Here are four proven strategies get your metabolism back up and running at full speed , release weight , and reclaim your health .
80 www . AspireMAG . net | December 2023 / January 2024
We all want and deserve to age well , enjoy all the activities we love , and move through the day with confidence and ease .
So , what the heck is going on ? And what do we do about it ?
Several factors contribute to the slowing of our metabolism as we enter midlife .
Hormonal changes .
A decrease in estrogen and progesterone triggers metabolic changes in the body , causing us to burn fewer calories throughout the day .
Loss of muscle mass .
Muscles burn calories . The more muscle mass you have , the more calories your burn , even when you ’ re sleeping or watching tv . This is why men can release weight more easily than women . They have more muscle mass .
Plus , the muscle tone lost from reduced hormone production is often replaced by fatty tissue deposits , especially around the midsection . Ugh !
Stress .
Midlife is often a time of major life shifts . Children growing up and leaving home , career changes , retirement , divorce , relationship changes , aging parents , and more , all contribute to higher stress levels .
When stressed , our bodies produce excess cortisol , which slows the metabolism and can cause cravings for sweet , fatty and salty foods . The double whammy !
Decreased physical activity .
Many women in midlife work at sedentary jobs , lead a busy lifestyle , or have simply gotten out of the habit of moving their bodies . Plus , women tend to prioritize everyone else – work , kids , family , etc . – leaving no time for their own self-care and healthy habits .
This doesn ’ t have to be the case !
Here are four proven strategies get your metabolism back up and running at full speed , release weight , and reclaim your health .
1 . Break up with sugar
Plain and simple , eating too much sugar is one of the main culprits when it comes to weight gain and belly fat . It can be so hard to resist !
What many don ’ t realize is , cravings are actually a message from your body that something is out of balance . Once you start listening and trying to understand what your body is telling you , the cravings will start to go down .
Here are some strategies to get your cravings under control :
Make sure you ’ re eating enough and not skipping meals . If you don ’ t fuel your body regularly , your energy will crash . When you need a quick boost , you ’ re most likely to reach for sugar and unhealthy carbs . These digest quickly and give you an energy spike . Until it crashes again and the vicious cycle continues .
80 www . AspireMAG . net | December 2023 / January 2024