Does Losing Weight at 40 Seem an Impossible Feat?

For many women, losing weight at 40 often feels like climbing the highest mountain wearing high heels – impossible.  When you were just a few years younger, it seemed you could eat anything you like and never gain an ounce.  Does this sound familiar?

If you need to lose weight, it’s important that you realize women after 40 have to work at it in a slightly different way than someone 10 years younger.  It isn’t hard, you just need a little guidance!

Starvation diets are NEVER a good thing.  Your body actually needs calories in order for your metabolism to work.  While you may lose weight those first few days, you will see that it stops.

This is because what you lose is water; your body won’t burn fat because you haven’t taken in any calories!  Losing weight at 40 should never involve fad or starvation diets.  What it does involve is creating a healthier lifestyle for yourself and eating smart.

Women after 40 tend to gain weight due to various factors; the metabolism slows down, hormones are changing drastically or you may not be as active as you once were – or a combination of all of the above.

What can you do to reverse these factors?  Here are a few tips that will make your struggles with your weight much easier:

1. Eat smaller meals, and eat more often.  When you eat healthy foods 4 or 5 times a day, not only does it keep your metabolism going at a higher rate, it also keeps you from getting hungry; thus, you won’t be so tempted to snack!
2. Drink plenty of water.  Taking in 6 to 8 glasses of water per day helps flush toxins and fat out of the body.  It also helps keep you full between meals, and speeds metabolism.
3. In order to lose weight, it’s a good idea to add 2 to 3 servings of fresh fruit to your diet each day, and reduce carbohydrates such as white rice, pasta and potatoes.  Yes, you can eat these foods, but keep it within limits.  Also, switch to whole grain breads and pastas.
4. Losing weight at 40 requires exercise.  While it may have been possible to get away without exercising when you were younger, it won’t work now.  When you exercise, you up your calorie burn significantly because your metabolism increases.

For women after 40, the best exercise consists of light cardio, exercises that limber the muscles, and light weight bearing moves.  Pilates and yoga are excellent for soothing mind and body.  Light cardio includes many activities such as walking, bicycle riding at a slow to moderate pace, swimming, etc.

Weight bearing exercise is important to a woman of this age because building a small amount of muscle helps you burn fat.  It is a fact that people with more muscle burn calories at a faster pace than those with none.

There is no reason you should ever feel hungry or deprived when trying to lose weight – the secret lies in eating the right foods!  You don’t have to eat tiny little portions, or deprive yourself of those things you enjoy occasionally; you simply need to eat in a healthy way most of the time, and add a little physical activity.

Losing weight at 40 doesn’t have to be drudgery, and you will find that with a few small changes, your health improves and you feel more beautiful and vibrant than ever before.

Women after 40 can be just as slim and fit as they once were in their 20′s – it just requires a little extra effort!  If you are determined to lose weight, try a few of the tips above.  It won’t be long before you realize you are shaping up and getting that “fab” body back.

Recommended reading:

• Losing Weight at 40
• Losing Weight at 40 – Use These Meal Preparation Tricks to Lose Weight
• Fight Stress Weight for Losing Weight after 40
• Hungry After Exercise? For Women over 40

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