Nothing seems to work for me anymore

When we were in our 20s and 30s and we needed to lose weight we knew just what to do:

• A quick fad diet would usually do the trick – apples for 2 days, cheese for 2 days etc etc

• Join the gym and go every day for two weeks with a lot of cardio – the eliptical trainer thing where you swing your arms while you march along was not too bad. We would do that for a few hours while we watched the big tv. Or we could set off on a 10 km run every morning.

Within a few weeks those extra kilos would come off – well at least for a while until the next time.

Many of us find ourselves in our 40s and 50s wondering why “none of this seems to work anymore.” All our old tricks are completely impractical. We no longer have hours to train on the eliptical and we need to feed a family as well as ourselves. Even if we do manage to do a lot of cardio and restrict our diets, any weight we lose comes straight back on and it seems to be mostly around the middle.

A change of strategy is required and it involves:

• sensible nutrition – plenty of protein, high fibre, lots of vegetables and good fats to keep us feeling satisfied, to provide all the nutrients we need and to support muscle growth
• resistance training to build lean muscle.

This is not a temporary program. It should also not be unsustainable. It is a lifestyle change and you do not have to do all of it at the same time. You can do it bit by bit. Its a long haul approach. The results will not be temporary this way. You will jump off the frustrating cycle of continually losing a bit of weight and putting it back on or not getting anywhere.

There is a program that will work for you as you get older. It means forgetting about your obsession with cardio and strict unsustainable diets. Try embracing “more thoughtful” nutrition every single day and a routine resistance training regime. Make it a part of your life, rather than something you need to do as a temporary fix.