People that have never had a weight problem get flabbier after 30 without clear explanation. They start exercising and they don't see any improvement. They eat less, and they still don't achieve any significant change. What they don't take into consideration is the aging impact on their body.
Aging is a Reason for Gaining Weight and the Obstacle to Losing Weight There are more than 20 theories about aging but the most researched one is the "Free Radicals" theory. Free radicals are atoms or molecules in which at least one electron is unpaired causing an instability (a stable atom contains a balance of paired electrons which encircle the nucleus).
This instability causes the electrons to be very reactive - they bond easily with healthy molecules and damage them. According to the free radicals theory, this damage is what causes you to age and to become vulnerable to certain diseases.
The most common free radical is an oxygen radical, which occurs in the mitochondria when an unpaired electron interacts with oxygen. Mitochondria are your cellular power plants, the tiny structures in your cells that provide energy in the chemical form of ATP. This is your "fuel" for all your life functions. It helps your heart to pump and your lungs to distribute oxygen when you breathe.
When free radicals are formed in the mitochondria, they reduce the power of your cellular power plants to produce energy efficiently. You are not running out of energy because you're aging. You are aging because you are running out of energy. Free radicals gradually shut down your power as if you are slowly turning off a light dimmer.
Free Radicals and Energy Reduction are the Roots of Most Aging Problems Without energy your metabolic rate drops causing you to accumulate more body fat. You are losing muscle mass, bone mass, facial collagen and you are tired even when you have over-slept.
Energy reduction at the cellular level also decreases the hormone secretion in your glands. The most abundant hormone in the body is DHEA. It is known as the "mother of all hormones" because it is involved in manufacturing of other hormones, especially the sexual hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
DHEA peeks at the age of 20 but afterwards declines sharply so at age 45 you have 50% of your high peek DHEA, and at the age of 65 you have only 10-20% of what you had at age 20. As the mother of all hormones DHEA represents a decline in other hormones as Human Growth Hormone, (HGH), Testosterone (in men), estrogen and progesterone (in women).
Studies show that as lower your hormone level is, as higher your tendency to accumulate fat.
Weight gain after 30 is a result of a vicious cycle of aging. Aggressive free-radicals decrease energy production which decreases hormone level and your metabolic rate to levels that most diets cannot help.
Anti-Aging Can Support Weight Loss by Neutralizing Free-Radicals The most common way to fight free radicals is by increasing significantly antioxidants in your body. Your body produces antioxidants naturally or it gets it from food like fruit and vegetables.
Antioxidants are form of enzymes that attack free radicals by attaching to the unpaired electron and neutralize it. There are 2 kinds of antioxidants:
The first type patrols the body, blocking the formation of free radicals. The second type disarms the already existing free radical before they bind with healthy molecules.
Studies show that today's fruit and vegetables are not rich in antioxidants as few decades ago. It is impossible to get the recommended level without supplements as multi-vitamin, vitamin C, and vitamin E in the right dosages. But this by itself doesn't make the difference. No one lose weight just by taking antioxidants.
Anti-Aging Can Support Weight Loss by Boosting Energy in Your Cells You can increase your cells energy if you exercise regularly and supplement your food with energizers. Energizers are vitamins and minerals that increase the energy production in your cells. Well studied energizers are Lipoic Acid, Chromium Picolinate, Coenzyme Q-10, and others. Cardio training is the best exercise to boost your cellular energy. Cardio training is what you may know as aerobic exercise like jogging, cycling, rowing or other activities that ramp your heart rate.
Anti-Aging Can Support Weight Loss by Increasing Hormone Level and Accelerating Metabolic Rate
An expensive and still questionable way to increase your hormones is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Hormone replacement therapy must be recommended and supervised by a doctor. But criticizers recommend staying away and not messing with the side effect risks of hormones.
You can boost your hormone level significantly without a doctor and for free if you engage in resistance training like free weights, weight machines, bands, cables or even body weight.
Studies show without a doubt that resistance training stimulates secretion of HGH and testosterone. But that's not all. Resistance training has many other benefits. It helps to gain muscle and reverses the aging damage of losing muscle. The more muscles you have, the more fat you burn because mussel growth accelerate you metabolic rate.
Aging is Not an Obstacle Anymore to Weight Loss You reverse your aging damages backward and slow your aging forward when you burn fat and gain muscle. You can accelerate this process by reducing free-radicals and increase energy production using supplements. But there is no way to achieve it without special exercises that boost hormone level and nutrition that decreases blood sugar.
I conducted a weight loss survey to find out the top three reasons for weight loss. The survey asked one question: What are your top three reasons to lose weight? You see, everyone who wants to lose weight has to have a valid reason.
A weight loss reason so strong that it can stop the food and close the mouth. * A reason so valid that you a absolutely cannot fail. * A reason so strong that it will keep you motivated even on the worst days. * A reason so strong that it motivates you to exercise even when you fell you cannot put one foot in front of the other
If you do not have a reason, then you have the yo yo diet syndrome. This syndrome features one diet after another.
