A Matter of Perspective

As many of you know I struggle with being overweight. This has been a problem for me for many years. Along with the weight problems have come a plethora of health problems with the main one being type 2 diabetes.

I could talk about type 2 diabetes and you might come to better understand the nature of this disease. But I think we have talked about that enough.

What I wanted to talk about today was weight loss. And not just any weight loss, but healthy weight release.

We call it weight release because we are not “losing” the weight—we are releasing it!

What do you do when you lose something? You look for it, right? Do you really want to find the weight that you lose?

No, I didn’t think so!

Neither do I!

I want to instead, release the weight and have it be gone for good.

As we get older, many of us may notice that the pounds seem to cling more stubbornly than they did in our younger years. What once worked—cutting a few calories, taking a few extra walks—suddenly doesn’t seem to make a dent. There’s a real reason for that, and it’s not your imagination.

I used to be able to stop drinking soda pop. Now, since I hardly ever drink it, I can’t even cut that out anymore.

One major factor for us not being able to as easily lose weight as we get older is metabolism. As we age, our metabolic rate naturally slows down. That means we burn fewer calories at rest than we used to. This is often due to a gradual loss of muscle mass, called sarcopenia (I had to look it up!). Since muscle burns more calories than fat, less muscle means a lower calorie burn overall—even if you’re just sitting on the couch.

Hormonal changes also play a role. For women, menopause brings a drop in estrogen levels, which can affect fat distribution and increase fat storage, especially around the midsection. Men may experience a decrease in testosterone, which can lead to a loss of lean muscle and a slower metabolism.

On top of that, aging can bring more responsibilities and stress, leaving less time or energy for exercise and healthy meal prep. Sleep quality may decline, and poor sleep has been shown to interfere with weight loss and increase cravings for sugar and carbs.

But while weight loss might get harder with age, it’s not impossible. Since March 10 I have lost about 15 pounds without changing what I eat. Of course, with a new plant-based supplement I am using, I don’t usually feel as hungry either.

Another important part of weight loss as we get older is building and maintaining muscle through strength training, getting enough protein, managing stress, prioritizing sleep, and choosing whole, nutrient-rich foods can all help your body work with you—not against you.

That can be hard because as I get older, I also seem to be getting busier. It sure keeps me from getting bored, but I also have a lot more to do!

I have to realize (and so do you) that we need to work smarter, not harder on weight loss goals.

Our bodies may have changed, but our ability to take control of our health is still strong.