterpene glycosides (an active ingredient in black cohosh) and .25 milligrams of hypericine (an active ingredient in St. John's wort).

After 4 months the women who took the herbal combination experienced a 50% reduction in menopause symptoms, including sweating and hot flashes. They also experienced significantly less depression than women taking a placebo. In fact, overall depression scores fell by nearly 42% in women taking the herbal medicines.

At the end of the study, over 60% of the women taking the herbal supplement rated the treatment as "good" or "very good" compared to only 25.6% of women taking the placebo. Also, there was no significant difference between the herbal group and the placebo group in terms of side effects reported.

Obviously, if you're looking for safe, natural menopause relief, a combination of St. John's wort and black cohosh may be worth considering. Both are widely available in herb and health food stores.

Menopause - Dealing With Hot Flashes

Those of you who have had to deal with menopause or peri-menopause probably have had the experience known as hot flashes, or "your own personal sauna" as some women refer to it. What can you do about hot flashes other than suffer through them?

First, let's talk about what causes hot flashes. We actually don't know what causes them for sure, some people feel that it is due to low levels of estrogen. But since they tend to happen more during peri-menopause which is a time of extreme hormonal fluctuation, we could also assume that they are somehow caused by the hormonal ups and downs, specifically estrogen.

So one of the first choices for treating hot flashes are just some simple lifestyle changes you can adapt to help you get through the period of symptoms. Try to identify your triggers that may be connected to your hot flashes, like drinking a hot beverage or being in situations that stress you out. Some women find that staying away from coffee or other beverages that contain caffeine can help lessen the occurrence of hot flashes. Avoiding alcohol and spicy foods can help too. Dressing in layers can help too in addition to lowering the room temperature and having a small fan handy. Adding more soy protein to your diet may help, but you may want with your doctor before making dietary changes. There are some questions about the affect of soy protein on women who are at high risk for breast cancer.

The second choice is alternative treatments, which include the use of supplements and vitamins and herbs. Acupuncture is an alternative treatment which has been shown to be helpful in treating hot flashes. Vitamins E has been used for years but there has yet to be any data that shows that there is a proven benefit for using it, again because of the breast cancer issue. Bioflavinoids can provide some of the benefits of estrogen and those can be taken with vitamin C. One of the herbs that has been proven to help hot flashes is Black Cohosh. It is available in a product called RemFemin. There are no studies that prove that homeopathic remedies can help relieve symptoms, but they are not shown to cause any harm either, Lachesis, Pulsatilla, Amyl Nitricum and Belladonna are some of the homeopathic remedies that people use to treat hot flashes.

The third option is using drugs. There are non-hormonal drugs and hormonal drugs that can be used to alleviate the symptoms of hot flashes. Some of the drugs that do not contain hormones include Bellergal (belladonna alkaloids, ergotamine and phenobarbital), clonidine, lofexidene and some or the SSRIs like Effexor, Paxil and Prozac. The other drug option is to take hormonal supplements. If your hot flashes are unbearable and you are not at risk for breast cancer or a breast cancer survivor, estrogen is probably going to be your best choice especially for short term use. Sometimes doctors will prescribe birth control pills as treatment when a woman is experiencing hot flashes and still having a period.

Using one or a combination of many of these techniques or treatments should bring you some relief from the annoyance of hot flashes. Just remember that most of the time hot flashes and night sweats are temporary while your body is going through the period of hormonal fluctuations that occur during peri-menopause and should subside once you officially hit menopause.

Hormone Imbalance and How it Affects Menopause

What is the Reason for Hormone Imbalance?

With the onset of menopause, there is a reduction in the hormone estrogen produced by the body. This routinely happens between the ages of 45 and 55. The change in hormone levels can create the imbalance referred to This can affect nearly every body system and hastens various symptoms which can be quite distressing.

As menopause symptoms can cover a wide spectrum, it can sometimes be hard to tell whether symptoms are caused by the hormone variations of menopause or another health problem.

SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Hormonal symptoms at menopause include:

• Hot flashes, called hot flushes in the UK


• Irritability, anger, or frustration (which is anger held inwards)


• Sweating at night


• Fatigue or a drained feeling


• Loss of libido


• Vaginal dryness


• Hard to sleep


• Depression frequently accompanies menopause


• Foggy thinking


• Variation in appetite


• Rapid heart beat (properly called palpitations)


• Reduced skin elasticity


• Ringing of the ears (tinnitus)


• Fears and anxiety

Some other conditions can arise during menopause which are not so apparent. These include:

• Arteriosclerosis


• Osteoporosis

Hormone Imbalance, Menopause Symptoms And Low Blood Sugar

Menopause symptoms are often identical to symptoms of blood sugar imbalance - low blood sugar. For example, hot flashes and variable mood can accompany low blood sugar - and may not necessarily accompany hormone imbalance. Do not choose to eat lots of sugary food to counteract this because this raises blood sugar levels which can worsen the symptoms it is meant to correct.

Can Anything Be Done About Menopause Symptoms?

Menopause isn't life threatening but some have reported that it can feel like it is, because menopause symptoms can be so aggravating! Fortunately there are various things which can be done to help balance up the hormones and check menopause symptoms using a programme of natural healthcare.

You can create this programme yourself by using the ideas in this article as a starting point. You can also find ready-made programmes which you can buy off the shelf. This can be a better idea.

If possible it is better to involve experienced practitioners in complementary medicine for advice and remedial treatment. This can be expensive - but is often worth it.

Any programme you use should include diet, exercise, relaxation and herbal or homoeopathic remedies. Acupuncture can also be very beneficial at this time. A programme of this type can be a wonderful benefit at menopause by encouraging you to be pro-active in dealing with your symptoms.

Natural medicine - including herbs, homoeopathy and acupuncture can help reduce hormonal imbalance. Thus they can help deal with symptoms such as the ones mentioned here. They can help for menstrual problems - period problems - as well as menopause.

Specific Herbs for Hormone Imbalance and Menopause

Agnus Castus and Dong Quai are the two best known herbs to help hormone balance. They have been used for centuries - Agnus Castus in the West, and Dong Quai in the East. However, don't forget that the best way to use them is as part of a comprehensive approach to healthcare - including diet, exercise and rest.

Natural Healthcare For Menopause Symptoms

When hormone imbalance strikes and menopause symptoms begin use natural methods to help you manage it. These are wonderful approaches which can make all the difference between unpleasant symptoms and great relief.

Natural Menopause Relief - A Slice of Menopause Cake, Madam?

Tried almost everything but still having those horrible menopause symptoms? Try the Menopause Cake or the HRT Cake!

I first heard about this from the lady I go to for reflexology. She had seen an article in the Daily Mail (a British newspaper) with a recipe for it. It was devised by a woman called Linda Kearns who was going through a rough time going through the 'change of life'.

She was prescribed HRT but was unhappy at the prospect of taking medication long-term and was anxious to find an alternative. She decided to devise a an HRT or Menopause Cake which would have all the nutrients she needed and required. Linda found, that it not only worked for her, but for her friends too and was soon a big talking point for her local town in Yorkshire.

Back to my reflexologist. She and four other friends, also going through the menopause decided to try it. For her it definitely worked. She and one of her friends were on a high, they felt so good. Gone were her hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, moodiness etc. Two of her other friends found it made no difference to them, and the last one experienced bloating and stopped using it.

The cake is made from soya flour, soya milk, pumpkin seeds, raisins, linseeds, sesame seeds, nuts of any kind and extra dried fruit or apple, plus spices if you want to vary recipe. This cake is 95% fat free - no fat is added as the nuts and seeds provide this. If you want the full recipe, click Menopause Cake

Ingredients such as seeds and soya are rich in phytoestrogens - natural plant chemicals which mimic female hormones. In Britain there is even a company called Wellfoods who are commercialising it.