If your reason is strong enough to keep you focused, you will rule the day. It can be one reason or several reasons. Develop your own reason or look at the reasons our surveyed individuals wrote down. Maybe by looking below, you will find a reason that motivates you.
Steps to Lose Weight Write your weight loss reason(s) down -or print off the list below and put it in the kitchen. Read it every day. Retrain your brain with your great reason to lose weight. If you do, then every time you reach for food, your valid weight loss reason will come to mind and the food will leave your hand. Don't let anyone tell you that your reasons to lose weight are invalid or stupid. They are your reason(s, not someone else's reasons. Keep focused on your weight loss goal.
Aren't you tired of losing weight, gaining weight only to lose weight AGAIN!!
Look at the top fifty reasons to lose weight collected from my survey. Maybe one of these reasons will catapult your weight loss. After all, aren't you ready to lose the weight permanently so you will never have to diet again?
1. Lose weight to feel healthier. 2. Lose weight so I can feel a sense of pride in myself. 3. Lose weight to lower my blood pressure. 4. Lose weight to have those ever so sexy, appealing muscles. 5. Lose weight to decrease my back pain. Lose weight so my knees will quit hurting 7. Lose weight so I can run, jump so all the things I used to do before the weight. 8. Lose weight so that tight dress will look stunning. 9. Lose weigh to turn heads for that second look instead of getting the "What were you thinking look" 10. Lose weight so I can go into a restraint and eat without the "looks" from others that scream -" if I was a fat as you, I would not be eating" 11. Lose weight so summer shorts will not look like they have been stretched beyond their limit. 12. Lose weight so I can actually take off the swimsuit cover -( Actually shopping for a swimsuit would be more appealing if I lost weight) 13. Lose weight so that I can get on the doctor's scale without the nurse saying "umm" 14. Lose weight so that I can play with my grandchildren. 15. Lose weight so I can find a bra that actually fits. because my shoulders are aching, I am spilling out of the bra I have and I hate the dents in the top of your shoulders! 16. Lose weight so my ankles and my hips will be different sizes. 17. Lose weight so I won't feel like the Jolly Green Giant while clothes shopping. 18. Lose weight so I can have other choices than Plus sizes. 19. Lose weight so that I can order cute clothes from a catalog. 20. Lose weight so I can stand in front of a mirror and like what I see. 21. Lose weight so my pants won't wear out where my thighs rub together. 22. Lose weight so I don;t ever have to feel the jiggle waltz while I walk. 23. Lose weight so I can get on any piece of equipment or get into any elevator without any worries. 24. Lose weight so I can play with my dog. 25. Lose weight so I can go to the gym without people starring at me. 26. Lose weight to look great in cute, sexy, naughty underwear. Well, cute and sexy would be enough! 27. Lose weight so I can comfortably drive my car. 28. Lose weight so I can buy a cute pair of tight jeans (Buying jeans without elastic would be a step up) 29. Lose weight so I can actually walk up a set of stairs (Don't you hate to stop mid-way just to catch your breath?) 30. Lose weight so I can go on the rides at the local fair (Yes there is a weight limit on those!) 31. Lose weight so I won't dread getting up in the morning to get dressed. 32. Lose weight so I can actually cross my legs (I realize that it is not healthy, but please give me the option) 33. Lose weight so I won't dread family photos. 34. Lose weight so that I don't get those embarrassing indents where the chair armrests have dug into my thighs. 35. Lose weight so that I can wear heels again - with confidence and without the pain. 36. Lose weight so when I am on the floors hunting for the closest plug I don't have the dreaded fear of someone standing around watching to see if I can get back up 37. Lose weight so the gowns at the doctor's office won't look like I just put on an apron. 38. Lose weight so I am showing off my gorgeous legs instead of thunder thighs. 39. Lose weight so I can put on a dress or pants instead of a mumu. 40. Lose weight so I can actually lay in bed and see my toes without raising my head. 41. Lose weight so I don't think mean, envious thought about every thin woman I see. 42. Lose weight so I don't have to hide under all the bulky clothing - sweaters, jogging suits, or other lose clothing. 43. Lose weight so no one asks me when my baby's due. 44. Lose weight so no one can ever refer to me as the beached whale. 45. Lose weight so even a regular towel fits all the way around me. 46. Lose weight so I can go to the movie theater without worrying about the spillage around the chair. 47. Lose weight so I can hug my knees again - comfortably. 48. Lose weight so I won't ever have to think about hip or knee replacements. 49. Lose weight so I can once again tie my shoes in comfort. 50. Lose weight to add years to my life - I need to hold those grandbabies.
Finally keep the weight off so I would have to ever worry about a diet again
These were the top fifty reasons that came in with the survey. If you have other compelling reasons please contact me by email. I can then add your compelling reason - who knows, it could help someone else lose their weight and keep it off.
Both Dov Oshri & Phyllis Ekleberry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dov Oshri has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Nutrition. Dov Oshri is the editor of Body for Mind - a Wellness Lifestyle for Successful People. His cutting edge Anti-Aging Fitness Program can be downloaded for FREE at