When you are a kid, you can do
almost everything⸺climb up the stairs within seconds, wolf down candy bars or
pizza bagels without having any second thoughts. But can you do the same when
you reach your 30s, 40s, or 50s? Well! I am sure you are pretty aware of the
fact that your metabolism goes downhill once you hit 30.
It's like an internal
switch gets activated repeatedly, telling you to start doing things that will
help you use the energy efficiently. But rest assured, it won't be like one
morning you woke up with a drastically lower metabolism. It is a slow process
that gradually starts impacting you.
But why does it happen
to begin with? Let's find out now!
Slowed Down Metabolism- Decoding The Reasons
In general terms,
metabolism is nothing but the internal body processes that turn the calories we
eat or drink into a usable form of energy. So, in scientific terms, the
calories that we burn are known as basal metabolic rate. If you don't know what your BMR is,
you can take the help of any online calculator.
Having said that, the
calories you burn vary from one person to another. It usually depends on the
lifestyle you are leading. If you are active, your BMR will stay pretty much
consistent the whole time. But mostly, it's the hormones that cause a shift in
the metabolic rates.
It goes without saying
that women face many changes in their hormonal levels because of a variety of
reasons: genetics, menstruation, pregnancy, body composition, and so on. This
starts affecting the way they store or lose fat.
Adding more to this, here's what experts have to say
As per the American
Council on Exercise, the basal metabolic rate drops by one of two percent every
passing decade. You'll notice this change in the way you eat. Since by the age
of thirty, you start losing muscle, your natural calorie-burning ability gets
affected. So, this losing muscle and gaining fat mechanism starts causing
weight gain and other metabolic dysfunctions.
But you won't feel the
heat here as well.
The epic slowdown
happens when you reach the age of menopause. With the decreasing estrogen
levels, the metabolism slows down even more aggressively. The growth hormone
production also takes a significant hit. So, you are unable to break down the
calories, resulting in a lot of medical issues.
But hey! There is good
news amidst all this chaos. Thinking what that could be?
Evaluate Your Lifestyle And Try Maintaining Good Habits
If you are busy
searching Google for things like how to increase your metabolism after 50, well, let me tell you one thing. If you are physically
active and taking care of your body, you can keep your metabolism in its
pristine condition for longer.
Of course, your genetics
matter. But the way you take care of yourself once you reach that age or even
before will make a lot of difference. The best way is to take part in strength
exercises, cardio, or other forms of physical activity that will help you
remain active while maintaining your muscle mass.
But how to achieve that?
As we mentioned before,
you need to stay active. But how much is good enough? You should aim for at
least 15 minutes of aerobic activity per week. But that's not all you need to
take part in some muscle strengthening exercises as well. Try to include exercises that include legs,
hips, back, arms, and other parts of your body, at least twice a week.
You can try lifting weights or opt for high-intensity exercises. Besides that, you need to take care of your diet as well. Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet, supplementing with products like Gundry Bio Complete 3 if you really want to give your metabolism a boost, and try to limit your caffeine content along with alcohol.
Wrapping Up
The life of a woman is already
tough. They have to face a number of hormonal shifts during their lifetime. And
declining metabolism is a natural process while we age. However, if you want to
keep it the same for many years, leading an active lifestyle will help you
achieve that.
And if you are thinking
you can't reach it now because you never considered leading an active
lifestyle. Don't worry! You can start today!
Even experts exclaim
that even if you were leading a sedentary lifestyle in your twenties or
thirties, changing your diet and exercising will help you achieve metabolic
rate in your 50s.
So, what are you waiting
for? Don't procrastinate anymore. Start acting today or else be prepared to
face the consequences!
The woman's body is so complex. We try so many ways, change our diets etc but yet sometimes it's not enough
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