It may or may not prove to be the 'miracle' you need, but you won't know till you've tried!

Post Menopause Vaginal Dryness - How to Treat it Without Further Complications

Wondering what life will be like post menopause? Vaginal dryness is one of the most common symptoms. But it's not something you need to live with. Many women find relief using simple remedies. Will you be one of them??

Vaginal dryness afflicts nearly 80% of women after menopause. This may not seem like a serious problem, but if you are in a relationship, it can be. This can definitely interfere with your sex life. It makes sex in the least uncomfortable. And if you let this condition go, it can progress into vaginal atrophy. This is where the lining of your vagina thins to the point that sex becomes impossible without bleeding.?Fortunately, this is an easily preventable condition.?

You basically have two methods of treatment of vaginal dryness. First are over the counter lubricants. These will ease the symptom, but does not treat the cause. You can still develop vaginal atrophy while using these. To actually treat this, you need something a little stronger.?

The cause of vaginal dryness and eventual atrophy is the lower levels of estrogen. So if you talk to your doctor, you can start on a course of low dose estrogen therapy. However, this is not without its side effects. But you do have another option.?

Many women have found relief using natural remedies. Certain plants contain what are known as phyto estrogens.? These are plant-based compounds that closely mimics the body's own supply of estrogen. Some say that it is a better option than artificial hormones. You can find these in plants such as soy and other legumes.?

Post menopause vaginal dryness should not be something you have to deal with. By using natural or artificial means of estrogen replacement, you can get your old sex life back.?

What Are the Symptoms of Menopause - Fuzzy Thinking

This part of what are the symptoms of menopause deals with something very familiar to women in menopause: fuzzy thinking.

How often have you forgotten your car keys, right after you put them down? Or your reading glasses? Some women have 5 or 6 pairs of glasses because they just cannot keep track of them! Of course, this may not have anything to do with the symptoms of menopause, but very often it is one of the most common symptoms: fuzzy thinking.

Frequently, fuzzy thinking means that your body is trying to tell you that it is overburdened, stressed out and in need of some attention. The stresses of modern day living, with it's multi-tasking and endless bombardment of information can take a huge toll on your hormonal balance. This imbalance can cause the very annoying menopause symptom of fuzzy thinking.

What causes fuzzy thinking?

When the body is overburdened it automatically shuts down for a spell. It is just a simple matter of survival. Imagine a filing cabinet full of folders that keep getting more and more added until it is over-capacity. Add a lack of adequate rest, poor nutrition, too much caffeine, etc. and the stage is set for a period of fuzzy thinking.

During menopause it is normal for the hormones to slow down production. This can easily cause a hormonal imbalance that sets off the foggy, clouded thinking. Try as you might, something is just missing and you cannot focus or concentrate. This is because the necessary hormones are simply not there in adequate supply.

What can you do about fuzzy thinking?

First realize that, in all likelihood, your case is not so severe. Also, you can rest assured that there is almost always a great deal you can do on your own to help. Of course, very severe cases should be treated by a medical doctor.

One of the first places to look is your daily planner. If it is jam packed to the max with appointments and things to do you should find a way to change this. It may not be so easily done, but it can be done and will bring quick results.

Another likely suspect is your sleeping pattern. It does not take long for a chronic lack of sleep to do damage to the brain. There is no way around it: the human body requires adequate sleep and rest to function properly.

You might think that a lack of sleep has little effect on the brain, but many studies have shown a decreased ability to recall things from the short-term memory and an inability to process information for the long term memory. Not only that, but the ability to quickly react is affected by a lack of quality sleep.

Nutrition plays a huge role as well in preventing fuzzy thinking. A good example is to remember how it was to participate in a lengthy meeting on an empty stomach! Or the wasted feeling of too much sugar and caffeine, especially when it wears off!

On the other hand, having a healthy diet can work wonders for the body and mind. Good nutrition supplies the ingredients our bodies need to operate at their best. Taking a quality vitamin/mineral supplement is also good advice.