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.

Types of Physical Change

Marla Ahlgrimm says that there are many different ways a woman's body changes during this time of life. First is weight redistribution and, often, weight gain. She explains that declining estrogen levels can affect metabolism and cause a shift where more fat is stored. Unfortunately, during this time women may also see an increase in fat around the abdomen, which is often a major source of body dissatisfaction.

Musculoskeletal pain, skin and hair changes, and vaginal dryness can also affect a woman's self-esteem and self-perception, says Marla Ahlgrimm.

Psychological and Social Factors

Dissatisfaction with one's appearance can profoundly affect a woman's emotional health. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that not only are hormone fluctuations linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression, but that negative self-esteem can also have a chronic impact on mood. This is only exacerbated by feeling less in control, as many women realize that things like hot flashes, irregular menstrual cycles, and weight gain are out of (or less within) their control.

Identity Shift

For many women, the end of their reproductive years and the physical transformation it begins can also signal a loss of identity. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that this may be especially pronounced in women who had always been considered slender, sleek, and desirable. And the way Western culture idealizes youth and thinness, women past the age of 45 may begin to feel that they are slipping further and further from this societal idea of beauty.

Overcoming Body Discomfort

For most women, physical change is inevitable. But Marla Ahlgrimm says that the negative feelings about it are not. She explains that women can prioritize self-care to reframe the way they look at their bodies and their appearance. She recommends focusing on function versus form and beginning to move for joy instead of to tighten and tone. Most importantly, Marla Ahlgrimm says to recognize that changes are natural, and what a woman may lose in what she perceives as physique perfection, she gains in knowledge and confidence in her ability to navigate the world around her.

Marla Ahlgrimm concludes by reminding women self-compassion is key. Women's bodies change, but it can be looked at as more of a transition into maturity instead of the loss of youthful vitality.