Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell: Winning Weight Control Strategies for Women Over 35 to Stay Fit Through Menopause

by Debra Waterhouse

Menopausal weight gain is "the most stubborn weight gain you'll ever experience," says Debra Waterhouse in Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell . This book follows her bestselling Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell , customizing the program for women ages 35 to 55. The book is easy to read, makes difficult concepts simple to understand, and has helpful checklists to keep you on track. Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell explains the role of fat cells before and during menopause and why midlife weight gain is such a pervasive problem. A woman's 30 billion fat cells get bigger and "more stubborn" during midlife, explains Waterhouse, because when they detect a lowered estrogen level, they step in to produce more estrogen and get larger as they get more active. Dieting doesn't work; instead of slimming your body, it thins your hair, muscles, skin, bones--and thinking. To combat these effects, Waterhouse explains how to work with your new menopausal physiology to minimize weight gain. You learn strategies of attitude, exercise, eating habits (including dealing with cravings), food choices, and stress management. For example, exercise at midlife fights fatigue, reduces mental sluggishness, improves sleep, stabilizes moods, reduces the severity of hot flashes, strengthens bones, and reduces the risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Tome Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're middle aged. You're packing on pounds and freaking out. You've never been this big and your old fitness routines no longer work.

Get used to it. Your ovaries are slowing their estrogen production and the fat cells are taking up the slack of the ovaries as far as estrogen production goes hence your new spare tire. Your fat cells are "preppers."

In other words, your body is doing what it's supposed to do. This is why you see women in their late 30s, 40s, 50s who are all boobs and belly and thighs. And we all hate it and fight it because society doesn't like the middle age woman's shape.

If you want to treat yourself right, do this, this, this, but overall you're not going to get your 20-year-old body back again. Your responsibility is to cut the crap from your diet, you know, eat better, eat LESS (you don't need so many calories) and to move your body. Do not diet, though. You'll make yourself fatter if you go on a diet. This includes doing paleo, no-carb, vegan "lifestyles" and then dropping it within a year or two which makes it nuthin' but a diet that didn't work. Just eat better and eat less. Eat more plants.

I love this book. It found me at a time in my life when I needed it the most.

[Rebecca Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was only able to read just over half of this book before it had to be returned to my library. It was very good and had a very good message. I trusted the author from the first chapter because she had such a healthy approach to the topic. Her message was clear: your body needs to gain some weight during midlife (she explained many biological reasons) and this book can help you not gain too much and be happy with your new weight and changing body. Very healthy advice and lots of real tips that I have started to include in my routine. I highly recommend it to anyone in or approaching midlife!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Targeted at younger women entering midlife it still has some good insight for anyone to follow for keeping their weight in control. I still believe you have to find the formula that works for you because there is much to learn about how your body works and foods that are beneficial and keep you in balance.

[Bridget Brewer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by my doctor and was very much disappointed.

[Lesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of interesting

[Christy Medlock Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recommended this book to so many women since reading the first chapter. I learned more about my body when I thought I already knew enough. I have the knowledge, so now I need to use it.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book that really sets straight the thinking on mid-life for women! Super informative, interesting and freeing! I love the author's philosophy and couldn't agree more with her findings! Every woman in her thirties and beyond should read it!

[Lori Randall Stradtman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives sound, tried and true wisdom for weight loss after 35! It worked for me and still works if I need to take off a few pounds.

[Ligia Stockwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very liberating. I felt that it described me to a T. I will incorporate her strategies and hopefully outsmart my fat cells!