Despite identical dieting and exercise efforts, men and women can have widely varying progress in their weight management goals. Physiologically speaking, key hormonal distinctions making loss intrinsically harder for women for multiple reasons.
Phoenix NP’s compassionate Nurse Practitioner, Jenny, explores the science behind factors complicating female fat loss to create realistic expectations while arming patients with metabolic facts guiding personalized plans to overcome common hurdles long term.
Diminished Muscle Mass & Metabolic Rates
Typically boasting around 50 to 70% more muscle mass percentage wise, men readily convert extra calories into sustaining larger energy hungry muscle reserves which intrinsically elevates daily resting metabolic rates. Comparatively, women biologically necessitate higher essential body fat stores while also building significantly less muscle in response to identical strength stimuli like lifting weights. With lower metabolic turnover, cutting calories risks deprivation.
Monthly Menstrual Fluctuations
From PMS sugar cravings to extra temporary water weight retaining leading up to cycles, ovaries add another complex layer of weight loss barriers for women even on the most diligent diet schedules. Estrogen specifically encourages fat storage around reproductive areas. Losses may plateau pre-period then "whoosh" off once flows start before plateauing again waiting for the next cycle.
Perimenopause & Menopause Considerations
As reproductive estrogen production declines, middle aged women experience more evident insulin resistance while metabolic rates plunge by up to 5 percent per decade after age 30! Simultaneously, fat redistribution settles more stubbornly around abdominals. Maintaining steady losses requires adjusting nutrition and activity levels through phases.
Post-Pregnancy Difficulties
Between extra maternal fat reserves growing babies plus disappearing abdominal muscles stretching to accommodate wombs, postpartum moms endure lasting impacts, making weight loss grueling if not supported through appropriate methods accounting for healing considerations after delivering new babies. Growth priorities rightfully center around infants - but self care empowers the entire family to thrive.
Societal Standards & Expectations
Unfair societal body ideals paired with everyday stressors like disproportionate family responsibility compared to male counterparts negatively impact women's psychological relationships with weight in profoundly personal ways directly hindering progress. Internalized negative self talk requires compassionate identification and reframing. While it can be still beneficial to lose weight, especially if you have any medical conditions as a result of being overweight, it is important to love yourself for who you are and how your body is. Creating a positive relationship with your body with realistic expectations can help ensure that you don't lose sight of your long term goals, no matter how long they take, and not give up.
The key for sustainable success involves working with compassionate providers like Nurse Practitioner Jenny at Phoenix NP, to co-create uniquely customized weight loss solutions accounting for all the ways female bodies respond differently through each season of womanhood. Schedule an appointment suited to your schedule to get started!
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