Myths and Truths about Fitness Beyond Forty

We have been burdened for years with all sorts of false claims and myths about why we're fatter after forty and the years beyond that. Among them:

1. Eating certain foods helps to "burn" fat faster.

2. Building muscle can make a woman's body bulky.

3. Weight loss pills or diet pills can make the transition from fat to thin much easier.
4. Weight gain after menopause is inevitable.

5. Genetic predisposition to obesity can't be overcome.

Let me point out the false notions in the above statements:

1. No particular food "burns" fat. Eating smaller portion sizes, plus exercise, will rev up your metabolism and start your body burning fat.

2. Women's bodies don't bulk up like men's, unless serious bodybuilding is your goal. Muscle does weigh more than fat, but the good news is that the more muscle you can build, the more calories you will burn.

3. Weight loss or diet pills are not serious weight loss alternatives. Most contain a large amount of caffeine, which is the same as several cups of coffee a day. As we have said before, the diet pills which contain "fen" are risky and should not be used.

4. After menopause, or leading up to it, a change of lifestyle involving what you eat and how much, and a regular exercise program, will help to keep weight down and muscle mass up.

5. Even people who have overweight parents can prevent the problems of obesity and medical problems due to being fat (diabetes, high blood pressure,joint problems.)

There are many programs offered to start you on the way to health and fitness after 40. A program especially designed for women, and developed by a body-builder no less, is located here.