Fighting Flab after Forty

May 2012

Weight Loss After Forty Our bodies change a lot as we age. Weight gain and fatigue tend to increase while bone health deteriorates. In women, perimenopause often begins in during the late 30s and estrogen levels continue to decline through the 40s as hormonal levels change. With all of these bodily changes it can be really hard to maintain good health as you age. Medical weight loss programs featuring physician support and lipotropic injections can help you to overcome the burdening bulge of age.

The physical changes that your body undergoes can make losing weight really difficult after the age of 40. While it may have seemed like it was hard enough to follow all of the dieting rules to maintain a trim figure at a younger age, the rules just become stricter as you age. Without some help, it can be nearly impossible to maintain a healthy weight level.

It is time to focus on you.

You’ve undergone a lot in your life before reaching forty—everyone has. For many people, middle age means that they are finished with all of their schooling and have settled into a career. Owning a home and contemplations about an early retirement are on the minds of many forty-somethings. The kids are growing up and moving out, and you may even be in the midst of paying for several college degrees. This is just the stereotype, but there is a lot of stress packed into that typical middle age role!

In order to maintain your health long into your elderly years it is important to take the time now to think about yourself. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself:

  • How are you feeling? Don’t give yourself the polite answer that you would throw-off to a co-worker. Really figure out how you are feeling. Have you felt more tired than usual lately? Are you experiencing any digestion issues or headaches? Is a lingering knee injury starting to really bother you? These are all important things to be aware of, and if you aren’t paying attention to your own health then no one will be.
  • Are you sleeping well? A lot of middle age men and women begin to develop sleeping problems during their forties and fifties. Insomnia can cause mental distress, fatigue and weight gain. If you notice that you are sleeping much lighter or are having trouble falling asleep at all then be sure to bring that up to your doctor.
  • Have you really ‘still got it?’ Muscle strength, sex drive and energy levels decline with age—that is just the sad truth. If any of these three health concerns are becoming an issue make sure to talk with your doctor about the changes you are experiencing. Weight training is an incredibly beneficial exercise option as you age. Even using resistance bands and doing push-ups at home every day can help you to stay strong.

You know your body best. You have had plenty of experience getting to know the ins and outs of how you react to different foods and stressors. But remember, you can set the pace of your aging process.