Foods to Eat That Keep You Feeling Full…Not Fat.

Proteins, healthy fats, and fiber will get you everywhere. But what happens when you find yourself  leaving the table after a meal only to be sneaking off to the pantry or refrigerator an hour or so later…The key is to stay far away from those foods that will sock the weight on your thighs and make you feel uncomfortable in your jeans. This is old school but how about counting calories? Remember to stick within 1200-2000 per day. You've got good foods and bad foods...So what foods are OK to eat?

How about eggs? Did you know that they are only 70 calories and pack a good punch of protein (6 grams to be exact.)

Soup. Yes soup. Why and what kind of soup? The kind that contains a lot of water, because it will make you feel fuller and you will be less inclined to grab for anything else to munch on.

Eat healthy fats. Fish, plant based oils and nuts. Avocados. Yes these bad boys are great to snack on. Why? Their monounsaturated fats help slow the rate in which your stomach empties plus they are loaded with folate, potassium, and lots of vitamin E. Stay clear of the trans fats though.

Low fat greek yogurt; a container of 6 ounces contains 17 grams of protein and that is awesome!
Apples..yes my grandmother used to say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away…these delightful red or green treats are only 80 calories but high in water content and 4 grams of fiber too.

Nuts; walnuts, almonds and pistachios contain contain fiber, protein and fat so keep it at about an ounce  or two per portion.

What foods do you really want to stay away from? Some people say carbs. I say yes and no. Eat good carbs. This means food with wholegrain.

Cereal; Thus meaning…anything that looks too fruity or fun is bad for you. (aka; fruit loops, lucky charms, captain crunch, etc.) Please…stick with the healthy stuff.

Cookie, crackers and croissants. These are certainly some of our favorites but these are forms of bread and breads are a big no-no!

Alcoholic beverages spike your appetite. Oh you better believe that your getting more than cheap drinks and half off appetizers at happy hour…and your ass, thighs and tummy will soon be paying for this one, so lay off the booze.

Certain diet foods can actually make you want more. What do I mean by this? Well, so many of us try  diet meals and what do we end up doing? We add salt, butter, and God only knows what else to make it taste better. Some times the truth is that they are not as good because they don't have enough fruits or veggies to stick to your ribs.

So, a little bit of non-professional advice? How about this; next time before you go and stick food in your mouth and then whine that you need to lose weight…think about what you just said, and work on some preventative maintenance with your body so that you eat foods that fill you up not fill you out.

Gimmie Some Sugar...Or Not?

We love it but ohhhh dear is it ever bad for us! Did you know that Americans (and people in many other countries around the world consume on average 100-125 pounds of sugar per year?  That's roughly a quarter of a pound every day. My question is this; "Who doesn't love a big red candy apple or a bag of cotton candy at the state fair? Who doesn't like candy in the movie theater, a ton of syrup on your pancakes, or a sweet treat dessert?" It's impossible to stay away from sugar..It is addictive.  But did you know that it's horrifically unhealthy and will shorten your life? It's bad for your body especially your insides, your outsides, preferably your ass, thighs and anywhere else that cellulite can develop, not to mention your teeth. Sugar has become a staple in our modern diet, but why is sugar bad for your health? Many foods we eat on a regular basis are loaded with sugar. Sometimes you can’t even taste the sugar but it’s still in there. As delicious as sugar-laden foods may taste, the truth is sugar is just bad for your health, especially when you start to overindulge in it.

To break it down for you; the average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week, which is not surprising considering that highly refined sugars in the forms of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are being processed into so many foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and a plethora of microwavable meals. We have known this for decades. It was only in the 1970's that researchers found out that vitamin C.

 So what can we do? Reduce the amount of sugar you eat and you will soon notice a positive change in the way your skin looks. The reason for this is that refined carbohydrates such as white bread and other white flour products, are high in sugar and will cause an inflammation of the skin. This in turn creates high levels of free radicals which attack the collagen that keeps the skin stay firm. Without enough of this collagen, you will start to notice wrinkles.  Sugary foods can also compromise your immune system. 

