Menopause isn’t the only cause of middle-age spread. Let’s be serious honest about the other factors. A lot of the dreaded spread is because we just aren’t exercising and, to be truthful, this is the time of life that we really have to exercise and the time of life when it’s just too hard to exercise.

But we can take up arms against the enemy of middle aged spead and manage our menopausal symptoms at the same time!

Other factors which contribute to middle aged spread

Reduced activity : We often exercise less when we enter menopause, why is that? Not because we become lazier, but because we are genuinely more tired and half the time we are too busy!

Decreased metabolism : One reason metabolism declines with age is the loss of muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so when you lose that muscle you don’t burn as many calories.

Increase in calories : As metabolism drops, many of us just don’t think of adjusting our calories accordingly.

Managing our menopausal symptoms with exercise

There are any number of ways to manage menopause symptoms but one simple thing you can do right now is to exercise.

A regular programme of physical activity will help manage many of the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause as well as the related health concerns, such as heart disease and osteoporosis.

Mini Workout

Inverted Push Ups

• Stand with your legs two to three feet from a wall and your palms on the wall
• Slowly lower your chest to the wall by bending your elbows and then slowly push your body back to starting position
• Repeat 10 times

Chair Exercise - Waist Toner

• Sit toward the edge of your chair with your back straight and feet planted on the floor, shoulder-width apart
• Keep your stomach tight, and with a litre bottle of water in each hand, let your left hand slide down the left side of your body toward the floor, only as far as you can without leaning forward
• Alternate sides.

Chair Exercise - Hamstring Stretch

• Sit in a chair and extend one leg forward
• Flex the foot with toes pointed (toward the ceiling and back toward your body) and place heel on the floor
• Brace hands on the sides of your calf and lean forward at the hip
• Stretch and hold
• Alternate sides.

When you’ve finished, walk around for at least five minutes.