When Chloe Girardier developed a cough in July, she thought it was a cold. But when it persisted, she sought a doctor's appointment. At first, she said, she was denied.

"They kept telling me I wasn't eligible for an urgent appointment because it was just a cough," Girardier, a 23-year-old home health worker in the UK said, according to The Sun. They kept asking her if she'd taken a COVID test without considering other possibilities, she said.

Eventually, Girardier said, she was given antibiotics , inhalers, and acid reflux tablets, but her symptoms didn't change. They were getting worse: Girardier said she was losing weight, too.

After five months and seven doctors appointments with no answers, Girardier said she insisted on a chest X-ray.

The scan revealed a 4.25-inch mass in her chest that turned out to be Hodgkin's lymphoma. The rare cancer causes cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and sometimes spread. It can cause a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss , and fatigue, among other symptoms, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society says.

Girardier is set to undergo intensive chemotherapy on December 20.

"I can't believe it wasn't looked into further and if I hadn't pushed for the chest X-ray, I may still not have a diagnosis," she said. She's speaking out to encourage young people to listen to their bodies.

"It's been dragged on so long because of my age," Girardier said.

Researchhas found that women report more severe levels of pain, more frequent pain, and longer periods of pain than men, but are treated for it less aggressively. One2018 surveyfound 62% of women have felt dismissed by a male doctor compared to 42 percent of men. When visiting female clinicians, 47% of women feel dismissed and 37% of men do.

Those slights can be dangerous.

24-year-old Danielle Soviero was diagnosed with a brain tumor that had hemorrhaged and yet she says she was sent home and told to live life "as normal." Over six months latershe experienced a debilitating migraine and a "strange pressure" in her head and demanded an MRI.

Even after the scan revealed the tumor had doubled in size and hemorrhaged again, the doctor said it couldn't be removed, Soviero said.

"I was angry. I decided that I needed to take matters into my own hands," Soviero told Insider. She found a surgeon who removed the tumor, and after months of occupational, physical, and speech therapy, is almost back to her old self.

Another young woman,Brittany Scheier, previously told Insider her symptoms were brushed off in the ER as drug- or alcohol-related. She was later diagnosed with a stroke at age 27.

Another womantold Insider that herbirth-controllinked blood clot was also dismissed as alcohol or drugs at age 15. AndTikTokers, including one pregnant woman whose stroke was misdiagnosed as dehydration, have encouraged others to speak up for themselves.

Dr.Suzanne Steinbaum,a cardiologist in New York City, previously told Insider she often hears women say "I was listening to the doctor. Maybe they're right,'" she said. "No one knows our bodies as well as we do. Nobody is living in our bodies. We know when we're not OK."

Read more:
23-year-old diagnosed with cancer, says doctors dismissed her cough - Insider

IV drips are the latest health trend to move from hospitals to boutique wellness clinics.

Though hospitals have used intravenous drips to hydrate patients and quickly administer drugs since the 1970s, today's wellness brands popularized using IV drips to cure hangovers and give health-obsessed clients a quick boost of vitamins, minerals, and supplements.

Analysts at BCC Research expect the global market for IV therapy to reach $54.5 billion by 2023.

I sought to find out if IV drip therapy is worth the hype. I visited Restore, a wellness brand that offers a variety of IV drip therapies it says can help with weight loss , hydration, energy, inflammation, and aging.

I went to Restore's location in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City at 12:45 p..m. Two others were receiving IV drip therapies while on their laptops, and a third received compression therapy meant to reduce muscle pain.

When I got to the wellness center, I had to fill out a few forms that asked about my medical history. The forms had extensive questions about history of complications related to my brain, heart, lungs, eyes, mental health, liver, kidneys, and more.

After filling out the forms, a nurse set me up on a Zoom call with a nurse practitioner to review my forms. The wait to talk to a nurse practitioner only took about five minutes, and the call lasted about another five because I had no history of medical conditions.

