Remember the time when you were younger? Back in those years when you felt stronger and looked better? Think back and try to recall the younger and healthier you. No, you are not just trying to reminisce happier days. You are looking back to recognize the difference between the lifestyle you had back then and the lifestyle you are living right now.
Do you realize that it’s not just the years that have taken their toll on your body? Though it is true that it gets harder to lose weight as one gets older, you cannot entirely blame the passage of time for excessive weight gain. In fact, the major reason why you have packed on extra pounds is that you have gone from living a healthy lifestyle to an unhealthy one.
A study conducted by Berkeley Lab shows that although weight gain is one of the normal consequences of growing older, you can still fight off extra pounds by making simple (or significant, if you are obese) yet extremely helpful lifestyle changes.
- Re-instill good eating habits
When at school where you spent most of your younger years, your eating habits were restricted. You basically got to eat only 3 full meals a day: before going to school, during lunch break, and dinner time. Now that there’s only YOU to restrict your meal times, a good rule to follow is to eat only when you’re hungry and stop when you are full. Stick by this rule and you will never be out of shape even as you age.
When you feel hungry an hour after a full meal, drink a glass of water. Water is not only great for keeping your energy levels high, but it also serves as a natural appetite suppressant. Som
etimes, a lot of people mistake thirst for hunger. Don’t. Keep in mind that extra meals will mean extra calories, which of course, turn into extra pounds.
- Remain active
Gym class was a requirement, and you probably pursued extra curricular sports activities back when you were still a student. Long hours spent sitting behind an office desk and watching television to de-stress are a far cry from the active lifestyle you used to live when you were younger. A sufficient amount of daily exercise compliments a healthy diet in losing weight naturally and keeping it off. Sign up for a gym membership to keep you motivated. If going to the gym is not an option, set time aside for jogging, bicycle, or power walking – anything just to get your body moving. A little effort, so long as done consistently, can go a long way.
The more you think about it, the more it will make sense to you that the key to losing weight is to reverse bad habits that made you gain those extra pounds in the first place. Live younger and you will feel and look younger.
