I thought I was years away from caring about aging but lately it’s been top of mind. While I still think I am young, my body seems to think differently. It’s not the wrinkles that I’m noticing, it’s the weight gain.
Just in this last year I gained 10 pounds. The weight gain started after having lost a lot of weight after an intense year of running four races. I was slimmer than I had been in years. Although I expected to put some weight back on after I finished training, I never expected to put on this much.
Finally I have been able to work my way slowly back into the gym and a regular routine again but it seems like all the yoga and elliptical I have been doing are not giving me the results I want – or need. It’s just not coming off like it once used to so now I’m faced with figuring out why.
Simple answer. I’m getting older. My metabolism is not as young as my face looks. We have all seen those commercials telling us how much weight we will gain once we hit 40. I was sure this rule did not apply to me- yet at least. Well, according to Dr. Oz, women do have a harder time losing weight after 30 and even worse after 40. In fact, we are likely to gain weight no matter what we do unless we start eating less. Even if we work out.
This scenario is not on my agenda.
So now what? Well, according to my Google searches research, the solution to avoiding weight gain as you get older is “simple.”
Three Simple Ways Not to Gain Weight as You Age
1) Sleep More. Lack of sleep leads to your body releasing cortisol -which leads to your body storing fat or craving bad food. And if you are up late, you may be eating.
2) Eat Less. Since your metabolism is slowing down, we have to consume less calories. Eating more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains is key.
3) Reduce Stress. Stress also releases cortisol and other fat producing hormones. And when stressed, most women tend to emotionally eat.
These three tips seem so easy yet so hard. I already know I don’t sleep enough (it’s after 1 am now), I love to wine and dine with friends and family- weekly at least, and I live a high functioning stressful life.
So now what? Live a different life? Or just accept the inevitable? Accepting the inevitable seems so easy and I’m always up for a challenge. With that said, I’m staring a whole new routine. Back to Paleo and then back to my grind at the gym. It worked before and it will work again!
Challenge accepted!
I’ve been obsessed with weight loss since having the baby. I am dying to fit into my regular clothes again. But I have been researching things online and Green Tea helps boost metabolism as well as eating a few smaller meals a day instead of three big ones. I am over 30 so I know it’s harder to lose weight. I actually had an extra ten pounds I was trying to lose before I got pregnant. Getting older sucks! And I don’t like to live at the gym and honestly don’t have the time for it. There’s lots of different, safe ways to boost your metabolism too like pineapple and hot sauce. Good luck losing those ten pounds!
Great tip about the Green Tea! I have heard that too but forgot– will be stocking up some ASAP! Give yourself time with the baby weight, I know your little one is still so new! Congrats again!
I’m thinking about trying Yoga. I tried it once a few years ago and it was a great workout. But I hurt my foot really, really badly. I found out that it was plantar fasciitis. My foot still gives me trouble but no other exercise routine is working for me. So, I guess I’ll give yoga a try.
LOVE Yoga! When I did it 3xs a week I regularly I was really slim. Wish I could get back into that routine!
I have been faced with the same issues. No matter what I do, how little or much I eat, I can not lose weight. Even food poisoning that lasted for 2 weeks did not result in me losing weight. I am 39 and cringe at the statistics that say it will only get harder.
Yikes, sorry to hear you were not well. Food poisoning, stomach flu, etc. usually guaranteed at least five pounds for me too. So wrong we can’t even benefit from being sick any more!
Giiirrrrrrlll, I’m only 26 and have already begun noticing that trend. In fact, I noticed it months ago. I’m VERY sedentary and spend most of my day at my laptop– plus, I go to bed really late. No bueno. But, maybe I can cut back on food– a little.
This has my name written all over it. I have put on a lot of weight and I am just not happy about it. I need to get back to the gym.