Perimenopause weight gain, especially the belly: what helps

The peri belly is one of the most frustrating parts of this stage. Estrogen drop changes where your body stores fat (hello, middle) and makes insulin work less efficiently, so the same food and exercise that used to work suddenly stops working. It is not laziness and it is not willpower.

What actually moves the needle at this age: protein at every meal (aim for 25–30g), strength training twice a week (muscle keeps your metabolism honest), and walking after meals for blood sugar. And be kind to the number on the scale. It does not measure what this stage of life is doing to your body.