Once you turn 40, your metabolism starts to slow down and this is when you need to be careful about what you eat and you should also increase your level of physical activity in order to lose belly fat in a healthy way. Here are some ways to lose belly fat after age 40.
Pump Up The Cardio Workout
Now that you turned 40, you will need to do more than exercises just once a week. If you have stubborn belly fat it is important that you get in an hour of physical activity every day and cardio workouts work well for this purpose. In the morning after breakfast you can get on the treadmill for an hour and workout and in the late afternoon after work and before dinner you can go jogging for 45 minutes in the park. Other activities for good cardio include swimming, dancing, playing sports, doing housework and jumping rope with your daughters.
Weightlifting
To lose belly fat and build muscle, you should incorporate weightlifting into your routine. Start with light weights and as you get better with the workout, you can proceed to heavier weights. You should do weightlifting exercises four times a week in addition to the cardio workouts.
Eat Better Foods
So you are exercising consistently but if you want the best success in losing belly fat after 40, you must change the way you eat and you can do this in a variety of ways. Cut out processed and junk foods and increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, lean meats such as chicken and turkey, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. If you are not skilled in making healthy recipes, purchase a few cookbooks and health magazines on this topic.
Stress Management
Some people develop belly fat because of the stress in their lives and if this is your situation, you should look for ways to reduce stress in your life. Some good stress relief activities include reading good books, talking on the phone, prayer, volunteering in the community, taking a nap and doing crafts at home.
Do Exercises in High Intensity
Unless you have a medical condition that allows you to do so, it would be in your best interest to do your exercises at a high intensity level because when you exercise at this level, you burn calories more and you gradually see a decrease in belly fat. If you want to increase your ability to do high intensity exercises, it is a good idea to eat a small snack or balanced meal so that you will not run out of energy during the workout.
After you turn 40 it becomes harder to lose belly fat but with determination and use of the above mentioned steps, you can have a flatter stomach and a healthier life overall. Confidence is also important in achieving your goal so you should read success stories of those who managed to lose weight after age 40.
