Life begins at forty.

It is also the time when your body begins to undergo big changes, while this might be a time when an individual reaches the summit of her career. You might begin to notice that no matter how much you exercise, you are now retaining fat. Metabolic and hormonal changes ruled the day when you reached years old. Weight gain is almost always come with by menopause. When you begin to lose muscle mass, your metabolism also slows down. This is an inevitable consequence of aging.

This doesn’t mean that staying fit isn’t possible.

There’s every reason to maintain your bodies healthy during this period and tone. Because your metabolic rate slows as a result of the hormonal changes in your body, reducing your caloric intake is the cornerstone of your weight reduction program. Take note that what is highlighted is a reduction of calories. Going into any restrictive dieting or worse, crash dieting, isn’t only ineffective, when you’re over forty, it’s also potentially dangerous. At this age, your body begins to lose bone mass, and any form could cause your bones to become more fragile. This could lead to leg fractures and osteoporosis or hip.

Fitness for women over 40 entails eating healthy foods at stress management cardiovascular and resistance training exercises and the right amounts. The focus of your nutrition should be more healthy foods that provide you fewer calories. You should be consuming more fruits and veggies and less of donuts and the cakes that provide you more calories. While protein from fish and lean meat will do wonders in boosting your 25, fiber-rich foods must be included in your menu. Do not forget to drink your milk, so you can meet your calcium needs every day. If you can not drink milk supplements may be required. Then you want to create a calorie deficit by eating less or exercising more or blending both if you are some pounds over the ideal according to your height, age, activity level and other factors.

Fitness for women over 40 needs exercise.

However, exercises aren’t enough. You want to incorporate strength training into your routine because your muscle and bone mass starts to weaken at forty. Weather you intend to enroll in a gym for a weight lifting program or do body-weight workouts at home, strength training is a part of your regimen. This adds muscle mass that can help rev up your metabolic rate for a larger calorie-burn.

Stress management is essential to finish your fitness for women over 40 regulars.

The kids might have already moved from the house, but the responsibilities of moving up the corporate ladder might lead one to find comfort from food. Women at whatever age are more prone to overeating stresses take a toll. Squabbles and divorce are other stressors which need to be handled well. So you can stay fit and fab even if you’re over forty, setting aside time for yourself is important.

Full Body Workout For Women Over 40:

Squats – 3 sets of 8 reps
Bench Press – 3 sets of 8 reps
Bent Over Rows – 3 sets of 8 reps
Leg Press – 3 sets of 10 reps
Shoulder Press – 3 sets of 10 reps
Walking Lunges – 2 sets of 12 reps
Superset* Bicep Curls with Tricep Extensions – 2 sets of 15 reps
Superset* Lateral Raises with Front Raises – 2 sets of 15 reps

Thanksgiving weekend is a time when we indulge and is totally fine as long as you stay healthy before and after your feast.

Spending time with family and friends is really important, and being able to enjoy yourself with them without feeling restricted is also important. Thanksgiving and delicious meals go hand-in-hand, so it is unavoidable to enjoy some good food.

It happens each year: The dishes you’ve been craving all season long are finally passed around the table, and before you know it your plate is piled up to your head with turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes — all smothered with a heaping portion of gravy. It’s a masterpiece, yes. But it’s also a single meal that can total anywhere from 2,500 to 4,500 calories, nearly twice the calories recommended daily.

Just a couple of indulgent days isn’t going to hurt, too much at least.

So, it’s time to drag yourself out of bed, put on your gym clothes, and get yourself ready for your workout.

Step 1: Start Slow

No matter who you are, your body is going to feel it after a night of heavy eating and drinking. You’re not going to be overflowing with energy, as your body will have spent most of the night digesting all of the food and drink you consumed.

Get into your workout slowly, starting out with a walk around the block a few times. Don’t zip out to the gym for a “quick” workout, and certainly don’t jog your normal route. It’s a day to take it slow–you can get back into the hectic pace of full-intensity workouts tomorrow!

