As more research is being done it is becoming evident that weight loss and weight management is largely dependent of a healthy functioning metabolism which is our body's engine.
As we get older it often becomes apparent that our metabolic motor is not functioning as well as it one did.
Physical symptoms such as weight gain, loss of strength, fatigue, poor quality sleep, poor memory and concentration, irritability and heat and cold intolerance start to show.
We used to believe that a sluggish metabolism was due to the natural aging process but now we know that it has got nothing to do with getting older.
What really slows our metabolism is lack of proper muscle strengthening exercise and an unhealthy diet which all lead to muscle tissue loss.
As up to 50 percent of our body weight is made up of precious muscle tissue the loss of approximately one half pound per year from the mid 20's onwards and this rate doubling after age 50 has a huge impact on metabolism.
This tissue is highly active and requires large amounts of fuel just to exist.
As it dwindles away with disuse less fuel is burnt and more gets stored as fat.
Even if the scales do not change this fat can be hidden in the space left by the departing muscle tissue and can also be stored deep inside the abdomen wrapping itself around major organs and paving the way for disease.
To restore a normal metabolism and improve health plus achieve a healthy body weight, it is necessary to reverse the process that has been happening.
Muscle tissue must be rebuilt and re-toned so that an increase in fuel burning is brought about.
There is only one way to do this and that is with proper strength training exercise with some effort put into each session.
If it is done right only 2-3 sessions are needed each week.
Once muscles are toned up their need for fuel will increase and will start using up the excess body fat that sits stubbornly refusing to budge with any other method.
The beauty of this is that once your metabolism is restored and rebooted it means that you will be burning more calories even while resting or sleeping and of course while you are exercising.
To be able to put this effort into your exercise program to make the changes you need to make to your body you need to support it with good nutrition.
Without proper fuel you will have limited strength and energy.
Whole natural foods cooked from scratch are the way to go.
The other important aspect of your eating is that you will need to ditch as much processed food from your life as possible.
While you continue to eat foods laden with sugar, unhealthy fats and chemicals you will never get your metabolism in peak condition.
These nasty additions to our food have a lot to answer for as they increase food cravings that force you to eat when you are not even hungry and will make you crazy.
While they are in your food and your diet you will always be in a war against weight gain.
So, it is best to eliminate anything that comes in a pretty box or packet and instead make healthier choices that will work with your body not against it.
This will make your goal of losing weight and getting into healthier and better shape so much easier.