8. Starting Over at Any Age

I don’t want to hear the age-old excuse—age—when it comes to your weight loss. Sure, you may have to adjust to normal changes in the body but you can do it. One obstacle when it comes to getting older is the decline of metabolic rate. There is an energy reduction of 3 to 5 percent that occurs each decade (after twenty-five to thirty years of age). This happens because of changes such as body composition and hormones. Bodies become less active. Muscle tissue declines. Body fat increases. With less overall muscle mass, fewer calories are burned for normal energy needs.

This does not have to be depressing. There are countless studies and examples of people living today who are in better shape now than when they were younger. Exercise and physical activity can help increase your muscle tissue to accelerate your metabolism and calorie needs. By working out your major muscle groups twice each week you can help replace a decade’s loss of muscle mass in several months. Wow! So lift those weights and build your strength to help reduce the aging process. It can make you feel younger and stronger and can improve your sex life, too.

Reasons for Weight Gain

People over twenty-five and up to sixty-five years of age often experience weight gain due in part to aging. However, even young people beginning a professional career just after high school or college often become more sedentary. Weight gain can creep up here and there until a few pounds turn into an overweight or obese condition.

As lifestyles become more affluent, so do higher standards of living, which can mean doing fewer chores. If you hire people to clean your house, cut your grass, or wash your cars, you may save yourself from doing the work but you burn fewer calories. People also eat out more often, enjoy social eating events, and spend more money on food overall. Each one of these can contribute to weight gain over the years.

Do People Have a Predetermined Weight?

You may notice that some people can maintain their weight without a great deal of effort while others fight to lose beyond a certain point. Many nutrition scientists believe in a theory often referred to as the set point theory.

A set point is a weight range that your body aims to maintain. It is based on your genetic and chemical makeup. Your body works hard to stay within a minimal range surrounding this set point. The body’s metabolism decreases when weight drops lower than its set point so weight loss is slow; on the contrary, it increases when weight rises above the set point. The body works hard to keep this balance. Set points are often noticed when comparing two people of the size height and same frame size. Even if these two people ate the same foods, they would not necessarily gain weight the same way or lose weight the same way. The weight they carry is dependent on their genetic makeup and ultimately on their set point. The set point theory can explain many mysteries surrounding weight reduction and dieting.

Energy-Ease

The energy needs of individuals are different. Yours are unique, too, based on various factors. Determining your particular needs can help you estimate a guideline within which to work. Body size, metabolism, age, gender, activity levels, and genetics all are factors in establishing one’s exact energy needs. Rather than focusing on a specific number, instead try to understand where your energy is coming from and how you can aim to properly meet individual food energy requirements. This can be much more effective in losing and maintaining your overall weight.