I then selected which supplements, acids, and vitamins I wanted in my IV. I chose the "Recharge" drip that Restore claimed would restore energy, promote collagen production, help with muscle repair, and aid in the excretion of metabolic waste.

The drip cost $209 for non-members. Drips ranged between $139 to $339 for non-members, and patients can choose to add extra shots and supplement boosts for $35 to $39.

The "Recharge" recovery drip therapy I selected included four ingredients: proline, an amino acid used as the building block of proteins; taurine, an amino acid the body uses as an antioxidant and a metabolite; vitamin C, which controls infections and helps heal wounds; and glutathione, which helps form and maintain disulfide bonds in proteins.

I chose Recharge to help me recover from a high intensity workout from the morning. Even though I usually feel the most soreness in my muscles the day after a heavy weight exercises due to a phenomenon called delayed onset muscle soreness I could already feel weakness in my muscles a couple hours after leaving the gym.

After selecting my drip, I got to select to sit on either a massage chair or a recliner. After sitting down, Kierstin Wood, a nurse at the center, brought over the IV and needle.

Though I used to be good with needles, the last time I got my blood drawn I had to get poked four times because the nurse could not find my veins. I was nervous the same might happen this time around, but Wood inserted the needle with ease within a couple seconds.

As I got my IV drip placed, Darren Mota, the general manager at Restore's Chelsea location, talked about other therapies offered at Restore, including cryotherapy, compression therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and infrared saunas.

Miriam Rammal, a Restore nurse, said customers have used hyperbaric chambers, which increases air pressure to allow your lungs to breath more oxygen, for recovering from surgery, treating COVID-19 brain fog, and sleeping.

Mota, a former Nike coach, said Restore's various therapies have helped him recover from exercise much faster than before he started using them. Mota said he can work out everyday, and sometimes twice a day, due to decreased time he spends in recovery.

The IV therapy took about 35 minutes total. After the drip, I felt slightly lightheaded and nauseous, so the nurses recommended I sit for five minutes.

As I recovered, I asked Rammal and Wood about working at Restore. The nurses spend most their time working at Lennox Hill helping long-term intensive care patients and work at Restore part-time.

The two had both treated COVID-19 patients during the height of the pandemic, when New York City was the epicenter of the new disease. Rammal and Wood said helping healthy, fit people at Restore offered a welcome break from treating severely sick patients.

As I was recovering from the drip, I started to feel more alert, like after having a cup of coffee. Importantly, my muscle soreness was gone entirely it was like I hadn't even worked out that day.

I was curious to see if Restore could help with my DOMS the next day, but unfortunately my muscle soreness came back. It would be nice to get another IV drip to relieve my soreness, but I can't afford another $200 treatment.

Originally posted here:
Restore IV drip therapy relieved muscle soreness with vitamins, acids - Business Insider

When you're trying to lose weight in your 40s, it's important to make sure your habits are aligned with your goals. This includes your eating, drinking, and exercise habits. That's why, according to Stephanie Gomez, RD at Sporting Smiles, one of the worst breakfast habits you can have for weight loss is not eating enough in the morning, or skipping breakfast altogether.

"For the sake of saving calories (or time), many adults will skip breakfast or have something small like a piece of toast, a low-fat yogurt, a piece of fruit, or just stick with coffee and creamer alone," says Gomez. "But the habit of such restriction in the morning is a recipe for disaster for the rest of the day."

While this may seem like a solution for weight loss, limiting your caloriesor not eating anything at allcan actually have a negative effect on your overall health.

RELATED:Get even more healthy eating tips straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter!

"A common misconception about losing weight is that calories in versis. calories out is the 'end all be all' in the conversation about weight loss, says Gomez. "But the limited concept of caloric balance does not take into consideration any of the metabolic processes that come into play every time we eator don't eat."

