Eating healthy for weight loss over 40Losing weight after the age of forty can be very difficult. It is especially hard for women because of the hormonal changes that are taking place in their body. But losing weight over forty is not impossible if you learn how to eat right, get plenty of exercise and learn how to be patient.
As we age, our metabolism slows down. Therefore, we have to be very careful of what we eat. People over forty just do not burn off the fat as fast as they did in their twenties. One reason for the lower metabolic rate is the reduced amount of lean muscle mass in the body. As we age our muscle mass reduces significantly and it reduces our metabolic rate as well, reducing the amount of calories we can consume without gaining weight.
If you want to lose weight and get into shape it is critical that you get rid of all the junk food that is in your home. By removing the junk food you are removing the temptation to cheat with that bag of chips or bowl of ice cream.
Learn how to replace those high calorie foods with something healthier. If you drink a lot of soda or kool-aid type drinks, then switch to water. If you do not like the taste of plain water, you can use sugar free flavor packets that taste delicious and have no calories.
Take your lunch to work with you every day. This will help you to resist the temptation to run through the drive-thru at lunch. Make sure that you pack healthy in-between meal snacks in your lunch. This will keep you from hitting the snack machine during the day.
Reduce your caloric intake by 200 calories per day. You can do this by adding more vegetables as a side dish. The vegetables will fill you up without the added calories.
When you are trying to lose weight over forty, it is best that you stay away from fried foods. Bake or grill all of your meats. This will cut down on the fat content of the foods. It will also help keep your cholesterol levels under control.
One of the biggest secrets to losing weight over forty is to increase your intake of whole grains and cereals. These food have a lot of fiber which is important for good digestion. Whole grains and cereals will also help lower cholesterol levels.
But you must keep in mind that even if you eat a healthy diet, you will need to add exercise to lose weight. After forty, you are battling against a sluggish metabolism. It is up to you to increase your metabolism by adding exercise and lean muscle mass. Find a type of exercise that you enjoy doing and do it every day. If you really want to boost your metabolism, it is a good idea to add weight training to your routine. Adding muscle will help to burn more fat.
Eating healthy over forty is critical if you want to lose weight. Cut out the junk foods and start eating lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables. Get plenty of exercise and drink more water. By taking good care of yourself, you can maintain a healthy weight
RESOURCES
MailOnline Health: The 8 Foods Everyone over 40 Should Eat
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2224005/The-8-foods-40-eat-Diet-essentials-40-plus-club.html
Australian Government Department of Health and Aging: Men 31-50 Years Old
http://www.health.gov.au/
Fitness: Healthy for Life
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/superfoods/what-to-eat-in-your-20s-30s-40s-and-beyond/