Losing weight is much more than following a strict diet and exercising. I say, when you want to really lose weight, you need to prepare yourself in every aspect of your life, especially emotionally and of course, physically. If teens and midlifers with stronger and more stable bodies are having a hard time following these two simple rules, then what should we expect from an aging body like mine?
With slower metabolism, limited range of motion and digestive problems, seniors are indeed puzzled on how to really lose weight and stay healthy for the rest of their lives. It seems that the odds are now reduced to almost half. Take into consideration the fact that seniors SHOULD never engage in anything drastic and life threatening which I find in every fad diet that comes my way!
One of the reasons why I find it hard to lose weight is that I always find myself shifting from one fitness program to another and end up with several fitness programs with zero results. Why? Just because I heard someone has been successful with her program and I want to try it too. Unfortunately, frustration strikes me first before I see anything tangible to hold on to! In addition to exercising hard enough, a senior must be able to stick with “the plan”. With that said, your fitness program should be something you really enjoy doing or take an extra effort to make it enjoyable on your part. A fitness instructor once told me that the best fitness program is a combination of cardio and light strength training. For seniors, it could mean jogging and Pilates on a regular basis.
Making your body strong enough to endure exercise is a must. This means seniors are allowed to eat to fuel the body as well as provide your body with enough sleep. I understand that some seniors are having a hard time getting enough sleep however, never harass yourself and end up frustrated for not getting any sleep at all. Seniors must gauge themselves, if you feel you can do exercise with little sleep, then by all means, go.
A proper mindset is also important when trying to lose weight and even in maintaining an ideal weight. As much as possible, try to aim for a healthy body to help you live longer, rather than a stick-thin figure which I think is not too charming to see. Furthermore, a balanced mind and body requires a stress-free lifestyle. While it is impossible to live a life free of stress, there are ways to de-stress yourself like getting a massage or joining a Yoga class.