There are many factors that affect your weight including genetics, age, lifestyle, sleep habits, gender, and even where you live. Many of these can make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
Our body and metabolism change as we grow older, for some, this may mean you require an increased physical activity or changing how much food you consume, while for others, it may mean you unintentionally lose weight due to a lowered appetite or the tendency to forget to eat.
In either circumstance it is important to try to maintain a healthy weight in order to avoid bigger problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or stroke and in cases of being underweight, it can help avoid conditions such as osteoporosis or anemia.
The key to maintaining or achieving a healthy weight is to consciously make choices that positively impact your diet and physical activity. This means eating foods that are rich in nutrients and at least 2.5 hours a week doing something physical.
Your body needs proper energy and this is measured through calories. Depending on your age, body type, and level of activity, your body will require a certain amount of calories per day to obtain the right amount of fuel which can help you maintain a healthy weight.
The formula is really pretty simple, if you need to lose weight, increase your activity and decrease your caloric intake, if you need to gain weight, the opposite is required. Regardless of whether you are trying to lose, gain, or maintain your weight, what you are eating is important.
Having a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy can help you stay on the course for a healthy lifestyle at any age.
Exercise and physical activity is a good rule of thumb for everyone, including older adults. By implementing at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate activity that gets the heart rate up and breaks a sweat, you can drastically alter your weight to a healthier level.
Of course it is important that you do this at a reasonable pace for your specific capabilities. It does not have to be accomplished all in one session; you can break it up throughout the week, and if you are unable to incorporate that much activity, do what you feel comfortable with as it is better to do a little than nothing at all.
Maintaining a healthy weight doesn’t require fancy gyms or high priced personal trainers, doing something physical that you enjoy can help keep you motivated to do more and to make better choices with your eating routines as well. Be sure to consult your physician before starting a new or more strenuous exercise program to help avoid serious injury.
