WHY DO WE GAIN WEIGHT WITH AGE?

As a woman ages, her reproductive system, libido, moods, skin and hair all change. A change in body composition is another natural part of the aging process. You tend to lose muscle as you age – partly because your muscle cells just don’t repair themselves the way they used to. Natural dips in hormone production like oestrogen, testosterone and growth hormone can also contribute to some loss of muscle mass.

Since muscles do a lot of metabolic ‘work’ that uses up a lot of calories, the loss of muscle mass as you age means that you will burn fewer calories per day than you used to, as your metabolic rate effectively slows down.

By the time women reach the age of about 40 and men enter their 60s, they start to lose about 6-8% of their muscle mass every ten years. That translates into a drop in metabolic rate of about 10% every decade.

8 TIPS FOR CONTROLLING YOUR WEIGHT AS YOU AGE:

#1. Kick-start your metabolism. The Herbex Age-Group Weight-loss formula 20-40  and 40-60 helps to address this issue and many other weight-loss needs of women within this age group.
#2. Eat protein at each meal or snack. Protein not only helps your body to build and repair muscle mass, it also helps control hunger. The trick is to choose the leanest sources, so you can avoid added fat.
#3. Check your portion sizes. A declining metabolism means your body needs less food. Try using a smaller bowl or plate to help dish smaller portions.
#4. Make time for physical activity. Don’t just get stuck on cardio, strength training is one of the best things you can do to retain – and even build – muscle, which will boost your metabolic rate.
#5. Avoid mindless eating in front of the TV. Avoid the temptation of ‘something nice’ by brushing your teeth straight after dinner, or having a cup of delicious Herbex Slimmers Tea.
#6. Beware of liquid calories. Alcoholic beverages and fruit juices could cause a gradual increase in weight. Sugar-sweetened beverages like speciality coffees are also a major contributor to weight gain.
#7. Stop skipping breakfast. Just a quick cup of tea is not enough. Having a healthy breakfast wakes up the metabolism and will help prevent overeating later in the day.
#8. Get enough sleep. We know there’s probably not enough hours in the day, but studies have shown that there’s a direct correlation between too little sleep and weight gain, so try to get your 7-8 hours a night.