1. Do the right exercises


Since the metabolism slows down, it is important not only to do 30 minutes of cardio per day, but also to include 4 to 5 strength training sessions per week. Exercises like clams, step-ups, push-ups, bird dogs and push-ups are great for maintaining healthy muscle mass and burning even more calories.

Walking at least 10,000 steps a day is also a great way to boost your metabolism, keep fit and lift your spirits.


 2. Set realistic goals


No matter how tempting it may sound to lose half your weight in a week "with a magic diet/pill/diet belt", you probably realize that this is unrealistic. Moreover, even if such a thing were to happen to you, it would do your body much more harm than good.


This is why you should aim to lose 1-2 lbs per week to save yourself the physical and emotional stress of losing weight too quickly. This is a healthy and achievable goal that will also help you build healthy lifestyle habits (such as eating right and exercising) and stay in shape long-term. In addition, your body will not be harmed!


 3. Treat yourself to vitamins


Our body has different needs for different periods of our life. For women over 40, it is essential to include calcium, vitamin B12, potassium, magnesium, vitamin D, Omega-3 and probiotics in the diet.


And it shouldn't be a bad or unpleasant thing, because you can find potassium in things like avocados, dried apricots and of course bananas - and let's face it, they all taste good! Calcium can be obtained from almonds and yogurt, and you can get the necessary dose of vitamin D simply by, well... sunbathing! Not such a terrible scenario! As long as you wear sunscreen.


 4. Stick to the plan


Eating regularly but often should become a priority. Skipping meals disrupts your metabolism: your body gets a signal to start storing calories instead of burning them, and you get the opposite of what you were hoping for.


And don't forget that a good breakfast is critical because it sets your body up for the day, while late-night snacks are bad for both your stomach and your weight.


 5. Don't forget to rest


"Beauty sleep" isn't just good for your skin—it helps your body stay healthier and leaner, too! Research shows that lack of sleep encourages your brain to make bad decisions (snacking on junk food, skipping exercise) and it messes with your hunger and satiety hormones, ghrelin and leptin, meaning you can easily overeat and not even you won't notice!

So put away your phone and computer before bed and get as much sleep as you can!


 6. Lower the temperature


As surprising as it may sound, it's actually true: cooler temperatures help us burn fat even when we're asleep, because our bodies have to "work harder" to stay warm. Adults have 2 types of fat: the bad white and the good brown. Brown fat is responsible for burning calories and generating heat. When our homes get warmer, the activity level of our brown fat stops.

Scientists recommend keeping the temperature at home at 19º. This can be a really great way to lose a few pounds!


7. Get your health checked


Sometimes when you're over 40 and still can't lose weight despite all your efforts, it means your liver needs a detox or your thyroid needs to be taken care of. There can be other causes, of course, but these 2 tend to be the most common.


In this case, you should work with your doctor. A change in lifestyle and diet may be enough for your liver, thyroid problems are more complicated, but still definitely worth taking care of.

Now you see that even though losing weight over 40 may seem like a challenge, there are many not so difficult and quite enjoyable ways to do it! Share with us in the comments which weight loss methods are best for you!


 8. Drink plenty of water


If you are prone to bloating, some people make the big mistake of limiting their water intake. On the contrary: drinking enough water will actually help you cope with this problem and also increase the amount of calories burned.


Water also helps detoxify the body. Drinking a glass of water before a meal reduces your appetite and the number of calories you consume. Drinking cold water will help you burn some extra calories as your body uses energy to warm it up. So water is just amazing, isn't it?