The Number ONE Worst Exercise That Ages You Faster, Skip It Today!
SPANISH TRANSLATION: EL PEOR EJERCICIO PARA SU EDAD, EVITELO HOY!
As men and women approach middle age, they experience a normal slow down of the metabolism. Some studies have indicated that for every decade after the age 40, the metabolism loses 5 percent of its processing power. Issues affecting middle-age weight gain include:
- Inactivity
- Lack of sleep
- Poor diet
- Hormonal imbalances
Many people would be surprised to know that specific exercises can actually accelerate the aging process while causing weight gain. That’s right, some exercises encourage weight gain in individuals over the age of 40.
Cardio – Accelerating the Aging Process
We have it drilled into our brains that exercise, in particulate cardio, is the key to good health and a slim physique. However, for middle-aged folks, the opposite may be true. It has been shown that in people over 40, cardio may cause:
- Loss of lean muscle mass
- Inflammation
- Accumulation of belly fat
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Chronic cardio can cause the body to produce free radicals, chemicals that destroy muscles and cause inflammation. Maintaining a naturally active lifestyle helps to thwart some weight gain while avoiding the inflammatory response that cardio can cause in middle age.
Abdominal Exercises – Doing Nothing but Harm
Furthermore, abdominal exercises, such as sit-ups, crunches or twists, do worse than nothing to stop the middle-aged spread. These exercises place undue stress on the spine and neck, which can lead to:
- Spinal or neck injuries
- Poor posture
- Muscle inflammation
Ab exercises don’t tackle the problem of middle age weight gain at its core. As mentioned earlier, poor diet and inactivity play a role in weight gain, but so also do sleep deprivation and hormonal changes.
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Hormones and Belly Fat
As men and women reach their late 30’s, hormone balances begin to shift. In women, estrogen dominance is often observed. This results in a major change in metabolic function and causes extra weight gain around the midsection. Men also have a shift in their hormones, often witnessing a decline in testosterone and an increase in estrogen. Although many men are unaware of this fact, the male body does produce a few feminine hormones. When this balance naturally shifts in middle age, males also suffer from a growing belly bulge.
Lack of Sleep and Belly Fat
For middle-aged folks, hormone changes and stress can result in lost sleep. However, recent studies have shown that losing sleep can be blamed for increased cravings and producing hunger-provoking chemicals. Exhaustion also increases cortisol, which has been associated with accumulation of abdominal fat.
If you’re approaching middle age or are already there, it’s time to get real about addressing belly fat. Learning new ways to exercise, support hormonal health and making an effort to get enough sleep can make a positive change. You’ll be a happier, slimmer and healthier person by making a few easy lifestyle modifications.
