Many people begin to see their bodies change as they grow older. If your diet stays the same, and there is no or little exercise, you will gain weight. However, with a bit of work, the younger body you had can still be yours when you’re older.
First of all, foods with little or no nutritional value should be lessened. You can’t eat like you did when you were a kid, for your body doesn’t use that junk. It will be put on your body as weight, since the metabolism slows down. Eat more whole-grains, fruits, and veggies. They have what your body needs to get the energy to get you through your day. Also, watch your fats and eat high-fiber foods to keep everything keep “going” and fill you up. Replace your sugary drinks with water, which is essential.
You must exercise. Besides losing weight, exercise strengthens your heart and lungs. It also makes you feel better, giving you more energy. Exercise also may make you want to eat better, which will keep the junk out. It also speeds up metabolism, which helps burn fat. It is essential that you build muscle, for that is lost as people age. This needs to be done by women, especially as they approach menopause, for this strengthens bone along with muscle. Cholesterol also needs to be watched because menopause can affect that. If women take care of diet and exercise regularly, they may not need hormone-replacement therapy. HRT has side effects, like depression, weight gain, and anxiety, to name a few. Women don’t need or want any of those.
People may not be as “skinny” as they were as teens, but with a bit of work, people in their middle age can be “better” than they ever were before.