Research has shown that white blood cells are less efficient at fighting illness when exposed to sugar. A diet high in sugar will also raise your insulin levels quickly which can lead to many other health problems. You’ll also lack energy as a result of these sugar spikes and the drop in blood sugar that follows. This is not good folks. Listen to your body, and take care of it! PAY ATTENTION to your body and what you are consuming!

It’s no secret that obesity and weight-related illnesses are on the rise in many countries and this is directly attributed to our diets and lifestyle. Our bodies simply aren’t able to cope with such high sugar levels and this is why illnesses like diabetes are at an all time high. Cutting the excess sugar out of your diet is one of the best things you can do for your body.In 20 years, it will certainly be thanking you!

Recently, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres declared that she was going on a sugar cleanse, purging her diet of all refined sugars to boost her well-being. Her sugar cleanse diet inspired many viewers to embark on their own sugar smack downs. Is this the latest food fad, or are the sugar naysayers on to something?  Hey...Lets face it,...We're born to like sugar!  Sugar taps into a powerful human preference for sweet taste. Way back, the preference for sugar may have conferred an evolutionary advantage by leading people to seek out ripe fruits, which are sweet and serve as a good source of calories.

It's no wonder that diseases such as obesity and diabetes run rampant.

Cutting back on sweets can help protect you from these serious health conditions and may help you lose weight. Even if you have a sweet tooth, these tips will make it easy to eat healthier.

Understand the Reasons for Cutting Back on Sugar:

1. Learn the new guidelines. The American Heart Association (AHA) recently released guidelines for healthy sugar intake. While the average American is now eating about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, AHA suggests cutting back to 5 for women, 9 for men, and 3 for kids.

2. Avoid empty calories. The population started getting heavier at the same time we began eating increased amounts of refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. It's hard to maintain a healthy weight if soft drinks and donuts are crowding out the broccoli and whole grains.

3. Know the research concerning other health risks. Experts agree that sugar causes tooth decay and contributes to weight problems. These weight problems lead to diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer.

Easy Ways to Reduce Your Sugar Consumption:

1. Avoid soda. For me, this one is almost impossible. Soft drinks are the worst offenders by far. A typical 12-ounce soda contains at least 8 teaspoons of added sugar, which alone is more than the daily recommendation for women and kids. Drink more water.

2. Limit processed foods. Candy, cakes and cookies account for a significant amount of our sugar intake, but so do some foods you might not suspect. Sugar is added to everything from whole wheat bread to peanut butter.

3. Read labels. If the first ingredients listed are added sweeteners like sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, you may want to find something more nutritious to eat. Check the total grams of sugar, but keep in mind that will include both added sugars and the less worrisome naturally occurring sugars.

4. Make healthy substitutions. You can eat delicious meals if you make smart substitutions. Switch to a breakfast cereal that's unsweetened or lightly sweetened. Add a little vanilla extract to plain yogurt and skip the fake raspberry flavors.

5. Prepare more foods from scratch. Using fresh ingredients gives you more control over hidden sugars. Make your own salad dressing with olive oil, vinegar and garlic. It will also taste better and cost less than the sweetened supermarket brands.

6. Proceed gradually. It's easy to get conditioned to sugar. Wean yourself in baby steps. Put half as much sugar in your coffee or switch to a natural product like stevia that has no calories.

7. Prioritize. If you're a woman, figure out how you want to use your recommended 5 teaspoons of sugar a day. The sugar you eliminate from your peanut butter may help enable you to eat a small bowl of ice cream or a couple of cookies after dinner.

8. Reduce portion sizes. Moderation is the key. You can still enjoy your favorite desserts as long as you savor a sliver of cake or a few squares of a deluxe chocolate bar.

9. Address emotional eating. You might sometimes reach for sweets when you're feeling stressed because they help you feel better by boosting your serotonin levels. If emotional eating is an issue for you, seek more constructive ways to relax, like meditating or listening to music.

