201019 Gaining weight as we age 1 of 3

201019 Gaining weight as we age 1 of 3

Oftentimes people say they weigh the same now as they did in high school or college. However, they don’t look the same. Somehow, the weight they now weigh and the way it looks on their body is entirely different from their youth. In many cases, weight gain is common in this population but it does not have to be inevitable.

At present, full understanding of why aging causes a downward shift in muscle mass and a corresponding increase in body fat takes place is not understood. But we do know that it happens and in most cases, it is not a good thing.

The addition of excessive pounds lessens the quality of life, increases the chances of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, along with having a negative influence on the joints, which can lead to osteoarthritis. Most of these are preventable and there are ways of preventing an unhealthy increase of body fat.

The biggest reasons for weight gain in older citizens are the same as that of the younger population: a lack of exercise and too many calories. The emphasis here is on too many calories. You will never, and I repeat never train enough to overcome a poor diet loaded with excessive calories.

Activity burns calories and keeps your body ready for everyday activities. These activities do not include sitting on the recliner hour after hour watching television or looking a computer screen. They involve being physically active.

Strength training helps keep your muscles strong and vibrant. Lean muscle mass burns more calories than fat, therefor the lower the muscle mass the fewer calories burned per day. And the fewer calories burned, the greater the potential to add extra fat weight.

Fat is neither strong nor vibrant. It just sits there and does nothing in the way of contributing to a healthier you.

Following a healthy diet of smaller portions of food and drink and getting a minimum of one hundred and fifty minutes of exercise per week will help control this weight gain.