How to lose weight after 40
According to the Silver & Grace body image survey, very few of us are satisfied with our weight. Nor are we least bit happy with our thickening middle. However, as guest post author, Myln, points out, we can lose weight. It just takes a patience and perseverance.
In one of Eliza’s articles, she talked about the main reasons why women gain weight after 40 (understanding weight gain after 40). The hormonal changes are such that make weight gain easy and weight loss more difficult. In this post I will talk more about how to lose weight. There are not many differences in the weight loss process for women below and for women above 40 besides the fact that older women and people in general are more prone to injuries (from exercise) and also that their metabolism becomes slower. This does not mean that you cannot shed those extra pounds; it simply means that you should have more patience and willpower to stick to your goals until the end.
One of the most important parts of weight loss is the foods you eat. As you get older and try to manage your weight there are some foods that you need to make sure that you are eating and there are some foods that you need to make sure that you are not eating.
The items you should avoid are those that contain high grams of fat, sugar, and generally foods that are high in calories as these foods will help you gain weight. In order to follow a healthy diet, you must ensure that you are eating healthy foods that are beneficial for your diet and wellbeing such as yogurt, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats as well as foods that contain complex carbs, such as whole wheat bread and oatmeal.
Along with a good diet you will want to make sure that you are getting the exercise that you need. Exercising is a very important part of not only being able to lose weight but managing your weight properly so that it does not fluctuate. When you get on a good exercise routine you will be able to regulate your body weight, lose a few pounds, and feel better about the way that you look.
The best way to burn those extra pounds is through cardio exercises. Try to find some cardio exercises that you feel comfortable doing and that you can follow for a long time. It’s of no use trying to follow an exercise routine that is hard and efficient but only for a limited amount of time. The key for losing weight with exercise is consistency and frequency.
Exercising regularly (2-3 times per week) for a couple of months will give you results while exercising once every couple of weeks will not. There are a lot of different cardio exercises so there should be no problem with trying to find a few to build your routine. You can choose from things such as swimming, aerobics, jogging, cycling, or other great exercises that will help you to burn calories very quickly and lose weight.
If you are a woman over 40 there is no sense letting the changes that your body is going through dictate the way that you look and feel. You will be able to better manage your body’s appearance and the way that you feel by adopting a proper diet and a good exercise routine. Just because you are getting a little older and going through some changes does not mean that you cannot lose weight and take control over your body. Make sure that you follow these tips and you will have a better looking appearance that you will love before you know it.
More information!
Myln maintains a weight loss blog where she talks about how to lose weight using natural ways and methods.
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Hi Myln and Eliza.
It *is* helpful for women over 40 to understand the reason for the weight gain and the difficulty with losing it; that is what I take away from this post. A person might otherwise give up before seeing results, so this is really important for them to understand. I used to be able to eat anything I wanted, plus second helpings without gaining a pound. Mom swore I had a hollow leg 
Useful advice, though it could pretty much apply to any age group.
I’ve also noticed different cravings that I’m guessing are related to the hormonal fluctuations. Salt more than sugar if you can believe that. I think that must be related to the fact that when the ovaries stop producing hormones, the adrenal glands take on the extra load — and they like salt. I’ve also noticed within a couple of days where I’ve over-indulged in the salt that the pounds increase. It doesn’t take much to lose those if I cut back on the salt though and continue with regular exercise. It’s SO important to have ‘realistic’ expectations and to persevere.
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@Davina – I think you hit the key point that it is much harder to lose weight after 40. I used to add and drop weight in a blink of an eye. Now I just gain weight in the blink of an eye
Though losing weight around a thickening middle is important for your health, you should also make sure that you are doing some weight training in addition to cardio. Cardio helps you lose fat quicker, but what good is being thin if you can’t carry your groceries from your car to your house as you get older? Weight training is beneficial for ensuring good bone density, and muscle burns more calories than fat. All of this will help you as you age.
Of course, as mentioned in the posting, proper nutrition is essential.
As for metabolisms slowing down, there is a good quote from Robert Downey Jr. in regards to his buffing up for his Iron Man roles:
“When I was in my twenties, I could work out for 6 hours and look good for 6 months. Now I have to work out for 6 months to look good for 6 minutes!”
@D2 – good point on the weight training. I get really bored with lifting weights, push ups, etc. Instead, I make sure I incorporate lifting and carrying into my daily life. For example, even just carting heavy grocery bags can be a good workout, but I also do a lot of gardening and home renovations that require serious muscle use. I love the quote by Robert Downey Jr!
I keep my pert bottom by walking wherever possible and doing an hour of yoga each day.
I’ve also given up bread and anything else that contains yeast as Im convinced it interferes with proper digestive processes and causes the horrible bloating that us ladies of a certain age are so prone to.
Joanna Cake´s last blog ..Get Paid For Opinions
@Joanna – bread and cheese are my downfall. One bloats me up, the other bungs me up LOL Challenging living with a Frenchman. It’s all about the bread and cheese … sigh