10. Exercise more. On the other side of the equation, you can afford to eat more if you burn more calories. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise on most days.

Replace the empty calories from sugar with healthier treats and a more nutritious diet. You may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it becomes to reduce the amount of sugar that your body consumes.

www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com

Low Fat Diets and Being Overweight

Before we can begin to figure this out, we need to grasp the reality of this and understand the problem. It has been said that excess body weight is known to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Furthermore, a recent study suggested that increased body weight is related to an elevated risk of mortality from cancer. Since pre-existing chronic disease can lead to weight loss, this study also included alternative analyses that disregarded deaths occurring soon after enrollment and restricted the assessment to groups without pre-existing disease. In addition, the researchers adjusted for pre-existing disease by asking older participants to report their weight as it was when they were 50 years old. Examining weight at an earlier age provides a measure of typical adult weight that is largely unaffected by the onset of chronic disease.

Did you know that two out of three Americans are considered overweight? The primary cause is that we eat more and exercise less. There is no doubt that the more advances we make that enhance our lifestyle the heavier we become. Hold up...and wait a minute! What about all those low-fat foods that we eat now? Most people on low fat diets ask...How come I reduced fat in my diet but I’m still gaining weight? That's a simple answer. A few years ago we all became aware of the detrimental effects of fat in our diet. So what did we do? We began to concentrate on lowering cholesterol and taking fat out of our diets. This is a good thing. However, The National Center for Health Statistics studied eating habits of 8,260 adult American between 1998 and 2005. Their research showed that Americans had significantly reduced their fat intake but still packed on the pounds. How can this happen? There is no mystery. In the process of counting fat grams, we stopped counting calories! There's your problem.

Many of us bought in to the theory that if it’s “low-fat” it won’t make us fat...WRONG!

Did you fall off a turnip truck yesterday? Listen, you seriously can’t forget about counting calories. If you eat more calories than you need the body will store them as fat. It doesn’t matter whether the calories are from fat or carbohydrates.One school of thought believes that eating small amounts of fat can actually keep you from over indulging on total calories. The theory is that dietary fat causes our bodies to produce a hormone that tells the intestines to slow down the emptying process. You feel full and therefore are less likely to overeat. Adding a little peanut butter to your rice cake may satisfy your hunger for a longer period of time, thus preventing you from eating more than you need.Here’s more news that is surprising. 

Tufts University scientists put 11 middle aged men and women volunteers on a variety of average, reduced and low-fat diets. The results? Extremely low-fat diets which provided only 15 percent fat from calories (this is a diet near impossible in real life) did have a positive effect on blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.However, a reduced-fat diet (much more realistic) only affected those levels if accompanied by weight loss.

In fact, they concluded, cutting fat without losing weight actually increased triglyceride levels and decreased high density lipoproteins (HDL), the “good” cholesterol that helps protect again heart disease, and none of us want heart disease! Take care of your body, I say this daily..it's the only home you'll ever have and you cannot be replaced! Are you picking up what I'm laying down here?

So what can we do about this HDL and how can our bodies fight that 'bad?' We can deduce, therefore, while excess fat isn’t healthy, fat is also not necessarily a bad thing. Without some fat in our diet, the body won’t make nerve cells and hormones or absorb some of the fat soluble vitamins.Okay, so how can you determine your ideal weight? Just how much fat and how many calories should you consume to reach and maintain a healthy weight? The truth is, one answer just won't work for everyone... So you need to do some figuring to determine how much fat and how many calories you can have.Remember, take care of yourself, and seek the advice of a professional. 

www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com

Lose 5 Pounds Super Easy...

How many times have you heard someone say that they want to lose five pounds? And how many times have you heard that the diet starts tomorrow? Isn't that an old cliche?

cli·ché/klēˈSHā/

Noun:

A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. A very predictable or unoriginal thing or person.

Tell me, and let's be honest here....

