Personal Training With Lisa

Doctors say perimenopause starts in your 30’s. What is perimenopause? It’s the 7-10 years before you go 1 full year (12 calendar months) without a cycle. Once that happens you are in menopause so you don’t know you are in menopause until 12 months without a cycle.

What happens in perimenopause? That is the time when our bodies hormones fluctuate causing for most women hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, brain fog, belly fat gain…etc. So, how can we combat this especially for those of us that already exercise and eat healthy?

If you already exercise and eat healthy but you are still experiencing some or all of these symptoms I have 3 tips for you that will help you to shed that belly fat weight gain and help you to reduce or get rid of the other symptoms.

1. Programmed workouts-As a former group exercise addict and group X instructor I am here to tell you, those group classes are NOT helping you. During this time you need to have specific programmed workouts that are meant to help you balance your hormones and shed that belly fat. Your hour long abs + buns class isn’t that. You also need workouts that progressive get harder to help you build muscle and boost your metabolism. Here are 2 of my favorite workouts What seems to be working for my clients is 2 HIIT workouts and 3 strength workouts per week.

2. Eat more food-We have been programmed to eat 1200 calories per day and stay away from fruit. Who deemed fruit bad? Whoever they are is WRONG! Eat the fruit. When I started to eat more food-the right amount of food for my body-to balance my hormones and support my workouts I lost 5 inches in 6 weeks from my waist!! This is also working for my clients. You need to eat ENOUGH food to support your hormones, your workouts and your recovery. Eat too few calories or not the right ratio of food for your body and you stress your body out causing the body to hold on to that belly fat you are so desperately trying to get rid off. Want to know what to eat: Grab this meal guide for ideas

3. Stress less-this one is tricky, I know, but stress management is crucial during this time in order to help balance our hormones. It doesn’t mean there is no stress, it just means you need to learn how to deal with the stress and not let it fester. Some simple stress relieving techniques my clients like are: walking in nature, talking to a friend, focus on breathing, and keeping a gratitude journal. These ideas can help you move the stress through your body instead of holding on to it. Remember-focus on the 1 thing on your list not the whole list.

I hope these tips can help you balance your hormones and shed that unwanted belly fat. I know when I started following these tips I lost 5 inches in 6 weeks and 3 more inches in 3 more weeks after that and I have kept it off for almost 4 years now. If you want to learn more about the program I coach click here