Step 2: Get in Your LISS

Low-impact steady state (LISS) aerobics will help to get your body working, your blood pumping and your digestive system rolling. Start out with a bit of cycling–stationary bike or regular bike both work–as jogging or running will probably set your stomach bouncing–definitely not what you want the morning after a heavy meal.

Start your LISS slowly, at a leisurely pace. You’re probably going to be pretty low on energy, so let your body catch up with the workout you’re doing. After about five minutes, you’ll start to feel better, and it’s time to up the speed and difficulty on the bike. Within 10 minutes, you can probably be cycling at full speed–which you should then sustain for the next 15 to 20 minutes for the proper aerobic workout.

Step 3: Time to Train

Once you’ve gotten in your aerobics, it’s time to hit the weights for your muscle-building routine. You aren’t going to have enough energy for a HIIT workout, or for a full-on bodybuilding workout that leaves your muscles shaking and drained. It’s time to go for a circuit training routine that will hit all of the muscles in your body and burn away all those food calories.

Your circuit workout should include (in the following order):

Bench presses
Standing rows
Lunges

Military presses
Barbell curls
Squats

Tricep extensions
Cable pull-downs
Leg presses

Do this circuit routine twice, and your body will feel so much better!

Step 4: Digest Well

Your digestion is going to be a bit iffy the morning after a heavy Thanksgiving meal, so it’s important that you drink a lot of water, use the bathroom as your body directs, and find a way to detox all that alcohol, turkey and pumpkin pie.

The best post-Thanksgiving breakfast: oatmeal. The soluble fiber in the oats will help to absorb a lot of the toxins, and the insoluble fiber will scrub out your intestines. By the time workout rolls around, you’ll feel much better

Don’t forget to drink a lot of water the morning after! Both heavy eating and heavy drinking can leave your body dehydrated, so tank up on water to avoid problems when it’s time to work out.

Have a hard time losing weight? Do you eat healthy and train hard but nothing works? If so, give your diet a makeover! Healthy eating isn’t the same as eating for fat loss.

Common mistakes, such as skimping on protein and avoiding fats, can stall your progress. Don’t freak out – everyone makes these mistakes. It took me years to realize what clean eating really looks like. Even pro athletes have these issues.

Ready to make a change? For the start, avoid these diet mistakes that hamper your progress:

Too Much Dieting

Extreme or prolonged dieting raises the stress hormone cortisol levels. This causes your body to store fat and use less energy for fuel. It slows down your metabolism, drains your energy, and makes weight loss difficult.

For this reason, fitness models and bodybuilders practice the so-called “reverse dieting” after restricting calories for months. Basically, they consume more calories so their hormones can get back to normal.

If you’ve been dieting for too long, take a break. Otherwise, your metabolic rate will drop.

Skimping on Protein

Protein is the most important nutrient for weight loss. It not only builds muscle and strength but also revs up your metabolism. At the same time, it lowers the hunger hormone ghrelin levels, which helps suppress appetite and curbs sugar cravings.

A high-protein diet will help you get leaner, stronger, and fitter. Your exercise performance will improve too! For best results, consume at least one gram of protein per pound of body weight.

Eating Too Much Healthy Food

Just because you’re eating healthy, it doesn’t mean you’ll lose fat. Many healthy foods, such as honey, walnuts, and olive oil, are high in calories. If you eat too much, you’ll gain weight.

For instance, walnuts boast over 523 calories per cup. That’s about one-quarter of the daily recommended calorie intake. The same goes for almonds, peanut butter, coconut oil, trail mixes, and other high-calorie foods.

To get lean, watch your portions. Plan your meals ahead and keep healthy snacks at hand. If you’re always hungry, eat low-calorie high-volume foods, such as kale, lettuce, spinach, and berries.

These are just a few of the many diet mistakes you could be making. Remember that weight loss requires a calorie deficit. The whole point is to take in fewer calories than you’re burning. Stick to whole, minimally processed foods, track your macros, and eat mindfully.