Marla Ahlgrimm: Your Changing Body

Perimenopause is the time in a woman's life when her body prepares to exit the childbearing stage forever. For many women, this is exciting, as it opens up greater freedoms both within their intimate relationships and with themselves, as they no longer have to worry about impending motherhood. But, Marla Ahlgrimm says that it also brings body discomfort and a sense of stress from being unable to reclaim a youthful figure.

What Causes Physical Changes During Perimenopause

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the vast majority of physical changes come from hormonal fluctuations. During perimenopause, hormones are not on a steady decline, per se, but may fluctuate wildly as her body struggles to end its reproductive role. Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone and this rollercoaster of hormone fluctuations can directly impact the body composition and therefore a woman's comfort with her physique.