Episode 43: The Belly Fat Video
Manage weight in midlife by focusing on hormone balance, not exercising too much, eating the right types of foods
It's Halloween...The start of the holiday season. And that can mean only one thing (cue the scary music)...
SUGAR!
Oh for the love of chocolate bars, m&m's, and swedish fish in the trick or treat bags. Then pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. And more pie and lots of cookies at Christmas.
BUT, excess sugar leads to weight gain.
When we hit the age of 40 and beyond, weight management typically proves to be more difficult. All the things we used to do to stay at a comfortable and sustainable weight don't necessarily work anymore. We may start seeing excess weight in areas we don't want it- like our belly! A slower metabolism due to aging usually gets the blame, but we're here to tell you there are other reasons for the weight gain. We also know practical ways to combat it. To learn more, just watch episode 42 of Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne, The Belly Fat Video.
This discussion isn't about calorie counting, starving yourself, or being miserable. Quite the opposite actually, because we should be enjoying ourselves in this phase of life. And, part of that enjoyment comes from the food we eat. We shouldn't be constantly worrying about what we're going to eat and how it's going to affect us. But, there is a fine line when it comes to health and well-being. So let's worry less about calories and more about eating healthy foods, foods we love that also love us back. With that said, here's a few reasons we gain weight in midlife even if our eating hasn't changed...
HORMONE IMBALANCE- fat cells produce estrogen. If our body needs more estrogen during perimenopause, it will deposit more fat cells, often around the midsection.
OVER EXERCISING can increase stress and cortisol in an already stressed out body, causing it to hold on to weight.
GENETICS play a roll, so we need to have acceptance and love of our body type.
POOR SLEEP- studies show that people who get good quality sleep tend to weigh less. Difficulty sleeping in this phase of life could lead to unwanted weight gain.
Let's take vanity out of the discussion, because we're all built differently and this is about what feels comfortable for you. But we also can't ignore the health piece of this conversation. And, there is a direct correlation between weight, specifically weight in the abdomen, and various health risks. If you want longevity and to be healthy and live vibrantly, weight is a key factor. For more information including when to eat sugar and what to eat with sugar so it's less harmful to your weight and body, click the picture above to watch Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne, The Belly Fat Video
You Don't Need To Eat Less. You Just Need To Eat Right.
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