Weight loss is never easy. It takes hard work and dedication to drop even a few pounds. However, how many of us have successfully lost weight only to gain it back as we get a little older? This is all too common, and it’s not (only) because you’ve lost a step athletically or you suddenly don’t care about keeping the weight you worked so hard to lose off. Most likely, if you’re around 50 years old, it’s because of your metabolism.
A quick crash course: your metabolism is the process by which your body turns food into energy. That energy is measured in calories. Most weight loss professionals will tell you that the way to consistently lose weight is to burn more calories with exercise and activity than you gain by eating.
The problem is, if you start measuring every calorie you add to your system, you could negatively impact your nutrition and affect your weight loss goals, and the way your body processes food changes as you age, meaning that the diets that worked for you earlier might not work so well now.
Kickstarting Your Slow Metabolism
Knowing that your metabolism is changing means that you have to make adjustments along with it. Here are a few ways to boost your slow metabolism in middle age:
- Be careful with big meals. Younger people tend to have a more natural appetite. When they eat a big meal, they tend to not feel hungry until their body has burned all or most of the calories it consumed in the meal. This natural cycle fades as your metabolism changes, so you have to pick up the slack a bit and be more cognizant of how many large meals you’re eating on a regular basis.
- Maintain a regular meal schedule. This piggybacks on the last point. There are slow metabolism myths out there suggesting that eating many small meals spread throughout the day can help boost your metabolism. What works the best is keeping your caloric intake controlled and scheduled, so your body has an easier time digesting your food and storing energy. You shouldn’t assume that a schedule that works for one person will work for you. If sticking to three meals a day keeps you from overeating, roll with that. If you need to snack throughout the day, make sure you’re eating healthy and staying on schedule.
- Eat protein-rich foods. Several foods have shown signs of boosting metabolism, such as protein-rich foods like red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and vegan options like legumes, nuts, and seeds. Another bonus of protein-rich foods is that they tend to keep you full for longer, which can help prevent overeating. Some foods work differently for different people, so find foods that seem to work for you.
Where Laser Lipo Fits in for Weight Loss
Laser lipo affects how fat is stored in your body, not your metabolism, but it can help shed stubborn belly fat and aid in your weight loss, along with healthy eating and exercise routines. For more information on laser lipo and metabolism boosters, contact Dr. Tred’s Slim Body Laser Spa today.