We talk the talk, but when we open that pantry door and see a bag of potato chips, out the window goes those thoughts of wanting to lose weight because we would much rather induldge in fat and grease. The truth at hand is,losing a mere five pounds is very realistic and it can be a great kick-start to your metabolism and energy levels. Plus, it can help you fit into that little black dress or suit for that upcoming wedding, reunion, or vacation. First though YOU have to make the commitment to start now, not tomorrow, not Monday, but right now!

Below is a healthy plan to help you shed 5 pounds quickly, easily and most importantly, the healthy way. As with all diets, check with your doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise plan. If I can do it, anyone can do it!

1. Begin by drinking more water. Lay off the soda/pop whatever you call it. I get caffeine headaches because i have been drinking it for wayyyyyy too long. Coca Cola has become my best friend over the years and is my wake up, and get up and go in the morning and through out the day. Nonetheless, I did realize that I was drinking far too much. Not wanting to get severe headaches I have no limited myself to 2 cans per day. If I space it out that is 4 small glasses with ice and that is plenty. I also realized how much water my body was lacking. This can be so very harmful. Organs will shut down if you don't get enough water. Some of you might not know that, but here is your wake up call. Your body requires water to function properly and with the right amount of water, your digestive system will work more efficiently. Plus, by filling your stomach with water, you'll eat less and feel full faster.

• Water helps flush your body of toxins and water weight. Yes, more water actually helps your body get rid of excess water.
• The daily minimum intake of water is 64 ounces (or almost 2 liters). If you're like most people, your current intake of water is probably less than half of the recommended amount, so drink up!

2. Get off that couch and get active! That's right, shake your groove thing girlie, even if it means dancing while running the vacuum. My kids used to laugh at me because I would turn on that song by the Village People..."YMCA" and dance around. Sure I looked like an idiot but who cares? I was burning calories! When you move your body you build muscle, which burns fat. There are so many activities that you can engage in that don't cost money or require expensive gym equipment to help you get fit and lose weight. Here are some ideas:

• Walking around your neighborhood or in a local park
• Biking
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Throwing a ball with your kids or spouse
• Frisbee
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Inline skating (with the proper safety equipment of course)

3. Start making healthier food choices! To effectively boost your calorie and fat burning processes, eat healthier foods like leafy green vegetables, fruits and lean meats.

• You'll also want to limit your intake of red meat, high calorie and fat dressings, gravies and sauces and avoid sugary drinks, candy or other foods with lots of sugar.
• Sugar causes you to put on weight, so when you eliminate sugar, you help eliminate weight gain. Also, try to choose natural or organic foods in order to avoid consuming chemicals that may actually cause you to retain weight.

4. Use portion control to limit the amount of food you consume. Do you know what this means? Studies show that reducing the amount of food you eat actually produces the quickest weight loss. Obviously you want to do this in a healthy manner, not obsessively or out of control. So many people think they need to cut off their food supply to lose weight which is actually more harmful than good. It messes with your metabolism and can actually cause you to put all that weight right back on and then some....so eat! Here is my suggestion:

• Eating 6 small meals a day, as opposed to the three larger meals you're probably accustomed to, has been shown to be healthier, help reduce fat stores and to increase metabolism.
• If you're wondering what a healthy portion looks like, it's all in the hands. In other words, a healthy portion or serving size is about the size of your fist, palm, or hand, depending on what food you're eating.
• Close your fist. That's a healthy portion size for a serving of rice, pasta or other side dish.
• Open your hand and look at the size of your palm. This is the perfect amount of chicken breast, pork or other types of meat. It should be about the size and thickness of a deck of cards.
• The size of your entire open hand is the perfect size for veggies.

5. Replace unhealthy snacks with nuts, raw veggies or fruit!
My grandmother used to always say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" Here are a few examples to help you choose healthier snack options:

• When you're craving chips or other salty, crunchy snacks, grab a handful of nuts instead. They are healthier for you and satisfy the craving for salt or crunchiness. Also, try to buy nuts with less salt. Natural or raw varieties will help to reduce your salt intake too.
• When you want something sweet, grab a piece of fruit like an apple, banana, orange, or melon. The natural sugar is way better for you than eating a bowl of ice cream or a handful (or two) of cookies.
• Have the munchies in general? Nibble on some raw carrots, celery or broccoli.