In other words, when you skip breakfast in the morning, you may assume that you'll lose weight because it's fewer calories going in. However, skipping meals can do damage to your metabolism, which can ultimately hinder your weight loss goals.

"When we eat breakfast we are setting our metabolism into motion for the day, 'fueling the fire' so to speak," says Gomez. "If we skip breakfast, we are beginning our daily activities without sufficient energy to support them. A lack of food in the morning can cause lethargy, poor mood, and poor impulse control, which is ultimately going to lead to some poor choices for the rest of the day."

According to Gomez, you want to avoid breakfasts that are strictly made up of carbohydrates because your body will burn them too quickly and you'll be left feeling hungry shortly after.

"The right answer is to eat a breakfast that contains some carbohydrates, some protein, and some fat to leave us feeling energized and satisfied so that when lunchtime rolls around, we can make another sound choice because we won't be left feeling starved," says Gomez.

Her recommendations for a well-rounded, fulfilling breakfast? Gomez suggests trying "oatmeal with some berries and soy milk, or egg whites with spinach and a piece of whole-wheat toast."

For even more breakfast tips, read these next:

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The #1 Worst Breakfast Habit for Weight Loss Over 40, Says Dietitian Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Dear Abby: During the last year, I made some significant changes to my life. I left an emotionally abusive marriage after 23 years, which gave me the confidence to take better care of myself. I have lost 70 pounds and am almost down to the weight I was in high school. I am very proud of this.

My issue is my family has now started using my former weight as a measuring stick. I am often told things like You should see your cousin. Shes almost as big as you were! which is quickly followed by an offhand No offense, which tells me they know it offends me. I said as much to them at first, but the insulting comparisons continue.

Its not just one person saying this; it has actually become the family standard. I know I was very large, but this is extremely hurtful. I find myself avoiding family visits because the subject seems to invariably come up in some way. Is there anything beyond what I have already tried that can convey the distress this causes?

Former Fat Relative in Missouri

Dear Relative: Your relatives have been told that alluding to your former weight problem causes you distress. That it continues tells me they are thoughtless at best, not to mention rude and inconsiderate of your feelings. Because you cant change their behavior (and neither can I), the logical solution is to do what is best for you and see less of them.

Dear Abby: I have begun high school and I love it, but Im bumping into friend problems. My new friend has many other friends in one big friend group, and shes inviting me to join them. I barely know these people, and some of them make me uncomfortable, but I still eat lunch with them sometimes. I dont want to be rude to my friend, but I am unsure if I want to join this group.

I have a separate friend whom I met in middle school, and I have reason to believe that I am his only friend. He eats lunch with me and my upperclassmen friends. They ignore him while he talks to me about the things we like. I am afraid Im hurting him by making more friends. Any advice?

Stressed Teen in New Jersey

Dear Teen: New relationships take time to develop. With time, as you and your new classmates get to know each other better, you may feel more comfortable with them. If that doesnt happen, you may want to make other plans for lunch.

That you have been including your middle school friend during those lunches I think is loyal, caring and compassionate. Doing so is not hurting him. If hes unable to integrate and become part of the group, no law says the two of you must have lunch with those people every single day. Consider alternating lunches with other students so you can widen your circle of friends. Friends are treasures. The more of them you have, the richer your life will be.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at DearAbby.com.

Continued here:
Dear Abby: Weight loss doesnt take sting out of family insults - Boston Herald

DEAR ABBY: During the last year, I made some significant changes to my life. I left an emotionally abusive marriage after 23 years, which gave me the confidence to take better care of myself. I have lost 70 pounds and am almost down to the weight I was in high school. I am very proud of this.

My issue is my family has now started using my former weight as a measuring stick. I am often told things like, "You should see your cousin. She's almost as big as you were!" which is quickly followed by an offhand, "No offense," which tells me they know it offends me. I said as much to them at first, but the insulting comparisons continue.

