You’ve probably noticed that once you’re past the age of 40, it becomes much harder to lose those extra pounds. At the same time, it becomes a lot easier to gain weight even if you don’t eat that much.
When you were younger, you might have experienced eating like there’s no tomorrow but you still manage to maintain a healthy weight.
This is thanks to good metabolism. But as you get older, your metabolism slows down. If you are a woman over the age of 40, your biggest problem area might be your waist and lower abdomen.
On the other hand, if you are a man over the age of 40, you probably have a what is now commonly called a “dad bod.”
Perhaps you have these annoying flabby curves in areas where you don’t want them.
You’re still following the same diet and level of physical activity you had when you were in your 20s, but for some reason, you are not able to burn all those extra stubborn fats.
Do not feel bad. This is completely normal. It is not about your discipline or resolves. Rather, it is simply due to a life phase called “somatopause.”
Somatopause often starts when you are in your early 30s, and this is the period when your body no longer produces as much growth hormones.
The decrease in the production of growth hormones results in a decrease in the density of bone minerals, a reduction of body mass, and a higher amount of body fat, particularly in the stomach area.
This article will teach you some ways that will help you lose weight even when you are over the age of 40.
Consume more of these foods good for burning fats
You should see to it that your diet includes more of the following foods:
Lots of water
Always drink plenty of clean, filtered water.
Water plays a major role in digestion, will make you feel satisfied faster, and give you an energy boost.
It’s no secret that when you’re fully hydrated, you tend to be more efficient and energized to do the tasks you need to do.
In addition, there are many times when you think you are feeling hungry, when in fact, you are just thirsty. So whenever you feel hunger pangs starting, drink a glass of water first.
If you still feel hungry after, then go eat after about half an hour. But you will feel full faster even if you eat.
Also, immediately drink a glass of water upon waking up in the morning. If possible, add the slices of one whole lemon to one liter of water.
Lemon water not only tastes great but is also amazing for detox.
Fruits and vegetables
Feel free to consume as many raw vegetables as you want, with a particular focus on green, leafy vegetables. The ideal consumption is five to seven servings of vegetables daily.
If you feel like this is too much, it is actually not because you can fit a huge portion of those into your salad or a big serving of healthy smoothie.
For snacks, go munch on some raw celery sticks, pickles, or turnips. Incorporate lots of vegetables into your breakfast omelet.
Instead of sugary and fatty desserts such as ice cream and chocolates, eat a piece of fruit every time you are craving for something sweet.
Watermelons, melons, and cantaloupes are best for weight loss purposes. You may also mix them in with your Greek yogurt.
Protein
Your body needs protein. However, many of the popular low-carbohydrate diets tend to include too much protein.
The amount of green, leafy vegetables that you should consume should be a lot more than your meat consumption. For your meat sources, try your best to choose only those from free-range or grass-fed animals.
The following are the good sources of protein:
- Dairy products that are fermented and from grass-fed animals only such as yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, and cheese
- Wild-caught seafood
- Pasture-raised eggs, pork, and poultry products
- Grass-fed buffalo, bison, and beef
Healthy fat
A lot of people trying to lose weight have the common misconception that they should avoid fats as much as possible.
Products labeled as “fat-free” appeal so much to them. However, not all fats are bad for you.
There are a number of healthy fats or “good” fats that would even actually help in promoting loss of weight.
They contribute to a well-balanced diet and help burn extra fats. Some of these healthy fats are the following:
- Soaked and dried organic seeds and nuts, nut butter, and nut oil
- Olive oil (go for extra virgin olive oil if possible)
- Avocado
- Avocado oil
- Full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
- Coconut butter
- Coconut oil
- Fatty meat from pasture-raised sources
- Tallow and lard from pasture-raised sources
- Butter obtained from grass-fed cows
Consume foods that boost gender-specific hormones
Chemically speaking, women are different from men.
To help in maintaining muscles and burning fats when hormone production decreases, females need to increase their progesterone or estrogen while males need to increase their testosterone.
For women
It should be noted that not all females need to increase their progesterone and estrogen levels, particularly those with a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer.
Nevertheless, females start experiencing lower estrogen levels after menopause, causing:
- Joint pains
- Bone fragility
- Loss of muscle
- Weight gain
Estrogen is stored in your body’s fat cells.
When your body begins to produce lower estrogen levels, your body’s natural response is to hold on to all the estrogen left in your body.
Thus, this means it will hold on to the fats where this estrogen is stored.
The following are some foods that increase progesterone and estrogen levels in women:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Green cabbage
- Apricots
- Broccoli
- Curly Kale
- Cashews
- Sunflower seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Flax seeds
For men
The following are some signs that could signify a decreased testosterone level in men:
- Low sperm count
- Mood swings
- Low energy
- Loss of muscle
- Erectile dysfunction
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Fat gain
- Low sex drive
If you are experiencing any of the abovementioned symptoms, you could use a boost of testosterone by consuming more of the following foods:
- Asparagus
- Garlic
- Oysters
- Crustaceans
- Eggs with yolks
- Steal
- Brazil nuts
Don’t fret if you are over 40 and are struggling to fight those bulges. You are not alone. Just follow the tips discussed in this article and you will surely get back on track.
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