There are different factors that affect weight gain or weight loss and hormones is one of those factors. Men and women can carry their weight different. Men tend to carry their weight in their stomachs, and women tend to carry their weight in their hips and thighs until menopause and then they start to carry their weight in their stomach area.
The fat carried around the hips and thighs is harmless; however, the fat around the stomach area can cause health issues. The fat that is stored around the abdomen is related to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Therefore, when post-menopausal women start gaining belly fat, this can lead to health issues. Additionally, fat that is stored in the abdominal area is harder to burn, especially in post-menopausal women. In order to lose this stubborn fat, a person must follow a proper diet, exercise, and adequate sleep.
Concerning diet, a person who has excess belly fat needs to limit their carbohydrates and processed foods. Many times a person will store belly fat is because of high insulin. Insulin is used to process sugar in the blood stream and then carries it to the cells to be used as fuel or to store for fat. To lower your insulin levels, you can cut back on the processed foods, sugary drinks, and carbohydrates. You can also increase your protein intake to 20-25 grams per meal and 15-20 grams for snacks. Increasing your protein will help keep your blood sugar balanced and your insulin levels low.
Another factor that can cause hormonal weight gain is high cortisol. Cortisol is the stress hormone that will cause fat gain around the abdomen and can set off carb cravings. To level out your cortisol, you need to sleep enough (7.5 hours-9 hours) and eat at the right times. You need to eat a high protein breakfast within one hour of waking and eat every 3-4 hours.
With following these few tips, you can reset your hormones and decrease the amount of fat in your abdominal area and be healthier.
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