Weight loss is a lifelong challenge for many people. However, losing weight in middle age is definitely not as easy as losing weight when you are young.
When you are young, skipping a meal or two can easily lead to weight loss, and it typically takes just a month or two.
In middle age, skipping a meal might only result in losing a few pounds, and then weight loss stagnates.
Excess fat accumulates year after year, and you also have to constantly deal with rebound issues, which is truly frustrating.
It’s disheartening to see that your clothes no longer fit, and you might even avoid looking in the mirror.
Honestly, the obstacles to weight loss in middle age mainly come from the following factors.
01 Reduced Metabolism
As a person ages, their body definitely undergoes changes.
The most noticeable change is probably the reduction in muscle mass, which leads to a decrease in metabolism.
In other words, when you are young, your body burns energy faster, making it easier to consume and use it up.
However, as you get older, the rate of consumption decreases.
This is often called “gaining weight just by drinking cold water,” which conveys a similar meaning.
For example, when young, if you skip dinner or eat less, you could lose up to 10 pounds.
But by the time you reach your thirties or forties, this method might only help you lose a few pounds. This is due to the reduced energy expenditure.
Your body changes, so you can’t apply the same old methods anymore.
Once you reach a certain age, you can’t rely on hunger to lose weight.
Otherwise, the reduction in muscle mass leads to even lower energy consumption, making it harder to lose weight.
02 Lack of Sufficient Physical Activity
In middle age, the amount of activity may decrease dramatically.
This is because many people do not have the opportunity or energy for exercise.
This is one of the main reasons why many people find it hard to lose weight.
For instance, many commute to work by bus or car.
Throughout the day, the only physical activity might be walking a few steps at work or to the supermarket.
In total, that doesn’t amount to much.
Occasionally, out of spontaneous motivation, someone might go for a one-hour workout. However, without consistency, it’s unlikely to yield lasting results.
All of this leads to insufficient physical activity.
If you truly lack time for exercise in middle age, you might try to walk more.
Spend less time sitting at home, and get up to do some chores.
If you can maintain 30-40 minutes of activity each day without overeating, you won’t gain weight.
03 Insufficient Attention to Diet
In reality, the reason people gain weight is that the calories consumed exceed the calories burned.
That’s how excess calories accumulate in the body, leading to weight gain.
Most middle-aged individuals don’t pay much attention to their diets and are unaware of the calorie content in the foods they consume.
This is also a direct cause of weight gain.
For example, some friends love to eat desserts but don’t realize that they are loaded with sugars and fats.
If you watch a baking process, you’ll see that it involves a lot of sugar and fat. These can easily lead to weight gain. Just eating a couple of pieces might surpass the calorie content of an entire meal.
If that doesn’t cause weight gain, then who will gain weight?
Some friends enjoy instant noodles, barbecued food, and milk tea, which also tend to add extra calories.
These can lead to much more weight gain compared to regular meals.
If someone in middle age wants to control their weight through diet, it is necessary to understand the true nature of every food.
Look up the calorie content of the foods you eat, and then make changes accordingly.
This is the only way to effectively control weight gain.
