I am a woman in my 40s, and as such, I both appreciate and understand that our age group faces challenges that are unique to us.  We have waistlines that tend to want to expand regardless of how well we eat or how much we exercise. So, what can we do?  While there might not be an actual magic formula, there may still be a bit of hope for keeping fit over the age of 40.

Unless you are into surgical procedures that can be a bit pricey, there really isn’t a possibility for “spot reducing” – or losing weight and fat from target areas specifically.  However, you can always do specific exercises that can target those areas and tighten the muscle and skin tone there.  Then, when you do lose body fat, those areas will show it and you might be able to achieve that look you have been wanting.

Look around.  You will see that many women who are in their 40s will experience weight gain in the areas such as their behinds and their tummies.  This results in thicker waistlines and hips.  Keep reading and you will find a few secrets that I have gathered for you to use if you want to tap into a veritable fountain of youth.  These tips can make you feel better as well as look better and give your more energy.

Lose the Treadmill

According to fitness site Early to Rise, you should get rid of the treadmill.  Yes, that’s right, no more slow, long and monotonous sessions on the treadmill.  Sell it and make room in both your home and your life for exercises that really burn fat. 

All You Need is Your Body

“The key to getting and staying fit is to replace those long cardio sessions with sessions of short yet high intensity interval training”, said Jason Hope health and anti aging supporter.  “You can accomplish this with just a few simple exercises like the squat jump, stationary sprint or jumping jacks.”

Here is an example of how you can make room for a set of fat burning exercises to your day while not needing to sacrifice space and a lot of time.

The SQUAT JUMP

Begin with squat jumps for 20 seconds and resting for 10 seconds.  Repeat this as a cycle for 5 minutes or 10 sets and then rest for a full minute.

As your body accustoms itself to this and your level of fitness increases, add more cycles until you can go for 10 minutes.  You will be burning a load of calories.  Keep in mind that this pace is not one that is slow and easy.  You will be training on a level of high intensity, which means that you will experience heavy breathing and an increase in your heart rate.

Here is how to do the squat jump.

Begin in a squatting position and then jump up to a position that is fully extended with your arms raised over your head.  Slow down as your feet hit the ground and return to the original squatting position.  You can modify this by reaching powerfully to the sky while keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground.  You might also try adjusting how deep your squat is.  The deeper you go, the more it will affect your thighs and rear end.

Think About Resistance Training

If you really want to lose fat, add a bit of resistance training to your regimen.  The goal here is to add muscle.  Muscle is tissue that is active and burns calories.  This means that your metabolism will increase.  Many women in our age group gain weight because they have lost some of that lean muscle mass.  Here are some benefits you will get from training with weights:

  • You will be improving joint stability while reducing your risk for injury
  • You will be building strong bones to combat against osteoporosis
  • You will be increasing your strength and becoming more functional
  • You will be giving your metabolism a boost by building or retaining more of your muscle
  • You will be able to change your body shape
  • You will be burning more fat than by only doing cardio.

Women our age don’t need to look and feel old, so don’t settle for those old stereotypes.  You can feel fit and energized just by doing simple exercises that you don’t even need to leave your home for.  Challenging, heart pounding workouts can make a remarkable difference in those trouble areas.  All you need is the will power to do it along with a bit of time.

Article Contributor : Lisa Henard