Women over 50 might notice that they have a harder time losing weight than they did when they were younger. This should not be alarming, as it is caused by natural changes that occur as we age. However, you should pay attention to the changes your body undergoes as you age. You will have different dietary needs and should make adjustments accordingly.
If you are trying to lose weight as a woman over 50, you do not need to try any crazy weight loss programs. The answer to your weight loss problems most likely involves speeding up your metabolism. Here is a quick breakdown of everything you should know about weight loss for women over 50.
Weight Loss Programs For Women Over 50
The most common mistake people make when they want to lose weight quickly is to skip meals. Or, many choose to hit the gym too aggressively. Both of these “weight loss plans” can easily backfire for anyone. But this becomes especially more true as we age.
The best weight loss programs for women over 50 do not involve any extreme measures or dramatic lifestyle changes. Rather, women over 50 should focus their weight loss efforts on boosting their metabolism through a well-balanced diet.
There are two key factors to focus on when it comes to weight gain for women over 50. First, hormonal changes mean that women begin to produce less estrogen in their 40s and 50s. This can lead to an increase in abdominal fat, even if you are not actually gaining any weight.
Second, as we age, we begin to lose muscle mass. Muscle helps us burn calories more quickly, meaning our metabolism is faster. As we lose muscle, our metabolism naturally slows down. This process happens to everyone as we age, but is more pronounced in women.
The good news is we have a great understanding of how these processes work, and why they result in weight gain. That means it’s very easy to create educated, straightforward weight loss programs for women over 50. Here are some basic steps to help women over 50 boost their metabolism and lose weight.
Metabolism-Based Weight Loss Tips for Women Over 50
Balanced Diet
As mentioned above, a lot of weight loss programs that promote highly restrictive diets can be misleading. These weight loss programs might promise fast results, but those results are not sustainable. If you really want to lose weight, and keep it off, start eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. This means getting a variety of real food, and not depriving your body of the nutrients or calories it needs. Your body needs good calories in order to speed up your metabolism. Focusing on foods like fruits and vegetables, legumes, green tea, and lean meats can accomplish this.
Active Lifestyle
Exercise on its own is actually not an efficient way to lose weight (although it does still offer other great health benefits, of course). But your body does need to be active in order for your metabolism to be sped up.
The key to boosting your metabolism is to burn as much energy as you are putting in, and not more. As we age, we typically become less active, which is another reason you might gain weight over 50. But by maintaining consistent activity levels each day, you can boost your metabolism and combat age-related weight gain with ease.
Daily activity does not mean you need to do any crazy workouts or run 5 miles each day. 30 minutes of brisk walking, or comparable activities, is plenty of exercise to help lose weight when. This is especially true when it’s paired with a proper diet.
If you’re a woman over 50 who is tired of cycling through disappointing weight loss programs, contact the Metabolism Reboot.