When we are in perimenopause or menopause, our bodies become more stress-reactive. This is one of the major reasons why we can’t lose the belly fat. Being more stress- reactive means our reaction to stress is quicker and more extreme, and our recovery is slower. These stress-reactive responses also mean major spikes in our bodies’ production of the stress hormone cortisol and insulin.
Cortisol will have a major impact on fat gain, especially around the waist.
We need to make recovery and rest activities a priority at this time.
To name a few activities:
- Meditation
- Massage
- Naps
- Hot Baths ( add Epsom salts)
- Laughter
- Sex (one of the best ways to reduce cortisol)
- Leisurely walks in nature
- Yoga ( restorative forms only)
- Sleep ( sleeping in)
- Spending quality time with our loved ones
Our goal should be at least 15 to 60 minutes of any one of these activities at least 3 times a week.
These aren’t the usual activities we think of when it comes to weight loss and getting in shape, right? Yet we can’t fight our own physiology and expect to win! Our goal for training during perimenopause and menopause is to reduce stress, reduce cortisol, and ultimately reduce fat gain!’
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