TIPS FOR WEIGHTLOSS AFTER AGE 40

Are you over 40? Have you noticed a difference in your body makeup and metabolism? Perhaps the number on the scale hasn’t changed much, but your clothes are fitting differently or you feel you’re losing muscle. There’s a good chance it’s not your imagination. After women hit the mid-thirties mark, their bodies take on significant changes.

Some of these changes include weight gain, fatigue, visible wrinkles, changes in metabolism and skintone. It’s all a part of the natural aging process, but you don’t have to age quietly. There are indeed steps you can take to slow this process down and take charge of your own health.

While during this stage in life, many aspects of our body start to change; here I will address the weightloss efforts during middle age. It is important to take on a different approach for weightloss after age 40.

Tip 1 – Get your hormone levels checked. Be sure to educate yourself with this one. While blood tests are the norm for hormone checks, saliva or urine tests provide the most accurate results in gauging hormone levels. And do-it-yourself kits are readily available for convenient at home testing. As women age, the body slows down the production of progesterone. This is a very important factor in proper hormone balance and the onset of perimonopause and menopause. (More on that later.)

Tip 2 – Watch carbohydrate consumption. If you have a tendency to gain weight thru the mid-section, it is very likely you are sensitive to carbs and sugar. These food sensitivities become more prominent with age, because the natural aging process includes a slow down of metabolism and the body’s ability to breakdown and use foods in the best possible way. Carbs, especially refined or enriched flours and simple sugars are “empty calories” and the female body quickly turns them into fat. If you ablsolutely love carbs and can’t bear to be without them, make them count. Consider whole grains because of the density of these foods, your body burns more calories and they take longer to digest, which keeps hunger pangs away as well as sugar cravings.

Tip 3 – Exercise. A daily exercise regimen is key to a healthy body weight. It also plays an important role in maintaining a healthy bone density and balancing hormones naturally. When we exercise, it raises the heartrate, releases feel good hormones and builds muscle which help burn calories. As you consider an exercise plan that will fit into your daily routine, make it count. First off, if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t stick with it. Even if you’ve never exercised regularly, when you find something you enjoy, it’s not viewed as a chore and as you reap the benefits of it, you’ll find yourself dedicating time on a regular basis. Secondly, be sure to incorporate a bit of aerobic activity into your routine. This will help burn calories and lose those extra pounds that snuck in. Generally, a minimum of 20 minutes per day is recommended. Try different things. Take a brisk walk, if this is working for you, add some ankle weights for more resistance. Try dance classes, kickboxing, kettlebell workout and even yoga. There are so many options, you’re bound to find one or more things you like and the more you enjoy, the more you can interchange for variety.

Tip 4 – Eat more fruits and vegetables. Not only are fruits and vegetables loaded with vitamins and minerals, but they offer antioxidant properties and antiaging benefits. Also when you purchase from local growers in your area, not only do you contribute to the community but you help your own immune system grow stronger. Fresh fruits and veggies help control appetite naturally with their fibrous content.

Tip 5 – Drink plenty of water. Did you know that sometimes those “hunger feelings” could really be your body trying to tell you it needs more water. While it is generally stated to drink a minimum of 8-8 oz glasses of water, it is better to take your body weight and divide it in half. Then that number is the number of ounces your body needs as a minimum level on a day to day basis. For example if you weigh 150 pounds, then you would drink at least 75 oz of water. Also, just a note, the more ph balanced your drinking water is, the more benefits it will have. You can find PH balanced water in individual sized bottles at most convenient stores nowadays; and the more natural the source, the better it is for you.

Tip 6 – Be happy. Happy is a state of mind – which we choose for ourselves. What do you choose? Lots of people eat out of boredom, sadness, depression, anxiety. Don’t be an emotional eater. If you reach for a snack, ask yourself if you’re hungry or bored. If you don’t have hunger pangs, then it’s your brain telling you to eat, not your body telling you it needs nourishment. To help conquer this, find a hobby, take a brisk walk to get your mind off the food. Studies show that if you want a snack but instead find something else to think about or do for 20 minutes, then see if you still want the snack, oftentimes the craving will disappear. If however, it doesn’t go away, opt for a food that counts like a celery stick, apple, olives, grilled chicken rather then candy or cake.

While many of these tips work for weightloss at any age, they can definitely make a positive impact on women over 40 who have noticed recent changes in their body and food tolerances. There will be much more to come on gender health. Enjoy making these a part of your daily lifestyle.