How to lose weight at 30 and above

I am probably one of the few lucky people who eat a lot yet do not gain weight. I am 24 years old, a mother of one, and weight 102 pounds. I did gained weight when I got pregnant but I easily shed it off after a few months of giving birth. My mom told me she was just like me when she was my age, and that she started gaining weight when she reached 30. I was so scared because aside from the fact that you can’t wear everything you want when you are fat, it also pose risk on one’s health. If the above sounds familiar to you then relax, get a glass of water and learn how to lose weight for people in their 30’s  and above.

It is true that the metabolism slows down as people gets older. This is because the aging process doubles the proportion of one’s body that is made up of fat and decreases muscle mass. Since fat burns fewer calories compared to muscles, the metabolism slows down causing more calories to be stored in the body as fat deposits. Though it is physiologically normal to gain weight at 30 and above, you can still do something about it. If you make the commitment to yourself “I want to lose weight” then there are ways to reverse the situation.

Live an active life

Studies show that people tend to live a sedentary lifestyle as they grow older. Though you may feel some aches and pains here and there, it should not stop you from getting those muscles to work. Heading out to the gym can greatly help in keeping one’s body slender and healthy despite of age. If you find workouts boring and tiring, it is a good idea to bring along a friend or enroll in special classes that interest you; men usually prefer boxing, mixed martial arts, and basketball while women likes dancing, yoga, and step aerobics.  It is important to engage in activities that are not only good-calorie burners but will allow you to have some fun as well.

Lower calorie intake

The body needs calories from food for energy as it needs air for oxygen. As a person gets old, his body needs fewer calories because of decreased muscle mass and decreased activity level. This means, if you continue eating the same amount of calories, you will definitely gain weight because your body has a decreased calorie requirement for you age. For example, an average woman at the age of 20 needs 2205 calories/day; when she gets at the age of 25, her calorie requirement will decrease to 2168 calories/day, and by the time she gets to 30 she only needs 2095 calories/day and this will continually decrease as the person gets older. In every 3,500 excess calories you take in, you are adding a pound to your weight. Lowering one’s calorie intake to the amount that is just enough to how much your body needs will help in managing weight at the age of 30 and above.

Get adequate and quality sleep

Sleeping and losing weight are not commonly written in the same sentence, but do you know that sleep can actually contribute to weight loss and weight gain? This is all because of the hormones Leptin and Ghelin. Leptin is the appetite- suppressing hormone which is produced by the white adipose tissues, it then travels to the brain through the blood and tells the receptors in the hypothalamus, the satiety center of the brain, that your body is full, thus you do not feel the sensation of hunger. Ghelin, on other hand is the opposite of Leptin, it is the appetite- stimulating hormone that is produced by the cells of the stomach and the pancreas and also travels to the brain through the bloodstream and tells the hypothalamus that you body needs food, thus making you feel hungry.

Physiologically, Lack of sleep decreases the body’s Leptin level thus you do not feel satisfied with what you eat causing you to eat more. Also, not having enough sleep increases your Ghelin level thus sending a hunger- message to your brain causing you to eat.

Some physical changes caused by aging like the wrinkling of the skin and the growth of gray hair are inevitable, however gaining weight at 30 and above is something that anyone can manage. Losing weight may be harder as one gets older but if you work hard in managing your calories, losing weight is not impossible. Be inspired by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who is 38 years old, Ashton Kutcher who is 32, Penelope Cruz who is 36 and the sexy Angelina Jolie who is 35 years old.

How to lose weight – the basic rules

Unlike other illnesses, fighting obesity would require much more than surgery and medications. You would need to do major lifestyle changes including diet and exercise. But before doing so, it would be beneficial to know some basic weight loss facts so you will be on the right tract on your journey to losing weight.

Am I Underweight, Normal, or Obese?

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a ratio based on body weight and height. It is highly correlated with body fat, but increased lean body mass or a large body frame can also increase BMI.