It's not just one person saying this; it has actually become the family standard. I know I was very large, but this is extremely hurtful. I find myself avoiding family visits because the subject seems to invariably come up in some way. Is there anything beyond what I have already tried that can convey the distress this causes?

FORMER FAT RELATIVE IN MISSOURI

DEAR RELATIVE: Your relatives have been told that alluding to your former weight problem causes you distress. That it continues tells me they are thoughtless at best, not to mention rude and inconsiderate of your feelings. Because you can't change their behavior (and neither can I), the logical solution is to do what is best for you and see less of them.

DEAR ABBY: I have begun high school and I love it, but I'm bumping into friend problems. My new friend has many other friends in one big friend group, and she's inviting me to join them. I barely know these people, and some of them make me uncomfortable, but I still eat lunch with them sometimes. I don't want to be rude to my friend, but I am unsure if I want to join this group.

I have a separate friend whom I met in middle school, and I have reason to believe that I am his only friend. He eats lunch with me and my upperclassmen friends. They ignore him while he talks to me about the things we like. I am afraid I'm hurting him by making more friends. Any advice?

STRESSED TEEN IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR TEEN: New relationships take time to develop. With time, as you and your new classmates get to know each other better, you may feel more comfortable with them. If that doesn't happen, you may want to make other plans for lunch.

That you have been including your middle school friend during those lunches I think is loyal, caring and compassionate. Doing so is not "hurting" him. If he's unable to integrate and become part of the group, no law says the two of you must have lunch with those people every single day. Consider alternating lunches with other students so you can widen your circle of friends. Friends are treasures. The more of them you have, the richer your life will be.

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Weight loss doesn't take sting out of observations - theday.com

For people who are extremely overweight, a program of diet and exercise may seem like the healthy way to effect drastic weight loss. But a study of contestants on the popular reality TV show "The Biggest Loser" suggests that's not true. It turns out, drastic weight loss is associated with a slow metabolism and with low levels of hormones that affect hunger.

"The Biggest Loser" seemed to offer tremendous hope. People who struggled with extreme obesity (a BMI of 40 or greater) competed to lose weight in a short amount of time. They worked with teams of doctors, nutritionists, and personal trainers. The contestant who experienced the most drastic weight loss by the end of the TV season (just 30 weeks) won the competition.

In a 2016 study published in the journal Obesity, researchers followed 14 contestants during and after one season of the show. Contestants experienced drastic weight loss, losing an average of more than a hundred pounds each. By the final weigh-in, contestants' leptin levels had plummeted, so that they had very little of the hormone, rendering them constantly hungry. They also had a slow metabolism. In other words, their thyroid functionwhich governs metabolism and many other bodily functionshad slowed.

Over the following six years, the combined effects of these hormonal changes conspired to make the contestants regain much, if not all, of the weight they'd lost. But the truly shocking part was that their leptin and metabolism levels never rebounded to what they had been before the show. In fact, the more weight a contestant lost, the worse his or her slow metabolism became. This explains why weight regain was inevitable, even though they were eating less food than ever.

In the real world, of course, we're unlikely to experience such drastic weight loss so quickly, since we don't have round-the-clock coaching from doctors, nutritionists, and personal trainers. However, the broader lesson still appliesnamely, that drastic weight loss in a short amount of time comes with a price. Whether you're trying to lose 10 pounds or 50, slow and steady is far more effective. Because gradual weight loss doesn't cause the extreme changes in hunger hormones and the slow metabolism seen with the "Biggest Loser" contestants, you're less likely to regain weight with the slower route.

However, "The Biggest Loser" also suggests that for those who have severe obesity, the most effective path to drastic weight loss that is sustained may not be diet and exercise, even though those are key elements of a healthy lifestyle and important for maintaining weight loss.

So far, the strongest evidence is for weight-loss surgery, which can change the "set point" of weight and metabolism that your body strives to maintain. But not everyone is a candidate for weight-loss surgery. Talk to your doctor to find out if it's right for you.

