Help! I’m too young for the “middle-aged spread.” I was always the gal with the “good genes” when it came to weight. But now, as soon as I eat something, the food goes right to my belly, hips and thighs. And I feel like I’m PMSing 24/7. I know that as women age, they go through hormonal changes that can stall metabolism, but I’m only 34. What’s happening?
The shift may be due to hormonal changes—but not as a result of aging. Symptoms of fatigue, irritability and fast weight gain in the female fat zones of the body point to ovarian overload, a condition in which nonstop stress keeps the level of the hormone cortisol chronically high. This causes the ovaries to overproduce estrogen, which attracts body fat to the belly, hips, and thighs. An easy way to reduce cortisol: Eat three servings daily of zinc-rich foods like 1 egg, 3 oz. of lean beef or 1/4 cup of toasted pumpkin seeds. Once cortisol is under control, many women effortlessly lose up to four pounds every week.