Losing 5 pounds can be fun and make you feel so much better about yourself. The best part is that it can be done quickly, in as little time as a week or two, depending on your specific circumstances.Whether it's to kick-start your weight loss plan or to fit into that little black party dress, taking off 5 pounds is a step in the right direction to a healthier, more fit you. It begins now! So get off that couch and shake the pounds away! You'll feel so good and your body will thank you, after all, as I say so many times....your body is your house, your protective barrier, take care of it, no one else will. It's the only one you've got!

A friend of mine told me about a great book to pick up, it's called "Eat This Not That!" I've listed it below for you to check out. recently it was also hot topic on the TODAY show! Sure you can still eat other foods, just learn what foods are better than others as far as calories, sodium and fat. You'll be surprised what you learn from reading this book and you'll begin making changes that will shed the pounds while still eating what you love!

http://www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com/

Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss

How many times do you try to eat healthy and do what I do? You eat your meals (now cut in half because you are trying to lose weight) and you end up standing in front of the refrigerator at 10pm at night looking for something to satisfy your hunger? Unfortunately, I tend to grab the "wrong" snacks which really don't help take the unwanted pounds off, in fact eating the wrong foods might just pack some extra weight on!

I have found that snacking seems to be the way to keep your appetite under control in between meals. When you go without food for long periods of time your metabolism slows down, your body craves carbohydrates to use for a much needed energy boost. I am guilty as charged! I'll forget to eat for a few days when I get wrapped up with work, especially now that my kids are gone, and when I do finally eat, it's generally the "bad for you foods." When it comes time to finally eat it's hard to consciously choose healthy foods and a proper portion size. Although snacking can seem like your worst nightmare it's more about controlling what types of foods you snack on and how much you choose to consume.

How many of you feel that choosing the right snacks can be difficult, especially when trying to lose weight? I don't know about you all, but if I say I am on a "diet" I pack on 10 pounds without even opening my mouth. I have to trick myself...if I want something I have to tell myself, "Yum yum eat that up Michele, it's so good for you!" When in fact, it's so high in sugar or sodium. If I tell myself I cannot eat something,..it make me only want to eat it more...reverse psychology is what you must use on yourself.

You'll want to eat something to satisfy your craving that is low in calories and healthy. Your snack doesn't necessarily have to be low fat as long as you keep your portion sizes and food choices under control. By pairing two different food types together you will feel fuller for longer, just remember to reduce the amount of each food that you eat. So the next time you're feeling hungry or its time for a snack choose foods from this list to keep you full and satisfied.


1. Fruit- Fruit is excellent for a snack. Whether you eat apiece by itself or pair it with cheese, yogurt or a dipping sauce, it has wonderful nutritional value and is low in calories. Most fruits are naturally sweet, which curb cravings for sugar snacks. Additionally they are a great source of fiber, have high water content and some contain antioxidants, anticancer, and heart disease fighting properties. For the quantity of melons and berries that you're able to eat for a snack they are surprisingly low in calories. Melons include watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and casaba. Berries include raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and cranberries. Dried fruit can also be consumed because it maintains the fiber, vitamins, and minerals, however they tend to be higher in calories and can sometimes contain added sugar. Always remember your portion size when you eat dried fruits. The best fruits to eat for a snack include melons, berries, apples, pears, peaches, plums, oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and red grapes. Fresh fruits of the season are the best!


2. Vegetables- Vegetables are a great source of nutrients, which makes them a perfect snack food. Vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and are very low in calories. Vegetables can be eaten alone or paired with other foods such as celery and peanut butter, cucumbers and hummus, carrots and low fat rand dressing, etc. Because most vegetables require some type of preparation such as cleaning, peeling or cutting, its best to prepare your vegetables ahead of time and store them in plastic baggies or Tupperware containers. Plant a garden. you be so much healthier, and you'll save a lot of change with the prices of produce sky rocketing with this shitty economy.