By Heidi GodmanExecutive Editor, Harvard Health Letter

For a range of weight-loss solutions that can be tailored to your needs, buy the Harvard Special Health Report Lose Weight and Keep It Off: Smart approaches to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Lessons from The Biggest Loser - Harvard Health

Did you ever wonder why coffee bars don't offer a lemon-flavored latte? Well, not only does the idea of squeezing a sour lemon in a bitter cup of joe not have nearly the same flavorful appeal as adding cinnamon or chocolate, but the acid in the lemon juice would curdle any milk smoothing out your drink. Still, this hasn't stopped a barrage of TikTok users from mixing instant coffee with hot water and lemon juice, sucking it down with a comedic grimace on their face, and claiming that the drink is a fast and easy way to lose weight. In fact, the hashtag #lemoncoffee now has more than 8 million views, and there are countless YouTube videos claiming the coffee-lemon hack is the "Best Belly Fat Burner!!" magically melting away the pounds in just 3, 7 or 9 days.

Oh, please.

My first thought when I heard about this trend is that it doesn't sound very tasty! says Alexandra Sowa, MD, a metabolic health physician, clinical professor medicine at NYU School of Medicine and founder of SoWell Health. (While coffee swimming with lemon juice does sound rather mouth-puckering if you're used to a creamy, sweetened morning brew, there is an Algerian tradition of drinking Mazagran, which is basically iced coffee with a slice of lemon.) But as far as weight-loss goes? "There is no evidence that there is any particular benefit in drinking these two ingredients together," Dr. Sowa says.

So where did this idea come from, and how did it take off? Well, if you think back to the craze for Bulletproof Coffee a few years back, plus the long history of detox teas, celery juice diets , apple cider vinegar and every other liquid-based weight-loss hack of the last few decades, there has always been an idea that chugging down some magic potion can give you the body you desire, without having to adjust your eating or exercise habits. And this one in particular combines two things you probably have on your kitchen counter right now. "It's most likely appealing because the combo is easy, inexpensive and natural, points out Florida-based dietitian Maryann Walsh, RD. There is confusion about so many things in the world of nutrition like artificial sweeteners, dairy products and GMOs, so by using two items which are pretty much as close to natural as possible, coffee and lemon, you're likely to gain trust easily, even when the actual science of whether or not this combo actually works is lacking.

Editor's note: We want to acknowledge that weight loss, health and body image are complex subjects before deciding to go on a diet, we invite you gain a broader perspective by reading our exploration into the hazards of diet culture.

As far as TikTok trends or "challenges" go, at least this one seems fairly harmless. It reportedly gained traction when someone edited clips of a noted Los Angeles eye doctor to make it look as if he endorsed the drink (spoiler alert: He did not). But most importantly, it combines two pieces of science that have a little bit of truth behind them, making it just believable enough to gain traction.

Black coffee, which is almost calorie-free, has long been a staple of diet plans. That's of course thanks to the caffeine, a stimulant that can rev up your body's engine for the day. Dr. Sowa explains how: Caffeine works by blocking a neurotransmitter called adenosine, which can lead to an increase in stimulating neurotransmitters like dopamine, which helps you feel more awake and energizedthats why we all reach for our morning coffee, she says. While there is some evidence that this may process may increase your basal metabolism rate (the amount of energy your cells burn simply by keeping your basic body functions chugging along), Dr. Sowa points out that to get this benefit, you would need to drink caffeine in large quantitiesone study estimated the amount at four cups a dayand that would affect your health in other ways, including decreased sleep, increased anxiety, and dehydration. Plus, any boost would be short-lived as your body began to tolerate the caffeine, Dr. Sowa says. No doctor I know would ever recommend this as a way to lose weight, she adds.

