Shape-Shifting – Changing Bodies at Midlife

As Halloween approached last fall, I decided I didn’t need to run out to the costume store. I already had a new costume. My body is creating one for me right before my very eyes.

What am I talking about? Shape shifting.

Shape shifting occurs in mythology, folklore, and modern fantasy like the TV series “Fringe.” It’s the ability to physically transform into another form. That’s what I mean. My body is shape shifting.

As I get older, maintaining my ideal weight becomes more difficult. Perhaps you’ve found that, like me, you are becoming a shape shifter too. In fact, many women change shapes around the time of the menopausal transition. On average, women gain between 12 and 15 pounds between the ages of 45 and 55.

Sadly, this extra weight usually doesn’t distribute itself evenly. The weight tends to accumulate around the belly, and our figures slowly lose their hour-glass shape taking on a more rounded appearance.

The good news is that menopause shape shifting isn’t inevitable. The hormonal changes of menopause make it more likely to gain weight around the abdomen than around the hips and thighs. But hormonal changes alone don’t necessarily trigger menopausal weight gain.

For example, muscle mass typically diminishes with age, while fat increases. Loss of muscle mass decreases the rate at which your body uses calories, which can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight. If you continue to eat as you always have and don’t increase your physical activity, you’re likely to gain weight.

Continue reading this post on Mary Buchan, Lifestyle RN’s blog