TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH AND MANAGE MENOPAUSAL WEIGHT GAIN WITH EASE
Midlife Weight Loss Solutions for Women Over 40 in Columbus, Ohio
Weight gain is a common symptom that occurs during the menopausal transition. Learn more about why this happens and what women over 40 can do to lose the weight and keep it off for good.
Sustainable Weight Loss for Midlife Women
One of the major changes that can occur for women experiencing perimenopause or menopause is sudden (and stubborn!) weight gain.
This can also contribute to “menopausal belly fat” or “belly bloat.” Although this can cause women to feel discouraged, frustrated, and confused about their health, knowing and understanding the why behind these changes can help you achieve sustainable midlife weight loss and restore your health and vitality.
This phase in your life is a time for you to pause, reflect, and thrive, not feel like you have to resign yourself to “aging.” Let’s move forward together. Continue reading for more information on menopausal weight gain and the best solutions to combat it.
Why Weight Loss Is Harder After 40
Hormonal & Metabolic Factors Affecting Weight
Increased Appetite
Let’s address how hormonal fluctuations can affect your weight. One major factor in weight gain is a change in appetite. Women can experience an increase in appetite due to these hormonal changes, which can lead to unexpected weight gain.
Your endocrine (hormonal production) system controls your hunger, but fluctuating hormones can create imbalances in your usual eating schedule and your diet (e.g., more sugar cravings).
Estrogen Decline and Your Metabolism
Another main factor that causes menopausal weight gain for midlife women is a slower metabolism. Estrogen is in charge of your metabolism, and estrogen decline during perimenopause and menopause can also make it challenging for women to maintain their weight.
The reduced levels of estrogen production can also affect your insulin sensitivity and how your body stores fat (e.g., redistributing fat in the belly area or in the hips and thighs).
How Cortisol Affects Your Sleep
Sleep and stress are other key players in how your body’s hormones function. Your progesterone levels will decrease over time, and this hormone is in charge of your sleep.
If you’re experiencing sleep disturbances, this can cause your cortisol or stress hormones to rise, leading to mood swings and weight gain. If your cortisol levels are high, this can aggravate your sleep even more and cause more difficulties and deprivation. When your cortisol hormones are hyperactive, this can cause weight gain, specifically around your abdomen and waist.
Upgrade Your Lifestyle Habits
To wrap up this brief overview on hormonal and metabolic factors affecting weight for menopausal women, let’s go over lifestyle habits.
At Bonza Health, we believe that this is one of the building blocks for a strong foundation for change in your health and wellness. Because perimenopause and menopause can bring about drastic changes to your physical, emotional, and mental health, your current lifestyle habits (including what you’re feeding your body) may not be ideal anymore, even if they worked perfectly before. For example, if you love your coffee in the morning or enjoy heading to the local bakery for a pastry during your lunch break, these habits (and food choices) can contribute to menopausal weight gain, increased stress and anxiety, mood swings, and more—without you knowing it!
Even though these hormonal changes are natural, the sudden weight gain can increase health and wellness concerns for women. However, with intentional lifestyle changes and the right approach with medical guidance, midlife weight loss for women over 40 can be much easier to understand and manage.
Understanding Hormonal Changes During Perimenopause and Menopause
Generally speaking, after the age of 35, women begin to experience changes to their hormones; some women may even officially enter perimenopause or the menopausal transition (a phase that occurs before menopause), which can last for years.
The defining difference between perimenopause and menopause is your menstrual cycle. In the perimenopause stage, you can still have your period, but it can be irregular in terms of frequency and flow. After 12 consecutive months, if you have not had your period, this will mark your full transition into the menopause stage.
During this time, your body’s natural hormone production starts to slow down, reducing levels of major hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Hormones are vital to many of your body’s functions, including weight management, metabolism, and appetite.
These changes can induce an onset of symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep difficulties, weight gain, and brain fog. Every woman’s experience will be different, and some symptoms may be more prominent than others.
Our Personalised Functional Medicine Approach
Although we’re gradually experiencing more open, compassionate discussions around perimenopause and menopause, there are still stigmas surrounding these natural conditions for women.
Our mission here at Bonza Health is to provide the resources, support, and empathy to women who are silently dealing with their symptoms and unsure about how to move forward with their health.