On to the second ingredient in this magical brew, the sunshiny citrus fruit, lemon. You may have heard that drinking lemon water can help you lose weight, but the emphasis here should be on the second word in that phrase, not the first. There's nothing magic about lemonIt's about staying hydrated by drinking water, and the lemon just adds flavor, says Dr. Sowa. There are some complex biochemical processes behind it, but the most basic element is that it drinking water keeps you full. We get these hunger signals to our brain that are often really thirst signals, but your body knows that if it tells you to eat something, in the process of eating, you'll generally consume water. By just staying hydrated, you can generally quell some of those signals.

And then, of course, there is this simple fact: You may read about lemon water being beneficial for those trying to lose weight, but often this is simply because the person is swapping out sugar-sweetened beverages for the lemon water, Walsh adds.

Hey, if you happen to like the taste of lemon in black coffee, go ahead. In the name of science and journalism, I tried it and found the flavor surprisingly okaybracing, but not as bitter as expected, though I have no plans to replace my daily oat-milk latte. If you do replace a very caloric morning drinksay, a Venti Pumpkin Spice Lattewith unsweetened black coffee with lemon, then yes, there might be some weight-loss benefit. But rather than take the joy out of your morning ritual by forcing yourself to drink something you don't like, take this advice from Dr. Sowa: Simply drink a tall glass of water as soon as you wake up, to make sure you're hydrated, and then enjoy your usual, lemon-free cup of coffee. Please remember that any health or weight loss hack that sounds too fast, too easy, or too good to be true generally is, she says.

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Coffee With Lemon for Weight Loss - Can Adding Lemon to Coffee Help You Lose Weight? - GoodHousekeeping.com

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that break down the food we eat into energy and muscle.

Though many people think that they will lose weight if they speed up their metabolism, this isn't necessarily true.

Here's what you need to know about the complicated relationship between metabolism and weight loss.

When people refer to metabolism being "fast" or "slow" what they are really referring to is a measure of Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). BMR determines the number of passive calories that you burn these are the calories that your body uses up while at rest.

A popular misconception is that adding muscle will help you metabolize calories faster and while this is partially true, muscles at rest actually burn very few calories. Most of the metabolizing energy you expend is through your brain, heart, kidneys, and other organs that are constantly at work keeping you alive and healthy.

Note: There is evidence that cardiovascular exercise can help boost your metabolism for a short period after you work out, but this effect only lasts for an hour or so and is not usually enough to cause significant weight loss.

There's also the myth that eating certain foods will speed up your metabolism. But the reality is that even if certain foods can affect your BMR it's not nearly enough to make a noticeable difference in your weight.

In order to lose weight, you must create a deficit between the calories you consume through food and the calories you burn through a combination of diet, physical activity, and passive metabolic processes that are largely out of your control.

The sad truth is that it's hard to change your BMR in any significant way. The fact that some people naturally have a faster BMR than others is largely due to genetics.

A review, published in 2011, that examined 9 twin studies and 19 family studies found that metabolic syndrome and some of the symptoms associated with it including obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance are common among families, suggesting a significant heritability factor.

The exception to this rule comes up only for rare illnesses like Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism, which both slow metabolism.

As you age, your metabolism becomes less efficient, or what we think of as "slowing down," says Heather Seid, a registered dietitian and Bionutrition Program Manager at Columbia University.

There are many reasons your metabolism slows down with age, including losing muscle mass and changes in your cells. But the main reason for metabolism change is that people become less active as they get older.

Unfortunately, you can't completely stop your metabolism from slowing down as you age but exercise may give you a boost. Studies show that keeping active as you grow older can help curb a metabolism slowdown.

You can temporarily speed up your basal metabolic rate through cardio exercise in order to burn a few more calories each day. However, you can not permanently boost your BMR as a way to lose weight.

Therefore, don't fall for marketing ploys that claim a certain food or supplement will drastically boost your metabolism and help you lose weight. It just doesn't work that way.

To lose weight you need to consume fewer calories than you burn in a day. Check out an online calorie calculator to determine how many calories you need based on your age, gender, weight. Then work with a dietitian or nutritionist to determine how many calories is safe for you to cut.

