Beat the Bulge – How to Stop Weight Gain as you Age

Cutting calories, strength training and managing stress can help you maintain a healthy weight as you age. Gaining weight as you age doesn’t have to be inevitable.

Aging may be inevitable, but it doesn’t have to signal the end of your figure. As we age, our metabolism slows and muscle mass shrinks, making it easy to gain weight. This weight, in excess, can raise cholesterol, blood pressure and the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes. But before you get discouraged, remember, weight gain doesn’t have to be inevitable. A few simple changes can keep you feeling fit and youthful.

Your daily routine plays the largest role in weight gain. Like many people, you may dread the phrase “diet and exercise.” But cutting calories can be as easy as substituting turkey for hamburger one night a week, or removing the cheese from your sandwich.

Curb muscle loss by strength-training several times a week. Did you know that people lose a third of a pound of muscle every year after their mid-30s? By lifting weights, you’ll rebuild that lost tissue while burning calories. And don’t forget cardiovascular exercise. Use it as an excuse for doing something you enjoy. This may mean walking, spending an hour in the garden or even taking a dance class.

Finally, leave stress to the young folks. High levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, can make it easier to gain abdominal fat. Take long baths or treat yourself to a regular massage, and relax in the knowledge that you’re on your way to a new, healthier you.