3. Nuts- Nuts are a great snack food that can be eaten on the go and stored easily. Nuts are a valuable source of fiber, antioxidants, protein, vitamins and healthy unsaturated fats. However, they run high in calories and fat so maintaining an appropriate serving size per sitting is necessary. Pistachios, almonds and walnuts are preferred for snacking purposes.


4. Legume- Legumes are a "whole food" that provides the body with essential nutrients such as fiber, protein, minerals, amino acids, omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Legumes are complex carbohydrates, which keep you feeling fuller for longer. Although legumes don't seem like a good snack food, most often they are made into a puree, dip, or added to a salad. The best legumes for snacks are beans, chickpeas, hummus, and tahini (pureed sesame seeds).


5. Dairy- Dairy is a great source of calcium, which builds strong bones, protein and vitamins. Its best to use low fat or fat free dairy products for snacking to avoid consuming high amounts of saturated fats. Yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta, hard cheeses, milk, cream cheese, and sour cream are good sources of dairy foods for snacking. For yogurt beware of the added sugars which hike up the calories. Greek yogurt is thick and has a naturally sour taste, but is also higher in protein than normal yogurt. When measuring out serving size be careful with cheeses because even the low fat or fat free kinds tend to run high in saturated fats. You can consume 1/2 cup of soft cheese in one sitting and a couple of cubes of hard cheese such as mozzarella or Monterey jack.


6. Whole grains- Most snack foods consist of refined grains such as cookies, crackers and snack cakes. Refined grains are high in sugar and fat without any healthy benefits. Whole grains on the other hand have fiber, vitamins and minerals, which provide the body with nutrients and energy. When looking for a snack turn to whole grain food products to fill you up and keep you going. Some whole grain food products include whole grain crackers, tortilla chips, pita wedges, English muffins, rice cakes, cereals and popcorn. Light or low fat popcorn is great for snacking and is naturally high in fiber. Avoid butter, which adds fat and calories. Another option is 100% whole wheat or multi grain, however you want to watch out for added sugar and high saturated or trans fats. Whole grain snack foods are great combined with cheeses, dips, spreads, or fruits. Remember portion size when combining two food groups.


7. Nutrition Bars- Nutrition bars are a great snack to take on the go. They are easy, maintenance free and portable and most often contain a good amount of protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber. They come in all kinds granola, cereal, fiber, protein, and tons of flavors for everyone's different tastes. The fiber and protein will keep you full and satisfy your craving until your next meal. Always check the ingredient list for a high number of calories, sugar, fat and any added chemicals.



Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

We are forever in a hurry....it's always rush, rush, rush and usually we stick something unhealthy in our mouths, right? So you have no time for your peanut butter and banana sandwich? No problem...here's  a smoothie combo for the gal on the go! It's quick and easy...oh, and nutritional too!


Ingredients:

• 1 - ripe banana
• 1/2 to 1 cup - fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 2 tablespoons - Domino® Organic Light Agave Nectar
• 1/2 cup - skim milk
• 1/4 cup - creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon - vanilla extract
• 4 to 6 ice cubes

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Double to make 2 servings.

Menopause and Weight Gain

Do You have the

Menopause Munchies?

