Will Using Estrogen Cream Help Me Lose Post Menopausal Weight?

No form of estrogen---including estrogen cream---will help you lose post-menopausal weight. On the contrary, taking estrogen replacement therapy might make you retain water, leading to the temporary accumulation of extra pounds. Even without bloating, weight gain in middle-aged women is common, especially around the waist line. Fortunately, there are steps women can take to keep their weight down and maintain good health.

Exercise

• As we age, our metabolism slows but our appetite usually doesn't. It's a combination that makes it hard for post-menopausal women to shed extra pounds. The key is move it or you're never gonna lose it.

  According to the Mayo Clinic, adults should be physically active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Getting your heart rate up and your muscles moving is the best way to turn up your metabolism and burn off the extra fat. You don't have to participate in a triathlon, just do more of whatever it is you love to do--walk in the woods, dance or swim laps.

  If you work weight training into your routine you'll gain the added bonus of strengthening your bones. The stronger your bones the more likely you are to fend off bone loss, an otherwise common occurrence in postmenopausal women.

Abs

• Although you can't spot reduce the post-menopausal fat that may be stubbornly gathering around your midsection, you can do abdominal exercises that will strengthen your stomach muscles and give you a flat lower torso once you work off any extra fat through aerobic exercise and healthy dieting.

Diet

• By the time you're in your mid- to late 40s, your metabolism has slowed down and your body simply doesn't need as much food as it did when you were younger. The Mayo Clinic says post-menopausal women should reduce their daily calories by 200. That means cutting your caloric intake to 2,000, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

  Just use your dieting common sense and make sure you limit fat to no more than 20 to 35 percent of your daily calories and make sure those fats are the healthier kinds that come from nuts and from olive and canola oils. Take in the remainder of your calories by eating mainly fresh fruits and vegetables and some lean meats. Also, because preventing bone loss is paramount, make sure you get 1,200 IUs of Vitamin D each day, either from a supplement or the foods you eat.