Gone are the days I can easily lose the healthy two pounds per week I was once able to. Now two pounds in two weeks is a ‘wooo hooo’ moment. I’m 48 and it seems to be harder to lose weight than ever. Even with a nutrition and personal training background in the past, I sometimes need reminders. I wanted to see if it was all in my mind, the 40s thing, so I started doing a little research to brush up on the subject.
A close friend in their 50s I spend a lot of time with, asked if there is anything they are doing or saying to hinder my program. Of course no one can make or break my program/healthy lifestyle but me. I am 100% responsible for everything in my life. However, I expressed the only thing that I am allowing to set me back every now and then is when they say that I can’t do things or look like 20 and 30 year olds I have on my vision board. I spoke of this in a previous article. I do not think in age terms. I allow that to bring me down and feel as if I can’t do certain things based on age. Yes, I am choosing to listen but still it’s how I feel. If it wasn’t being said, I wouldn’t think about it. I answered truthfully and said yes and no. They are very supportive with wanting to help me on my journey of weight loss and a healthy lifestyle yet they need to stop talking age limitations. What we focus on the most we bring about, so if I think I’m unable because of my age then I won’t be able to.
After getting on the scale today, a month that my hormones seem to be starting to shift, and I say that due to some things going on with my body, I wasn’t happy. I am fluctuating week to week even while on a strict Weight Watchers point system. I actually gained. I do not waver from the plan and I’ve been getting out and walking more plus going to the gym so there is no legitimate reason for this except possibly age/hormones. I pulled my gluteus muscle about two weeks ago so I haven’t been able to do much lower body on the machines, with free weights or even with my own bodyweight, but I’ve been walking about an hour a day and doing upper body every other to every third day.
After just speaking to another one of my 50something year old friends on the phone she said to also check for sodium content in foods and I did. It’s funny, I know these things but we all need to be reminded when going through it ourselves, so thank you friends!!!!! My sodium intake seems to be fine except for my high sodium soups which I only eat 2 – 3 times per week. I do not add salt on 98% of my food. I am doing my best to steer clear of packaged/processed foods because they are high in sodium and not as good for you as the real thing. I will keep an eye on this, however, to be sure.
When I was training my clients who were over 40 and I was in my 20s and 30s I would say “stop using age as an excuse” and now I wonder. For any of my clients reading this now many years later – SORRY! I am humbled. I would always hear “my metabolism slowed down” or “since I turned 40 I just can’t seem to lose the weight”. Though I studied this in the past it was not near and dear to my heart/age so now I am researching it and here are some things I was made aware of from the articles and websites.
FromWebMd:
“Even if you’re sitting or lying down while reading this article, your body is still burning calories; the rate at which it does so is called your resting metabolic rate. As you age, your metabolism tends to decelerate by about 5% for every decade of life past age 40, so that if your resting metabolic rate is, say, 1,200 calories per day at age 40, it will be around 1,140 at age 50.
“At age 40 to maintain your weight, that is to not gain weight, you’re going to have to eat 100 calories less a day, and that has nothing to do with anything other than the natural course of aging. That means your resting metabolic rate,” Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Weight Management Center and associate director of the UPMC Nutrition Center in Pittsburgh, tells WebMD.”
They also talk about how our lives get more busy and complicated as we age; with work, children, aging parents and so many other things and we have less time for physical activity. That is not my problem so it’s not my excuse either. Many websites state: Thyroid function can play a big part as women get older so maybe I’ll get that checked. From my past studies: what I need to do is gain more muscle mass so I can burn more calories each day. I do know as we age we lose lean mass with each passing year. So, even though I do not think with a mentality based around age, there are some things I do need to change to make the aging process with losing weight, maintaining weight and over all staying healthy easier, more effective and efficient. It may not get easier as time passes but we should do everything we can to avoid it from getting harder. I’m all for that. How about you? Let me know how you are staying fit and with in your weight range after 40, if age affects you or what newfound difficulties you are having staying in shape.
Marion is a Certified Vision Board Coach & Law of Attraction Coach. Her overall focus is on personal development, weight loss, fitness, healthy living, healing, and wellness. Marion is also a Writer, AFAA Certified Biggest Loser Pro & Personal Trainer. Her purpose in life is a lot like Oprah’s – to help others find their purpose in life. Check out her website: www.getmotivatedwithmarion.com or call 845-596-2990.