More here:
Why speeding up your metabolism for weight loss is a myth and how to actually burn calories - Business Insider India

If you're 40 or thereabouts, your life is probably pretty busy. You're at the peak of your career. If you have kids, they are eating up a ton of your time. Maybe you're not exercising as much ask you'd like to because of the above. And maybe you're still entrenched in those eating habits you established in your late 20s and 30s.

Your 40s are the perfect time to assess your lifestyle and health. Have you put on a few pounds? That's pretty common for the 40-something. As we age, many of us move less, lose muscle mass, and often consume as much if not more than we did when we were younger, says Liz Weinandy, MPH, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. "If you are over 40 and have started to put on some pounds, rethink your total calorie needs," she says. "It changes as our lives change."

Overlooking how your calorie needs change as you age isn't the only reason why you may not be able to maintain a lean body. There are many eating habits you once had that now pack on the pounds as your body has changed. Avoid these eating habits that registered dietitians say pack on the calories that are keeping you from achieving that lean body at 40+, and for more on how to eat healthy, make sure you learn of these Breakfast Habits to Avoid If You Want to Lose Visceral Fat, Say Dietitians.

Aim to eat the bulk of your calories during the daytime hours. "If you are seeing your blood sugar trend upwards, eat fewer carbs at night and move them to the morning and early afternoon when your body can handle them better," suggests Weinandy. "Research is showing that late-night eating is really not good for us."

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"It's easy to grab a glass of wine or a beer after a long day especially when dealing with the added pressures of life that come in our 40's," says registered holistic nutritionist Pamela Barton, founder of Butterfly Holistic Nutrition + Lifestyle. "However, our bodies process alcohol less efficiently as we get so regular drinking will increase fat stores and can contribute to a fatty liver."

Weight gain in our 40s is often followed by drastic attempts to lose it by severely restricting calories, which is nearly impossible to sustain, or eating unsatisfying "diet" meals, which can lead to binge eating later on. Trying to lose weight fast usually fails and exerts an emotional toll on the dieter. "Repeated attempts to lose weight can be more harmful than just remaining at a higher weight," says registered dietitian nutritionist Laura Krauza, MS, LDN, of Waistline Dietitian. "Studies have reinforced the connection between dieting to lose weight and weight cycling and suggest that yo-yo dieting most strongly predicts future weight gain."

In other words, avoid unpredictable, haphazard, unplanned eating that results from not being on a relatively regular eating schedule that works with your body's natural circadian rhythms. Spur-of-the-moment eating "confuses the body, triggers unwelcome blood sugar fluctuations, throws your hunger hormones out of whack, and disrupts sleep," says Isa Kujawski, MPH, RDN, a functional mind-body nutritionist and owner of Mea Nutrition LLC.

For most women over age 40, simple carbohydrates become harder to process and use without being stored as fat. But we like our refined flour products and sugary snacks and beverages. "If you like carbs, switch to more complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, whole oats, brown rice, and quinoa," suggests Krauza. Pay attention to nutrition facts and ingredients labels. "Skip the breads and baked goods as much as you can," says Krauza. "Highly processed, refined foods are typically calorically dense with relatively low nutrient density and contain a host of ingredients that may be foreign to the body and not only detrimental to your waistline, but to your overall health," adds Kujawski.

Keeping a food log not only illustrates what you're swallowing but when. If you keep track of everything you eat, you may find that you're eating meals and snacking throughout the day and your "eating window" has grown to maybe even 16 hours. "Studies have shown that in order to remain lean and avoid blood sugar imbalanceswhich contribute to belly fatintermittent fasting and other time-restricted eating strategies can support a healthy body weight," says Barton. A new study found the #1 Best Fasting Schedule for Quicker Weight Loss.

Read these next:

Originally posted here:
Eating Habits to Avoid for a Lean Body After 40, Say Experts Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That