We all know that losing weight isn’t easy, especially as we age. Even if you were diligent about your exercise routine in your youth, you might still find yourself becoming heavier as you age, despite your best efforts. Obesity is becoming a common problem among all age groups, particularly for the Baby Boomer population. More than one-third of adults over 65 are considered to be obese, and numbers continue to rise.
Why Baby Boomers struggle with obesity
As you age, your joints might feel stiffer and muscles looser after years of heavy use. This makes it more difficult to stay active. What’s more, your metabolism naturally starts to slow down as you get older. That means you have to work harder to lose each pound. While there are significant obstacles to weight loss after fifty, slimming down is far from impossible. There are a two simple ways that you can change your diet to help reach your weight loss goals, no matter what your age.
Reduce Caloric Intake
Although it may seem like a no-brainer, adjusting your caloric intake as you age is an important part of dieting that many Baby Boomers ignore. While you may have been able to eat over 2,000 calories per day in your twenties, the weight from each meal tends to stick around for longer with age. This is primarily because we expend less energy once we reach our fifties.
An easy way to reduce calories is a modified version of intermittent fasting or eating like an Italian.
To maintain or lose weight after your fifties, it’s important that you cut the number of calories that you consume each day, taking into account your decreased metabolic rate and energy expenditure. While there is no set number of calories that Baby Boomers should consume, women over fifty should aim for around 1,600 calories per day depending on their size and activity level.
Cut out the Sugar
Fat has long been blamed as the culprit behind obesity, but really, sugar is what Baby Boomers should be watching for in their daily meals. While most of us are aware that sugars are present in foods such as chocolate and soda, not everybody considers the fact that products such as cereals, energy bars, and even salad dressings are often packed with refined sugars to improve the taste.
Not only does refined sugar lead to increased weight gain, but it can also contribute to a range of common mental and physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and dementia.
With a little bit of patience and dedication, it’s possible to overcome obesity at any age, even as you age. While slimming down after fifty can be challenging, the right diet can help you to keep yourself looking your best for years to come.
Darn it, I wish I could loose weight like I did in my 20’s but not even close. It is work and resolve but the health benefits are worth it!