Weight Loss for Women Over 40

Why is weight loss for women over 40 so difficult? Starting around that age, our body starts to slow down thanks to hormones, pre-menopause, and the natural aging process. This means that our metabolism slows down as well.

Make sure there are no underlying conditions

Make sure there are no physical conditions that could be causing your metabolism to slow down. Hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid – is a common problem. Eight percent of women over fifty in the UK suffer from an under-active thyroid. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. If you suspect you have an under active thyroid, see your physician and ask for a simple blood test.

Choose your food wisely.

Gone are the days where your metabolism could handle processed quick foods. Like our friend Sean Croxton at Underground Wellness says –Just Eat Real Food! or JERF for short. Choose quality meats, organic fruits and vegetables. Cook with good fats such as coconut oil to help boost your metabolism. Stay away from sugar, artificial sweetners and simple carbs.

Change your eating habits

A good rule of thumb is – what you eat first thing in the morning will affect you the rest of the day. In other words, your metabolism is highest in the morning – so your food consumption should be as well. Eat a good protein rich breakfast that will keep you going and keep your cravings away.

Fiber and Probiotics

Our body absorbs toxins through fat. Fiber and probiotics are good ways to get rid of those toxins. The body needs about 25-30 grams of fiber a day, along with plenty of water to flush the system of toxins. Fiber also slows the absorption of sugar and helps control blood sugar levels. Probiotics consist of good bacteria that aids digestion. Probiotics help fend off toxins and improve colon function and strengthen the immune system. Foods such as yoghurt, cottage cheese, or even sauerkraut contain probiotics. There are also many supplements on the market that can be substituted. As with taking any supplements, you may want to consult with a physician first.

Good sleep is key to weight loss

Good quality sleep is important for weight loss. It’s even more important the older we get as our bodies tend to have hormone changes or physical changes which can affect our sleep. From night sweats to snoring, we need to take steps to get a good night’s sleep. Turn off any electronics, make sure the room is dark, wear a sleep mask if you suffer from dry eyes as you may be sleeping with your eyes partially open, and make sure to shut your mind down through relaxation or meditation if needed.

Exercise

After a certain age, our bodies start to lose muscle and replace it with fat. This means that we have to work harder and smarter in order to lose weight. If you are not exercising at all, get out there and start with a simple walk every single day. If you have been and are not seeing results, try something new. Our body gets used to certain physical activity and needs a boost once in awhile. Try a yoga class. Not only will it help with flexibility, but will strength train without bulk. Exercise is important the older we get not only to help with weight loss, but it helps reduce the symptoms of menopause, joint pain, depression, anxiety as well as the risks of heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Top 5 Tips For Weight Loss and a Healthy Lifestyle

Fitness Professional, Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach, discusses how we can all learn to lead healthier and fitter lives by understanding some key principles that we can all apply. Chris tells us his top 5 tips for weight loss and a healthier life.

Our environments affect how we feel and act. The biggest challenge people face is they don’t make their health a priority. Chris tries to encourage people to do simple things and do them well.

There are 5 simple elements or dimensions that he follows:

1. Training – assess where you’re at physically, address any problems, then begin to build strength to have a healthy fitness foundation. Be active with a purpose. Figure out what your individual needs are and what the outcome there will be with different activities. Pilates and yoga are a good start because they build a foundation of posture and strength training with simple slow movements.
2. Nutrition – the first thing that you put into your mouth when you wake up in the morning will affect every single thing you do for the rest of the day. High protein breakfast first thing will help regulate and control your choices for the rest of the day. Use food as a fuel source. Think about what you’re eating when you’re eating it. A good tip is to take photos of your food. This makes you aware of the food you’re eating and the amounts.
3. Supplementation – because of the environment and toxicity levels, our bodies are now depleted of certain resources. Those resources are key to how our body functions and how we can get the best feeling that we possibly can. Eat organic foods whenever possible, but beyond that we still need supplements. The magic 5 supplements that Chris suggests are:
   • Omega 3
   • Zinc
   • Vitamin D
   • HCL
   • Magnesium
4. Education – there are many forms of education, but the most important is education on self. Education yourself on how you feel, how your lifestyle is affecting the way you feel, move, and what you want to do. The more honest you are with yourself, the more help you can get.
5. Restoration – Sleep is one of the most important parts of are day. Sleep allows our bodies to recover and refuel from our day. You should schedule your sleep like you would your meals or any other part of your day. Make sure the sleep is quality sleep. Stay away from computers, stimulants, anything that might affect your sleep.

Importance of Water and Weight Loss

Somebody recently asked me what the importance is of water and weight loss. Here’s my answer:

To burn calories we need a constant supply of water to function efficiently. Most of us are dehydrated because we do not drink enough water and this will slow down the fat-burning process.

Another factor that most people do not understand is that when we burn calories this creates toxins. This is just like the exhaust fumes that come out of your car.  Water plays a crucial  role in eliminating and removing toxins  out of your body.

A lack of water in the body  will often causes a lowering in blood volume. This can cause a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscle, which in turn can result in you feeling tired with a lack of energy.

Water helps your  muscles to contract, and it lubricates your joints. Proper hydration can help reduce muscle and joint soreness when exercising.

Lastly a healthy diet includes a good amount  dietary fibre and without enough water to flush this out, people often experience constipation and a lack of energy.

The reality is simple, water is an essential element of life and we are made of the stuff. Drink plenty of it and you give yourself a chance to well, slim and healthy.

The Truth About Food – The Diet Myth

The Truth About Food: “Food is neither good or bad. Food is neutral”

Whenever we label food as good or bad we immediately start to fear it, think about it, fight it and crave it. The truth about food is the more we consider it forbidden, the more we will think about it and desire. At least half of our cravings are due to the fear of the food itself.

If we dropped our fear and dropped our belief that the chocolate was evil the desire would be significantly reduced and in some cases eliminated. Whenever we avoid anything, a homeostatic mechanism is set off driving us to reunite with it.

If someone we love insults us and we feel hate inside, it would seem as if hating them would barricade them from our thoughts. Yet the hate only makes us think of them more, in fact repeating the original offence perhaps hundreds of times. Our thoughts will focus on that person until the issue is integrated resolved and make neutral.

The same with food.

Since we view particular foods as bad, we consider our desire for those foods bad, which leads to see ourselves as bad for having the desire. And if in addition we give into these desires, then we punish ourselves by feeling guilty, or we deprive ourselves of the desired foods for months.

Are you up for the challenge of now seeing food as neutral and to stop labelling it good or bad?

Consciously do this for at least three weeks to bring about a change. See if you can not think about food as good or bad for you. Let’s see if you can actually change your relationship with food. If you want to change your relationship with food, visit The Weight Loss Guru Programmefor more information.