Maintaining a good figure is even more important during menopause.
Menopause is another important physiological stage for women. As women enter menopause, their bodies begin to age, their skin ages, their mood worsens, and they are about to enter the dreaded aging period. At this age, many women begin to give up on themselves, accepting that they are about to become “old women,” and no longer pay attention to weight loss, allowing their weight to increase unchecked.
This kind of thinking is unacceptable. Weight loss should be a lifelong pursuit for women. Moreover, weight loss during menopause determines whether one can have a healthy body in old age. Entering old age with an obese body is much more difficult to lose weight and increases the probability of various diseases.
Furthermore, having a good figure during menopause can greatly improve a woman’s self-esteem and boost her confidence. It’s important to know that a woman’s body and appearance have a certain degree of the “Matthew effect”—the more self-assured a woman is, the better the impression she makes on others, and the more she is perceived as having an elegant and sophisticated image. Conversely, this affirmation and praise further strengthens a woman’s self-confidence, which is very helpful in navigating menopause and old age.
Just as the poem says, “The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it’s nearing dusk,” if we have a positive mindset, even in the twilight of menopause, we can still confidently embrace a beautiful life. Conversely, a self-destructive mindset not only leads to a listless approach to twilight, but also completely ignores the beauty of the sunset. At this stage of life, a youthful and positive mindset determines the quality of life in the future; physical factors are secondary. Weight loss is a lifestyle that reflects this positive mindset.
The fundamental principles of weight loss during menopause are the same as for ordinary weight loss: eat less and exercise more. As long as women can do this, menopausal women can also have an ideal figure. However, there are also special aspects to weight loss during menopause because, due to hormonal influences, the weight and mood of menopausal women are prone to instability. Sometimes, despite diligent dieting and exercise, weight gain due to hormonal fluctuations can easily dampen enthusiasm and lead to doubts about the effectiveness of weight loss efforts. Due to emotional instability, menopausal women are also prone to giving up on their weight loss plans or developing aversion to them, which can easily disrupt lifestyle habits and cause weight gain.
Given these characteristics, the focus of weight loss during menopause should be on psychological adjustment.
Women approaching menopause should recognize the physiological characteristics of this period, prepare for the upcoming psychological changes, and continue with their existing weight loss habits. Don’t let temporary weight gain disrupt your original weight loss plan. When experiencing mood swings, soothe yourself promptly and try to find enjoyment in your weight loss journey. For example, replace daily aerobic exercise with group activities. Swimming, aerobics, or group dances with other women of similar age offer not only the enjoyment of exercise but also the pleasure of socializing. With the help of friends, it becomes much harder to give up halfway.