We want you to know that you can thrive in your health and well-being, even through these hormonal changes. You can walk through your journey with confidence! Midlife weight loss is possible, and you can overcome weight gain during menopause. Learn more about our offerings and what our team at Bonza Health can do for you:
Vitality Code
Hormone Therapy
Perimenopause Supplements
The Cycle of Better
Vitality Code
Discover the 3-step system to help women navigate these changes.
This is a free-to-watch webinar that dives deep into perimenopause (menopause women are welcome, too!) and Bonza Health’s exclusive program, the Vitality Code, which covers the key aspects of menopause management, including a perimenopause weight loss and wellness plan.
GLP-1 (Semaglutide) is offered as part of a personalized health plan for women who qualify and participate in the comprehensive Vitality Code program.
Weight loss for women over 40 can be difficult, and that’s why Dr. Bonza offers GLP-1 (Semaglutide) solutions to support your weight loss journey safely.
Weight gain caused by hormonal shifts can be a catalyst for developing unhealthy habits, such as appetite dysregulation (e.g., overeating) and intense sugar cravings. GLP-1 (short for “Glucagon-Like Peptide-1”) is a hormone that helps maintain blood sugar levels and keeps you fuller for longer.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and it imitates this naturally-occurring hormone to encourage weight loss and improve blood sugar management. This is a prescribed once-a-week injection; paired with lifestyle changes, you can experience significant changes in your health and weight.
Hormone Therapy
Dr. Sarah Bonza offers FDA-approved hormone therapy for women.
Hormone therapy is highly effective and can significantly reduce the symptoms you’re experiencing during perimenopause and menopause.
Dr. Bonza creates a personalized, whole-body plan to ensure that you have everything you need to begin your journey, including comprehensive preventative medicine evaluations, such as supplement recommendations and Functional Medicine Testing.
Advanced screenings such as breast MRI and bone density testing can be arranged with Dr. Bonza as well.
NUTRITION, MOVEMENT, SUPPLEMENTS
Perimenopause Supplements
Natural supplements can do wonders for your health and well-being during perimenopause.
Our curated list of premium supplements, approved and personally used by Dr. Bonza, can help you manage your symptoms and health as you transition into your midlife journey.
We offer a specialized b-cut protocol for women who are looking to lose weight with the right supplements and equipment.
The Cycle of Better
One of our core concepts around managing perimenopause and menopause is the Bonza Health Better Cycle: Feel Better, Think Better, Do Better.
This is a 3-step holistic system that addresses all aspects of you, not just the physical.
Your entire being is changing during the menopause journey, and it’s important to care for all parts of you as you transition and level up your health and well-being.
The Cycle of Better offers you a blueprint on symptom management, stress management, mindset shifts, and lifestyle habits to better you, from the inside out.
Would you like to work with Dr. Bonza and the Bonza Health Team to achieve your health goals and midlife weight loss?
Book your consultation with Dr. Bonza today and let’s transform your health and well-being, together.
FAQs
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Although we work with women everywhere in the U.S., our medical services are only for the states of Ohio and Michigan. If you are a resident in Ohio, please contact us if you have any questions.
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Yes, we do! We cover both perimenopause and menopause in our consultations, health and wellness programs, etc.
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Please note that perimenopause and menopause symptoms are very similar, but the experiences can be vastly different for each woman. You may have lighter symptoms during perimenopause, but the symptoms may be more intense during menopause.
Common symptoms for perimenopause include:
Irregular or missed periods
Weight gain/appetite changes
Brain fog/concentration challenges
Hot flashes/night sweats
Sleep difficulties
Breast tenderness
Intense PMS symptoms
Increased stress or anxiety
Risk of depression
Mood swings
Common symptoms for menopause include:No period for 12 months
Vaginal dryness, decreased libido, weakening pelvic floor
Muscle loss, weight gain, appetite and metabolic changes
Risk of bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis
Brain fog, difficulty remembering or focusing
Thinning skin and dryness, hair thinning or hair loss, nail brittleness
Hot flashes/night sweats
Sleep disturbances
Losing fullness in breasts
Increased stress, anxiety, depression
Mood swings
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Yes, we do! We’re happy to provide more information on perimenopause and menopause. Here are some helpful links:
Bonza Health Shop
Dr. Bonza’s Health Essentials
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!