5 Steps to Conquering Your Over-40 Belly

Muffin top. Love handles. The slang makes it sound oh so adorable. But if you’re like most women over 40, this overspill of flesh is anything but that. In fact, belly fat ranks as your number-one biggest body complaint. Beyond making you cringe when you look in the mirror, belly fat is even more frightening on the inside, increasing your risk for heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Unfortunately, belly fat simply expands as we age. This is tied to an increased production of cortisol, the stress hormone. Combined with other hormonal factors such as low androgens, fat cells become inflamed and tissues expand to create fat where you want it least – around your middle. Called omentum, this blubbery tissue pumps out chemicals that keep you fat, creating a vicious cycle and potential health issues you can’t hide from, even with an oversized shirt.

To conquer your over-40 belly once and for all, follow Dr. Oz’s easy 5-step plan:

1. Eat in Reverse

How would you like to blast off belly fat by eating spaghetti for breakfast? You can! As a general rule of thumb, eat carb-heavy meals early in the day so they get burned off rather than stored as belly fat. At dinnertime, do the opposite: Focus on eating lighter, mostly protein-based meals.

On Sunday, make up a tray of Dr. Oz’s Fat-Burner Noodle Pudding and eat it for breakfast throughout the week.

Fat-Burner Noodle Pudding

8 cups cooked whole wheat fettuccini or macaroni (high in fiber)

4 cups low-fat Greek yogurt (calcium blocks fat from being absorbed)

3 eggs (vitamin B12 metabolizes fat)

4 teaspoons cinnamon (boosts your metabolism)

1 cup mixed dried fruit (adds fiber and sweetness)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (for even more flavor)

2. Create a Fiber Pack

All women over 40 should consume 25 grams of fiber per day to stay healthy. As an added benefit, fiber helps you stay full. However, you don’t want to consume all your fiber at once or you’ll get bloated. Dr. Oz’s Fiber Pack will provide morning fuel and healthy snacking throughout the day so you don’t reach for any harmful goodies like cookies or salty snacks loaded with unhealthy carbs.

Dr. Oz’s Fiber Pack

1 Gnu Banana Walnut Bar = 12g of fiber (eat in the morning)

1 Cup Kashi Go Lean Crunch (carry in a plastic baggie) = 8g of fiber

Orange = 2g of fiber

Metamucil Single Drink Packet = 3g of fiber

Total: 25g of fiber

3. Drink One Glass of Red Wine Daily

With age comes more responsibilities and often more stress, which directly affects the belly by inflaming fat cells and causing weight gain. Studies have also shown a link between a moderate amount of alcohol consumption and less belly fat. Reduce stress where you can and also drink one glass (6 oz) of red wine a day. It’ll help you relax and also provides antioxidant-rich resveratol, known to reduce inflammation.

4. Confuse Your Muscles

Here’s something that may surprise you: Muscles get accustomed to doing the same exercises, and when you’re not challenging them, you stop burning as much fat. To address this dilemma, change up your exercise routine. Check out Dr. Oz’s 7-Day Belly Workout Program, which varies a little bit every day so your muscles won’t get lazy.

5. Make a Belly Band

A lot of women turn a blind eye to their waist size, but that’s a dangerous mistake. Women with waists larger than approximately 32 inches are at risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Make a belly band by placing a ribbon around the center of your waist and cutting it to size with a pair of scissors. Use this band to track your waistline daily, and make sure you’re staying within the range of 32 inches or less.

Dr. Oz’s 3 Breakthrough Belly Blasters

To help you blast away unwanted belly fat, try these top three superfoods. They’re inexpensive and can be eaten any time of day.

1. Goldenberries

A bright yellow fruit from Brazil, the goldenberry is loaded with B vitamins that are essential for maintaining a healthy metabolism. While they’re sold fresh, goldenberries are easier to find in dried form and are available at health food stores or online for about $12. Eat ¼ cup daily.

2. Miso

Miso, the Japanese staple made from fermented soybeans, rice and/or barley, lowers triglycerides in the blood that contribute to belly fat. You can purchase instant miso soup in supermarkets for about $3 per package. Be sure to purchase the low-sodium variety.

3. Sauerkraut

Unprocessed fermented food like sauerkraut contains bacteria that boosts digestion and reduces belly inflammation. Instead of eating it on a hot dog, try sauerkraut with turkey on whole-grain bread. Aim to eat 3 teaspoons daily. Purchase canned sauerkraut for about $1. Be sure to rinse it before eating or buy the low-sodium kind.

Visit Dr. Oz’s Website to view article

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you eat like a Mongol Soldier or peasant warrior?

A great way to get a lot of high-quality protein quickly is with a shake with protein powder added. This product has an interesting history. The first type of protein powder was powdered milk, which has its roots in the Mongol people and their powerful leader, Genghis Khan. The Mongols would evaporate milk by allowing it to dry in the sun and would reportedly take the chalk-like substance with them on their long journeys of conquest. In Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, author Jack Weatherford suggests that a low-carb, high-protein diet with an emphasis on milk protein was one of the reasons for Khan’s success in battle: “The Chinese noted with surprise and disgust the ability of the Mongol warriors to survive on little food and water for long periods; according to one, the entire army could camp without a single puff of smoke since they needed no fires to cook. Compared to the Jurched soldiers, the Mongols were much healthier and stronger. The Mongols consumed a stead
Read more

Are the calorie counts on exercise machines accurate?

Probably not, as the reality is each manufacturer uses their own patented algorithms that take into account the workload and duration of the exercise. Some equipment manufacturers do research to validate these formulas on a number of subjects. The higher-end the machine, the more likely it is to use a validated formula. A newer version of the same machine might even have a different formula in an attempt to improve its accuracy (if you have an older model and want to make sure you’re using the most updated formula, you can call the manufacturer who might be able to walk you through the upgrade over the phone). Some formulas are based on the principle that during exercise, heart rate has a linear relationship with oxygen consumption, which can be easily converted to determine the number of calories burned. However, heart rate is influenced by a number of things such as temperature, body position, food intake, muscle groups exercised, some medications, and whether the exercise is
Read more

Cajun Turkey…Bodybuilder Style!!

Ingredients: 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey 1/2 to 1 cup chopped onions and bell peppers  1 small Squash (zucchini or summer) diced (adds a little extra color!) 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (I use Tone's Cajun Seasoning with no MSG) 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (My favorite is Cholula !!) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Diced tomato & onion as garnish Instructions: Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. In a bowl mix together the onions and bell peppers, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, salt, and ground black pepper. Add ground turkey and mix well. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until cooked through. *If you’re cooking for the man in your life – the “Carb-oholic”, or need a little carb-boost, the turkey pairs well with brown rice lightly seasoned with salt or Tony Cachere’s.
Read more