Just Say No to Abuse Declaring War on Terrorism. Experts say the number one reason for midlife weight gain is reduced physical exercise. It takes fewer calories to maintain fat than muscle, so metabolism starts to slow down.
Hormones also play a role.
Estrogen levels start to drop a year or two before menopause, which pushes our bodies to store fat. It doesn't take an hour at the gym everyday or going on a too-strict diet to keep in shape. If you think of exercise as something you are doing for yourself, you're off to a good start. Take a look at your calendar to see what's taking up a lot of your time, and put exercise high on your priority list. If you write it down, just like an appointment, it will be hard to break.