After years of trying to get my body back to it's girlie figure, after the 2 childbirths which...btw, I used as an excuse for the increase of my thighs and ass until the kids went away to college. At that time they said to me "Mom...Seriously?" Ok, so I hit the treadmill, starting eating better and knocked off that 10 pounds but still had 12 to go...then I learned I had cancer, and although that made me sick a lot, the after effects of the steroids from chemo put some 28 pounds back on me. The weight gain for me didn't happen right away, about 4-6 months after the chemo I started noticing that my skirts and slacks were getting tighter...I couldn't understand this, so I went to get my thyroid checked and had my yearly physical. Those tests came back fine. My doctor said this was normal and it would take time to take off. Finally after the cancer coming back 4 times in the past 9 years I had the weight off (a year ago) and actually was able to go to the mall and buy a pair of khaki shorts in a size 6. I hadn't been in a size 6 since before I had the kids. I was in heaven! 3 months ago, I was under stress, was contemplating a relocation, was trying to operated 2 small businesses and make changes to them, to get ready for my plus size lingerie shop to launch in the fall this year. I had to get my son relocated to NYC after he graduated from college and was not feeling like myself at all. I found myself eating more, and more, and more,...and exercising less, and less and less. I was tired but had a lot of nervous energy...why? No idea? All I know is that my waistline/mid-section is getting bigger and expanding and I have what some women would call "love handles" I refer to them as  having more rolls than Mr Tootsie! What was I to do? I researched. Here is what I found: A drop in estrogen and progesterone can increase a woman´s appetite and cause her to eat up to 67% more, according to one study. An increase in appetite coupled with a slower metabolism with the onset of menopause can cause weight gain in women. This could, perhaps, account for the 12% jump in the number of women who are overweight in midlife compared to women in their 20s and 30s. Weight Gain During Menopause As women approach menopause they endure many symptoms but one that proves the most difficult for many women to accept is menopausal weight gain. Not only can a few extra pounds (or maybe more) ravage a woman´s self-esteem and self-image, but weight gain can usher in a host of health concerns that put a woman at risk of developing life-threatening conditions. About 90% of menopausal women experience some amount of weight gain. Although weight gain is a natural and common aspect of getting older, there are ways to reduce it. Women who are educated about this symptom are more likely to find ways around the typical spare-tire waist or extra inches here and there. Continue reading to learn more about weight gain, its causes, and treatment options. About Weight Gain Weight gain takes place when a woman increases her body mass, whether as a result of fat deposits, additional muscle tissue, or excess fluid. However, weight gain associated with menopause typically involves increased amounts of fat around the mid-section. On average, women gain between 12 to 15 pounds between the ages of 45 and 55, the stage in life when menopause typically occurs. This extra weight generally does not evenly distribute itself throughout a woman´s body. The weight tends instead to accumulate around the abdomen, and women often notice the shape of their bodies slowly lose their hour-glass figure and begin to take on a rounder shape. This body transformation is a typical aspect of weight gain during menopause. Oh,...shoot me now! Risks of Weight Gain Weight gain during menopause entails more than just aesthetic concerns. Although no one enjoys looking in the mirror and seeing a softer, plumper body looking back, weight gain can lead to very serious health conditions that transcend visual displeasure. Several diseases and other conditions can spawn as a result of a body burdened with excess pounds. Here is a list of conditions weight gain can lead to: • Heart disease, stroke. • High blood pressure. • Osteoarthritis. • Breast cancer. • High cholesterol. • Kidney disease. • Sleep apnea. • Insulin resistance (increasing   diabetes risks). • More severe menopausal symptoms. Causes of Weight Gain As years progress the metabolism slows; setting the physiological stage for weight gain. Although age itself can lead to plumped midsections, women approaching menopause have particular cause for concern. As a woman´s hormones fluctuate prior to menopause and preparing for a permanently reduced hormonal level, it is likely to experience weight gain. Ladies, sometimes it truly does suck being a woman....hot flashes, mood swings, eating out of control. I feel like I'm on a runaway train. My scale has hit higher numbers and I keep saying "OMG...Make It STOP!! That doesn't work, so I cry, and cry some more. If you can't find me look in my walk in closet, I'll be the woman, like my little sister that sits on the closet floor with her size 6 shorts and clothes crying "what's happened to me...with a cold slice of pizza in hand."  Share your experiences with others by posting on my comment section, please. It will help a lot of women more than you know. We aren't in this alone. I just want my old shape back! http://www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com/