The ideal BMI is 24, Individuals who have a BMI below 24 or who are 80% or less of their desirable body weight for height are at risk for problems associated with poor nutritional status. Those who have a BMI of 25 to 29 are considered overweight; those with BMI of 30 to 39 are considered obese; those who have BMI of 40 and above are considered extremely obese.

To calculate your BMI, simply divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters (metric method) or divide your weight in pounds times 703 by the square of your height in inches (imperial method).

BMI = ( lbs/inches² ) (weight in pounds * 703 ) ———————————— height in inches²

BMI = ( kg/m² ) weight in kilograms ———————————— height in meters²

In addition to the calculation of BMI, waist circumference measurement is particularly useful for people who are categorized as normal or overweight. To measure the waist circumference, a tape measure is placed in a horizontal plane around the abdomen; men who have waist circumferences greater than 40 inches and women who have waist circumferences greater than 35 inches have excess abdominal fat.

Why some people lose weight faster?

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) represents energy needed to maintain essential physiological functions, such as respiration, circulation, and muscle tone. This means that even when a person is at complete rest both physically and mentally, he/she still burns calories because the body needs energy to perform these functions. However, relying in the calories burned through BMR alone will not help you lose weight. It is simply a determinant of why some people lose weight faster than others.

Men: 66 + (13.7 x Weigh in Kilograms) + (5 x Height in centimeter) – (6.8 x Age in years) = BMR

Women: 665 + (9.6 x Weigh in Kilograms) + (1.8 x Height in centimeter) – (4.7 x Age in years) = BMR

How many calories should I consume daily in order to lose weight?

Health buffs are very careful with the amount of calories they take in daily. Some even treat calories as something that is bad for the body and that should be avoided. Calories are actually essential to one’s body because the calories that we get from the food we eat are converted by the body to produce energy for us to be able to do our activities of daily living. Calories become bad for the body when the person takes in too much while living a sedentary lifestyle. If the person is less active, the calories will not be used but instead it will be stored in the body as fat deposits. Whenever we eat 3,500 calories more than what our body needs, we get to gain one pound. If we burn 3,500 calories more than what we eat, we lose a pound. To calculate your daily calorie needs, you may use the Harris-Benedict Equation.

Little to no exercise	BMR x 1.2
Light exercise (1-3 days per week)	BMR x 1.375
Moderate exercise (3-5 days per week)	BMR x 1.55
Heavy exercise (6-7 days per week)	BMR x 1.725
Very heavy exercise (twice per day, extra heavy workouts)	BMR x 1.9

For example if your BMR is 2000 and you do not do any regular exercise then you need 2000 X 1.2 = 2400 calories.

According to the data given by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, two in five Americans are 20% or more over their ideal body weight. People who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for health complications, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and bronchitis. Also, they could suffer from impaired body image, depression, and low self- esteem.

Because of this, the US Department of Health and Human Services has organized campaigns and programs to fight obesity like “We Can!” a national childhood obesity program. Even with these programs, the best person who can help you is yourself, if you want to live a longer and happier life, do take care of your health and lose that excess weight TODAY! Some resources to help you get started:

How to lose weight fast
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How to lose weight in 2 weeks
Best way to lose weight

How do celebrities lose weight?

Ever wonder how celebrities acquire beautiful bodies even if some of them previously do not have them? Let’s face it; losing weight is no overnight magic. Even celebrities have to spend weeks for it, and you have to undergo the process too to acquire the figure you want. Here are some of the secrets celebrities used in losing weight that are actually healthy and effective.

Eat less but eat healthy. This doesn’t mean that you have to stop eating and go hungry. You’ll just end up 180° from your goal to shape up. Severe fasting can lead your body to decrease its metabolic rate but increase its ability to store fats. It also results to easy fatigability and excessive cravings which are not healthy. While celebrities go on diets; there are many types of diets adhered by different Hollywood stars but the principle behind all of them is that your intake of calories is less than the amount you expend everyday but never starving yourself.

Drink up. Drinking water doesn’t only make you feel less hungry; it also refreshes your body by flushing out impurities, aiding your digestion and speeding up your metabolism. Moreover, it doesn’t give you the extra calories found in sodas, and coffee.

