![]() Kim Kardashian West Loves This Plastic Weight Loss Suit, But Does It Really Work? Are you trying to figure out why you're not losing weight even though you're eating better and exercising? Here's 11 reasons why you're unable to lose fat. How to Lose Weight as a Senior. It's time for some straight talk: You weigh more than you did ten years ago, or even five years ago. The extra pounds didn't arrive all at once but accumulated gradually before you even realized they were climbing on board. Now you're looking at some serious extra poundage. But that's to be expected as you get older, right? Wrong. Putting on excess weight is very common for a number of reasons that we'll explain. But it's not an inevitable part of the aging process, and it could put your health at risk. If you understand why you tend to gain weight more easily as you get older, you can do something about it. And doing something about it is what this book is all about. You can blame a lot of your weight gain on your metabolism. Beginning as early as your mid- twenties, body fat begins to increase while muscle mass decreases. And less muscle mass translates into a slower metabolic rate. Muscle mass decreases from about 4. And the drop in hormones that accompanies menopause also precipitates a decrease in muscle mass, triggering even more weight gain for women. Your body fat, meanwhile, can double, even if your weight remains the same. The bottom line is that you burn fewer calories in your 5. The key to preventing weight gain is to compensate by adjusting your food intake, exercising, and generally becoming more physically active. Now that you have made the decision to lose weight, it's time to figure how much weight you need to lose. Continue to the next page to assess your weight as a senior. To learn more about senior health, see. If you're doing everything . But if you're already doing everything . And the symptoms may be so subtle that even your doctor can miss them. Here, some possible weight- loss blockers - - and how to get the help you need. A Sluggish Thyroid. Your thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) disrupts your metabolism, as well as many other aspects of your health. Some estimate that as many as 1. Could this be you? Besides weight gain or an inability to lose weight, you may notice fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, joint pain and muscle weakness, heavy periods, increased sensitivity to cold, even depression. Many people with low- grade hypothyroidism just feel . In general, the higher your TSH level, the slower your thyroid is. Jamie Kane, M. D., medical director of Park Avenue Medical Weight and Wellness in New York City. Your doctor may also want to check your levels of T- 3 and T- 4, the two main thyroid hormones. But hypothyroidism isn't always a straight numbers game; more and more doctors are now treating the symptoms, not just the blood- test results. Erika Schwartz, M. D., an internist in New York City. How it's treated: Your doc will usually start by prescribing a low- dose T- 4 thyroid hormone like Synthroid. If your symptoms don't improve, discuss upping your dosage or switching to a combination of T- 3 and T- 4. Health. com: 2. 5 diet- busting foods you should never eat. Out- of- Whack Hormones. As many as 1 in 1. PCOS), a condition in which a woman's ovaries produce an excess of male hormones. In addition to causing ovulation problems and infertility, PCOS may go hand- in- hand with insulin resistance, a glitch in the way your body processes blood sugar, which is often associated with excess fat storage, especially around the waist. Left untreated, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes. Could this be you? You may have irregular periods, excess facial and body hair, acne, some male pattern balding, and trouble getting pregnant, along with unexplained weight gain (though not everyone with PCOS has weight issues). Health. com: How carbs can help you lose weight. How to get tested: Your gynecologist or internist can test your levels of sex hormones for an imbalance of testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen, says Dr. David Katz, M. D., director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. She may then test your blood sugar and insulin levels or perform an ultrasound to check for cysts on your ovaries. How it's treated: Lifestyle changes are usually the first step. If you're already eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, you may have to kick it up another notch to see results. If you have insulin resistance, Katz says, you'll also want to cut out refined carbs and added sugars. If you've made these changes and still don't notice a difference, your doc may prescribe a drug called metformin, which is used to treat insulin resistance as well as assist with ovulation (if you're trying to get pregnant). Health. com: America's healthiest superfoods for women. Trouble- Making Foods. Most people know if they're allergic to certain foods like nuts or shellfish, but many aren't aware of food intolerances. While a true food allergy results when your immune system mistakenly identifies a food as harmful and mounts an immediate response, food intolerances can have a variety of causes, including lack of a certain digestive enzyme (as with lactose intolerance) or sensitivity to food additives, and tend to manifest over time, says Dr. Boham, M. D., R. D., a family practitioner at The Ultra. Wellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. Experts estimate that food intolerances affect as many as 1 in 1. Could this be you? You may regularly have bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation - - as well as seemingly unrelated symptoms like mild asthma, eczema, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. Health. com: The 5. How to get tested: An internist or gastroenterologist can help you diagnose the problem, but you can begin to figure it out for yourself through an elimination diet. Boham suggests that you start by removing gluten and dairy (these are the biggest culprits) from your diet for two to three weeks. If you don't notice a difference, also eliminate eggs, corn, soy, and nuts, and consider nixing additives such as food coloring and preservatives. After a few weeks, slowly reintroduce the possible culprits, one at a time, noting any reactions. How it's treated: If the reaction is severe, you'll need to cut the offending food from your diet. For mild reactions, try a daily probiotic supplement, which restores the good bacteria in your gut necessary for digestion and can help prevent bloating and water weight gain. Boham recommends one with at least 1. Pills That Pack on Pounds. Weight gain can be an unwelcome side effect of some drugs, including antidepressants, steroids, and, more rarely, birth- control pills (due to a temporary increase in water retention). Health. com: What to do when the drugs you need also put on the pounds. Could this be you? You may notice weight gain within a few weeks of starting a new medication, though it could take several months before you see any effects, Kane says. How to get tested: No special test is needed; you know if you're gaining weight. How it's treated: Talk to your doctor, who may be able to prescribe an alternative. In the case of anti- depressants, bupropion has been shown to cause less weight gain and possibly even lead to weight loss. With birth control pills, switching to a version with a lower dose of hormones might minimize weight gain. But remember, treating the condition you're taking the drug for is your biggest priority, so you should never go off any meds on your own. Copyright Health Magazine 2.
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