Metabolism as we grow older.

What happens when you grow older? Bad news is you'll get there sooner or later. Things start slowing down including your ability to lose weight. Here are some of the common questions people ask.

1. Why am I suddenly gaining fat all over?

Answer: Mitochondria—the structures within cells that convert food into energy— slow down or die off after age 40. Subsequently, you can’t burn calories like you did before and can start gaining weight.

 Solution: To combat the loss of mitochondria, cut 100 calories from your daily intake. Easy ways to trim 100 calories include removing skin from chicken breasts; using skim instead of whole milk in coffee; drink black coffee minus the sugar. By eliminating 100 calories a day helps to keep weight off long term.

2. Why is it so difficult to lose weight as I grow older?

Answer:  Muscle burns 3 times more calories than fat cells, which means loss of muscle mass causes weight gain and an inability to shed kgs. Key factors that create loss of muscle mass include a drop in testosterone levels, crash dieting and disuse from aging.  Recent studies suggest that at 40, women lose muscle mass twice a fast as men. You lose the most muscle mass on the body’s largest surface areas like the core muscles supporting your shoulders and belly, as well as your thighs.

Solution: To fight muscle loss in your back and shoulders try plank exercises; you can do them during commercial breaks while you’re watching TV. Simple squats are great for firming up thigh muscles; you practically can do them anywhere.