Be more active – exercise! Have you ever seen pictures of celebrities jogging, or walking their dogs or doing special work-out trainings? This is their method of being more active to burn up the calories before they turn into flabby fats. Moreover, exercise makes you feel good about yourself. With exercise, your body is stimulated to release endorphins which make you happy thus decreasing instances for you to sulk and binge over life’s stressors.

Do behavior therapy. While you slowly unfold the secrets of celebrity weight loss, you’d also learn that they get rid of their bad habits (e.g. smoking, abusing drugs, being alcoholic , etc.) by supplanting them with good ones (e.g. having proper diet, doing exercises, building better coping skills, going on vacations, etc.). This is because they know that losing weight effectively and healthily just isn’t complete without a total behavior therapy, and which is why you need to know their last but most important secret of all…

Have the will to do it. Celebrities are very determined to lose weight because it is part of their job. Along the way, they influence people to emulate them. That’s why you’re reading this article; because they look good to you and you want look good too. You want to know their methods and you want to try them for yourself. But you have to have their will too. This will propel you to do what it takes to lose weight and feel that celebrity feeling of looking gorgeous like they do.

If you think about these secrets, they are doable. That is why celebrities practicing these have high success rates of losing and maintaining weight. So if they can do it, why can’t you?

Do you really want to lose weight?

One of the questions you really need to ask yourself before getting into the weight loss journey is whether you really want to lose weight. A definite and sincere answer to this question will save you a lot of time, money and frustration. People have a lot reasons to wish that they can lose weight but as soon as they find the first obstacle they forget everything and quit. If you are certain as to why you need to lose weight and you convince yourself that you really want to do it then everything else will be easier.

What it happens many times is that people are worried about their weight loss problem but they are too bored to do something about it. They believe that they will never make it and they are reluctant to take the first step. This is until they find out that one of their friends managed to lose those extra pounds or until they see those super fit models advertising fitness equipment on night TV. This is the point where they start thinking “I want to lose weight” and some of them may even pick up the phone and buy a piece of exercise equipment believing that in a few weeks time they will become thin and fit and look like those models. Unfortunately the majority of these cases fail because there are no miracles when it comes to losing weight. No exercise equipment, weight loss pill or diet can help you lose weight fast and without effort. If you really want to lose weight then you have to do something more than watching fitness equipment on TV or wishing that you could lose weight; you need to get into action, work hard and then enjoy your new self.

Above any diet or exercise routine the most important factor that will help you lose weight is your determination to lose pounds and feel better. The power of your inner self is the driving force behind your efforts and the more motivation you have the easier will be the process. You need to convince yourself that being overweight is a situation that has to stop and that the only way to stop it is by working hard towards achieving your goals. It is very important that you have a plan to follow and equally important that you have inspiration sources to keep you motivated until the end.

The plan will help you measure your progress and take corrective actions and the inspiration sources will help you bypass the many obstacles and failures that will come your way. In your plan set clear milestones and think about the tools you will use to meet those targets. Think about the diet to follow and how you plan to workout (frequency, duration, type of exercise) and also about your ultimate goal i.e. how many pounds you want to lose at the end. For inspiration think about people who can support you (family, friends) or other ways to get emotional support. Visualize yourself at the end of the process and try to imagine how great you will feel. Every time you find a difficulty do not get discouraged but consider this as an opportunity to try harder for faster results.

Weight loss is not that hard if you approach it correctly. All it takes is a step-by-step approach, patience and internal power. Thousands of people have to deal with this problem everyday and hundreds of people are able to find a solution. With a bit of self confidence you can be one of them.

Want To Lose Weight? Try These Foods That Increase Metabolism

Losing weight can be hard work. Not only do you have to cut out all your favourite foods but you also need to increase the amount of exercise you do on a regular basis. What many people don’t realise is that there are some foods which can increase your body’s metabolism. This will help you to burn calories faster and with less effort. While increasing your metabolism won’t make you lose weight automatically it can certainly help! Here are some of the most common foods and drinks used to increase the body’s metabolic rate.

