Ah, menopause. The time of life when women experience a whole range of changes - hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and of course, the dreaded menopause tummy. That's right - that pesky little (or not-so-little) bulge that seems to appear out of nowhere and refuses to budge, no matter what you do.
But fear not, my fellow menopausal women, there is hope! Exercise is your friend, and it can help you tackle that tummy with a vengeance.
Of course, as we all know, getting moving when you are tired and lacking in motivation is easier said than done. But the good news is that losing a meno-belly doesn’t require long, strenuous workouts.
The best forms of exercise energise the body and work muscles at a more moderate level.
Below are our favourite ways to beat the menopause belly blues with a smile on your face:
- Get outside and enjoy nature: As the saying goes, the best things in life are free. With (hopefully) sunnier days ahead, get outside and blow the winter blues away. Walking is a great way to feel better and shift those unwanted inches. Try a walk where you’re catching up with friends - you’ll hardly notice you are exercising at all!
- Have a giggle whilst working out: Get the glowsticks ready and loosen those hips. I don’t know about you, but I miss going out for a good boogie. Zumba or Clubbercise classes are great options to get you smiling whilst exercising. Dancing is always a feel-good movement amplified by missteps and bad timing - what’s not to laugh about?
- Bring a friend: Everything is more fun with a friend, right? Why not invite your bestie to join you for a workout? You can motivate each other to do extra reps or 5 more crunches, chatting and laughing whilst eliminating the excess tummy fat. Having a friend also keeps you accountable, meaning you’re more likely to hit those exercise goals.
- Try something new: If you're feeling adventurous, why not try a new exercise routine? Pilates, Pilates Reformer or Barre are great options. These slow little movements are harder than you think and mean to your muscles, but perfect for your core and any other areas that need toning and strengthening. Your body might not thank you for it the next day, but think of the long-term benefits instead!
- Reward yourself: After a hard workout, you deserve a little treat, right? A glass of wine, a piece of chocolate, or even a slice of pizza - go ahead, you earned it! Just be sure you balance it out and don’t have all three in one sitting!
Most of all ladies, we must embrace the jiggle.
Let's face it, no matter how much we exercise, our menopause tummies will probably not disappear completely.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t feel good and have fun whilst we work out. FIJJIT Active has created FREEDOM halter neck leggings with this in mind. This unique workout garment lets you concentrate on your exercise by keeping those perceived imperfections in place.
This all-in-one gives a defined silhouette that flatters the whole body - lumps, bumps and all.
So, why not embrace the jiggle?
In conclusion, meno-belly is no laughing matter, but sometimes laughter is the best medicine. So, grab your FIJJIT, bring a friend and embrace the jiggle - you've got this, ladies!