How to Lose Weight In Your Forties

Have you heard that the forties are the new thirties? Well, with life expectancies extending, this can very well be the case. Unfortunately, nobody told our bodies that they need to slow down the aging process, so it’s up to us to do it ourselves. A life filled with career, children and activities can make it difficult to fight the effects of time. Read on to learn about the traps that exist and how to combat them effectively.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Local farmers market
• Local gym or exercise equipment
• Initiative

1. Exercise at least three hours a week and eat low-fat, lean meats and higher levels of fruits and vegetable to achieve optimum levels of health. You’re set into your career. Your kids are in school full time. Life has a distinct rhythm to it, but why does it seem that there’s not time for you? With longer working hours and kids that have two and three activities all year round, extending schedules are making it more and more difficult to follow healthy life practices. With little time to prepare meals, eating out is more often the option. Exercise is even harder to achieve and easier to excuse as a trial on already short time.
2. Get plenty of sleep. In fact, it's important for your health to get between seven and eight hours of sleep. Establish regularity by getting to bed at the same time most nights, and take advantage of the benefits that sleep can provide.
3. Schedule some time each day, even if it’s 15 or 20 minutes, to walk or jog. The cardiovascular exercise will increase your lung capacity and strengthen your heart. You can do this exercise in 10-minute intervals if need be, but try and do it every day. Because endorphins are released as a result of exercise, this can be a relaxation method, as well.
4. Weight train at least three days a week. This helps increase your resting metabolism, which can burn as many as 50 calories a day per pound of muscle in your body. Thirty-minute routines are fine, being careful to watch form and not worry so much about the weight.
5. Watch your diet as a component of improving your health. A good rule of thumb is to fill half your plate with vegetables, a quarter with lean meat and the rest with starch. Don’t cut out carbs completely, because they allow for absorption of some key vitamins and fats. Dairy is essential especially for women in their forties to help maintain bone density. You can fight off osteoporosis by taking in three portions of cheese, milk or yogurt every day. Lactose intolerant? Try soy-based products or a calcium supplement. If you don’t already, take a multivitamin to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
6. Get your thyroid checked if you're not seeing results from the above steps. Thyroid problems typically arise in your 40's.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine.