Written by Dr. Sandra Miranda, ND
You’re eating pretty much the same way you always have. You may even be exercising more than you used to.
So why does your waistline seem to be changing?
This is one of the most frustrating concerns I hear from women during perimenopause and menopause.
As we get older, changes in hormones can affect many aspects of metabolism. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that deserves attention: insulin and blood-sugar balance.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your body manage glucose in your bloodstream. When your body is continually exposed to higher amounts of glucose and insulin, it can become less responsive to insulin over time. This is often referred to as insulin resistance. Even if your doctor has said to you that your blood sugar is “normal”, you may still have insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that you body has started not to break down carbohydrates very well.
This doesn’t mean that every woman with weight gain has insulin resistance—or that weight is simply a matter of willpower.
Far from it.
Your sleep, stress, activity level, nutrition, hormones and metabolic health can all interact.
That’s why I encourage women to look beyond the number on the scale.
Instead of immediately asking, “What diet should I try?” it can be helpful to ask, “What is my body trying to tell me?”
For some women, supporting blood-sugar balance through personalized nutrition and lifestyle changes can be an important part of feeling better and supporting overall metabolic health.
And when appropriate, we can look more closely at hormones and other factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. How do we do this… with a through functional blood test that checks all your nutrients and hormones!!!
Your body isn’t failing you.
It may simply need a different strategy than the one that worked when you were 25.
If you’re struggling with unexplained weight changes or other symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, call us at 905-239-3900 for a free 10-minute meet-and-greet. Let’s talk about what’s going on and where you might begin.
