7 Reasons Why You Can’t Lose Weight and Keep It Off at 40+

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Many of my members reach a certain age and then find it increasingly more difficult to Lose Weight and keep it off, here are some of the reasons why…..

1. High cortisol

Cortisol is released naturally by our bodies in response to stress. Naturally cortisol will peak around 10am and is responsible for your 24 hour body clock. Changes to this (ie shift work, stress, drinking caffeine, working late at night, over exercising) will lead to fat gain.
2. High testosterone
Elevated testosterone is very common in working and modern women. There is a direct link between high testosterone and high insulin and fat gain, particularly around the middle. The medical term for high testosterone is called Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS.

3. Insulin problems

Statistic one in four women over 40 have a blood sugar imbalance! That is, they are well on the way to developing diabetes!
This is a HUGE worry because insulin, which we secrete in response to carbohydrate ingestion, needs to be balanced. When we spike our insulin levels it activates lipogenesis (fat making).

4. High Oestrogen

This is our main hormone as a female and elevated levels of oestrogen are very common. Aside from leading to heavier periods, headaches, skin problems and mood changes, high oestrogen leads to cellulite and fat gain.

5. Underactive thyroid

Your thyroid is located under your adams apple and governs your metabolism. It is very common for your thyroid to become underactive due to stress or vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

6. Mindset issues

When people decide to lose weight they think it is just a physical change that they have to focus on. Wrong! Weight loss is just as much, if not more, a psychological change than a physical change. You have to change the way you think about food, exercise, life and health. When people do not make the change in their head then weight loss does not happen long term.

7. Obsessed rather than committed

Being committed to a sensible exercise regime is great. Logical. Healthy. Being obsessed with exercise (and appearance) is not. I’m yet to meet a person who is both obsessed and happy. Why? Because obsessive behavior generally arises from fear. Which produces anxiety, stress and dysfunctional thinking and behavior.