Apples

Research has shown that people who eat an apple a day are likely to lose more weight than those who don’t. Whether this is because the body’s metabolism is increased when you eat an apple or just because healthier people tend to eat more fruit is not yet known. It certainly can’t hurt to eat apples though – especially if you use them to replace unhealthy snacks.

Yogurt

The reason yogurt is such a useful substance when you’re trying to lose weight is that it requires quite a lot of energy to be broken down. This is because yogurt contains a large amount of protein. For this reason your body has to work hard when you consume it which helps to increase your metabolism. Of course, it’s important to make sure you only eat low-fat yogurt otherwise it could have the opposite effect!

Green Tea

Green tea is probably the most common substance used to increase the body’s metabolism. There are many studies which seem to show that a green tea each and every day can work wonders for various different parts of the body including metabolic rate. The great thing about Green Tea is that it’s enjoyable to drink and can still help you lose weight. It’s also thought that Green Tea may reduce your chance of getting certain types of cancer.

Coffee

Some people are under the impression that coffee is a “magic pill” for losing weight but that isn’t the case. Although caffeine can give your body’s metabolism a helpful boost it can cause many negative side effects too. For this reason you shouldn’t consume more than one or two cups a day. If you start to have trouble sleeping then caffeine is likely to be the problem and you may have to cut it out your diet. The same can be said if you find you’re more irritable than usual.

Turkey

It’s often assumed that healthy foods must be dairy , fruits or vegetables but turkey can also increase your body’s metabolism. This is because it’s high in protein which requires a certain amount of calories to break down.

There are many other foods you can use to lose weight. For example, some foods might not increase your body’s metabolism but may reduce your appetite. If you can systematically replace all unhealthy foods with foods that help to burn more fat then you’ll find it much easier to lose weight quickly. On the other hand, you need to be careful not to overeat which can cause additional problems.

Finally, you should always make sure you eat a balanced, healthy breakfast every day. Failure to do so can seriously hamper your efforts to lose weight. Overnight the body’s metabolism will gradually slow down because of the lack of food intake. A reasonable sized breakfast can help to increase your metabolic rate again. On the same note, it’s often a good idea to split your meals up into smaller portions throughout the day in order to balance your body’s metabolism and force it to keep going at a steady rate.

How to lose weight for women

Many people, from all walks of life, are finding ourselves in a peculiar position. We are overweight, under-exercised, and self conscious about it. This is especially true for many women. A lot of burden is placed on women to look pretty or sexy at all times in our society. It’s no wonder why so many people are trying to change their appearance. After all, there’s nothing wrong with making yourself better. The main thing to remember is just to be yourself, and everything will fall into place.

Weight loss for women is very similar to that of a man. All it really takes is a change of mind, and the way you live. Changing your mind and lifestyle will cause your body to change along with it. This can be difficult at times, but usually it takes place very naturally, just like the process of gaining weight. So where do you start first, you may ask? First and foremost is your mind. A lot of things in life are mental, and the consequences affect your whole world. You first have to get out of the mindset that you are fat, and will always be fat. Realize that you have complete control over your body and life. You can change any part of it that you want, with a little hard work.

Now that we have that out of the way, lets take a look at your lifestyle. This is the part where you snack a lot before bed, drink coffee and eat donuts for breakfast, and chase it down with a double quarter-pounder for lunch. While this may not necessarily be what you do everyday, you can see where I’m going with this. The reasons why you are overweight can be numerous, especially for women. Perhaps you have just gone through pregnancy. Or maybe you are too busy to exercise.

It’s hard to guess specific reasons for why you are overweight. Your main focus, however, should be changing your eating habits. Eat fruits and whole grains for breakfast. Have a salad for lunch, and beans, vegetables, rice, bread, or cheese. Add to that plenty of water. Avoid sugar and fats like the plague. And whatever your schedule may be, find a way to supplement it with activity. Physical activity, if even for short periods throughout your day, will help you lose weight in no time. So stick with it, and you will change, one way or another.

How to lose Weight Without Buying Anything

Contrary to popular belief you do not have to spend a ton of money to lose weight. Every day we are inundated with ads bearing beautiful skinny models who claim they got that way by taking one simple pill a day. Or, they have been on a magic diet plan that they read about in the newest bestseller. You cannot watch a late night TV program without seeing an advertisement for some expensive exercise machine that will help you lose weight in just five minutes a day. All of these claims would be great, if they were true. The simple truth is you can lose weight without buying anything.

One of the easiest ways to lose weight is by walking. Many people end up buying an expensive treadmill with the thought that they will continue to be able to exercise throughout the winter or anytime there is inclement weather. However, usually these treadmills end up abandoned in a corner as a glorified clothes hanger. You do not need an expensive treadmill to get your exercise in. Many people walk outside at all times of the year. Even when the weather seems much too cold, as long as you bundle up you will stay warm. Once you begin your walk your heart rate increases and your body temperature will rise and you will be more than comfortable. In addition, there are many free facilities you can use to do your walking. Many churches have gyms that are open to the public for exercise. Also, many communities have free community centers with indoor tracks.

Another way on how to lose weight without buying anything is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drinking water helps your body think it is full and cuts down on your calorie intake. Also, spacing your meals out throughout the day will increase the calories that your body uses. The body cannot always use all of the calories you take in during three large meals a day. These calories are then stored for later use and if not used are turned into fat.

Try to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. This will start your morning off right and provide you with the calories needed to get you through the day. Also, never eat right before going to bed. With your body in a state of rest, calories will only be stored in the body and will not be able to be burned off through activity.

How to lose belly fat safely and effectively

Before attempting to lose belly fat you need to consider the reasons that you need to lose belly fat. Is it because you have more weight than normal and this creates other health problems; is it because you want to get rid of a few extra pounds so that you will feel better or is it because your BMI shows that you weight more than what is expected for your height?  Whatever the reason, you need to ensure that you learn how to lose belly fat safely and effectively. The safest way to lose belly fat is the healthy way i.e. healthy food, balanced diet, exercise and physical activity.

Physical activity and exercise

Physical activity and exercise is the only safe way to burn more calories. The more active you are, the more calories you will burn. In simple terms this means that if you increase your levels of exercise without eating more, the extra energy needed will be taken from your fat reserves and so you will lose both fat and calories.

The best type of exercise for weight loss is the one you can do for a long time without getting bored. You do not have to join a gym or fitness class. There are a lot of exercises you can do on your own like walking, running, jogging, cycling etc that can give you good results if you perform them regularly and consistently. Make sure that you exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, 3 times per week. Remember, the more you can exercise the better and faster will be the results.

Healthy eating and balanced diet

To be able to maintain your normal weight and get ready to lose weight and belly fat, you need to follow a diet that is rich in fiber and balanced in carbohydrates and proteins. Fruits and vegetables are perfect candidates for your daily diet while foods that are high in fat, salt and sugars should be avoided or replaced with healthier alternatives. Care should also be taken on the foods that are advertised as “diet foods”. Some of these are low in fat but are high in calories while other are low in calories but high in fat. You need to read the food labels and ensure that the foods you select are both low in calories and fat. If you are not sure how to interpret the items in a food label you can get the advice of a professional nutritionist who can guide you on how to select food and drinks that are healthy and calorie friendly.

Non natural ways to lose weight

Unfortunately the weight loss industry is a very popular one and there are a number of products that promise quick results with no effort. These products have nothing to do with a healthy weight loss. A healthy weight loss excludes weight loss pills, crash diets, deprivation diets, fat burners or other chemical ways that are suppose to help you lose weight. This is not only in theory but it is proven by various studies that deal with fat loss. All studies agree that if you try to lose weight fast without following healthy guidelines you will gradually gain the weight back and in the long run you will end up with more weight.

If you are still not convinced that the best way to lose weight is the healthy way consider the following example. The person that currently holds the World record for losing the biggest amount of pounds (mainly fat), managed to lose over 400 pounds using a balanced diet and exercise and not by using weight loss pills or other methods.

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