How to nourish your body as a woman during this stage of life?

Topics:

• Stages of a woman’s life
• Slowing metabolism
• How to feel good in your own skin?
• Finding balance

Women’s weight and shape can change radically three times in their lives: during adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause. All three stages pose an increased risk of obesity. It is better to be prepared for this. It gives you a sense of security to know what is going on in your body. If you don’t, you’ll end up like me at 36. That’s when I noticed that I was gaining weight more easily and that it stubbornly stayed on. The weight loss techniques that had worked before no longer worked. My hair and skin became drier. My mood became unstable, and bloating and digestive problems often put me in a bad mood. My menstrual cycle also changed. I went to the gynecologist: everything was fine. Then I came across a book (Mireille Guiliano: French Women Don’t Get Fat) and I was reassured that everything was fine with me. What is happening is a hormonal change associated with age. In the book, the author divides women’s lives into stages and outlines what to expect and how to deal with each stage. I completely recognized myself in the description of women between the ages of 35 and 55. I decided to write about what to pay attention to in terms of nutrition during this stage of life on my blog, so that we can live happy and balanced lives as women. If you are also affected by a slow metabolism, dry skin, mood swings, and digestive problems, then read this!

The features of the 35-55 age stage

At the beginning of this stage of life, you may feel that you are living the prime of your life in some ways. You are not older, just wiser! Really. You no longer get involved in unnecessary games, you don’t take many risks, you have been through a lot of disappointments and you feel that you already know what you need. Since you’ve tried many things by now, you know exactly what brings you joy and what doesn’t.

The best part of life: you can reap what you have been fighting for so far

If you have already achieved a lot in certain areas of your life, you probably already have a career and feel like you are at the top. (Or almost.) You no longer have to start at the bottom of the ladder. You have started a family, and even if you have not achieved everything in your career, you can find fulfillment in it. You feel that you have achieved what you needed and what you could achieve.

This is probably a period of contentment, when you can enjoy everything you have built and achieved so far. Your compulsory school years are over. You can be your own boss. You can be in perfect balance with yourself. However, at this stage of your life, new dangers lurk.

Challenges and threats of this stage of life

1. Responsibility

At this stage of your life, you face increased responsibilities both at work and at home. You may be struggling to meet the demands of both your job and your family. You may have to care for your elderly parents while also helping your growing children (this is known as the “sandwich generation”).

2. Exhaustion, overload

Since you have a lot of responsibilities and burdens, it is more difficult for you to relax. It often happens that you fulfill your obligations, but you don’t have time for yourself. Your need for sleep increases. It happens that even in your free time, you choose sleep as your main activity. One of my acquaintances said this during this period of his life: “For me, relaxing on the weekend means being able to sleep until 11 a.m.” Another said: “After work, I go home and fall asleep in front of the TV – it doesn’t matter what’s on.”

If you used to be able to party all night and still go to work the next day and be productive, that’s over now. You’ll feel terribly tired and exhausted and won’t be able to work the next day. Accept that you can no longer burn the candle at both ends.

The lack of sleep is becoming increasingly apparent in you – and sleep deprivation also contributes greatly to weight gain and a deterioration in your mood.

3. Slow metabolism and weight gain

If the above isn’t threatening enough, there’s also your constantly deteriorating metabolism. You feel like you’re hardly eating anything, yet you’re still gaining weight. It may have worked for you in the past to skip dinner and see a kilo less on the scale the next day (it worked for me) – but after the age of 35, it’s better to say goodbye to this.

To alleviate increased stress and responsibility, you often resort to food, snacks, and situations where you think, “Oh, I’ll just grab something to eat and keep going!” As a result, the pounds pile on slowly and insidiously, and the bad news is that they can only be lost with great effort.

If you haven’t done anything to eat healthily so far, then the weight of this is now pressing even more heavily on your shoulders. If you’ve been struggling with weight problems so far, then the bad news is that after the age of 35, it will be even harder to lose those extra pounds. If you are reading this before you turn 35, you still have time to take action. Wake up and do something about it in time!

At this stage in your life, you often don’t have time for the popular “5-day miracle diets” recommended in women’s magazines. By now, I hope you’ve realized that these really don’t work and that you need to change your lifestyle.

Legnépszerűbb:

Életmódváltó csomag

Ebben a tudáscsomagomban ahhoz szeretnék neked gyakorlati tanácsokat adni, hogy hogyan alakítsd ki te magad a saját, személyre szabott diétás étrendedet. Mindezt kínkeserves éhezés és bonyolult méricskélések nélkül. Ne feledd, a cél az, hogy egy olyan étrended legyen, amit hosszú távon, könnyedén be is tudsz tartani, mert a zsírpárnáktól való tartós megszabaduláshoz idő kell!

Megnézem

You can do something about it!

Have I upset you with what I’ve said so far? Great. That was my goal. The more deeply affected you are, the more seriously you will take it and do something about it. The good news is that you are skilled at defending yourself against threatening enemies. Let’s see how!

Solutions – how to deal with the challenges of life between the ages of 35 and 55!

The importance of physical activity between the ages of 35 and 55

At this stage of life, your muscles have already begun to deteriorate. (After the age of 30, muscles gradually deteriorate.) So the most important thing is not to let this happen. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder, but it’s important to preserve most of your muscles. 

Weight training to maintain muscle mass

Weight training has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes and consumes a lot of energy.

Some positives that speak in favor of muscle building/weight training:

• The more muscle you have, the easier it is to lose fat.
• Weight training can burn fat more effectively.
• Weight training (combined with proper nutrition) can help eliminate cellulite.
• The more muscle you have, the more energy you use, so muscle consumes energy.
• A large muscle mass can improve aesthetically disturbing skeletal problems.
• Many people think that a little muscle is aesthetically pleasing even in women, but in men it symbolizes strength, which can make guys much more attractive.

Start with lighter weights (e.g., 2-3 kg) and move slowly to make it more difficult. Do weight training regularly, several times a week. In addition, choose gentle but effective forms of exercise, such as yoga, Pilates, Nordic walking, and spinal exercises.

If you train your upper body with weights, your core with sit-ups in the morning, and your legs with evening walks, you’ve already done a lot to feel better. 

Rest, recreation

There are many forms of relaxation (excursions, nature walks, travel, creative hobbies: crafts, gardening, reading, painting, sewing, adult coloring). You can read more about it here: >>> Relaxation

Choose several forms of recreation to fill your soul with good things even in difficult times.

Conclusion

Remember: the period between 35 and 55 is not about giving up, but about consciously paying attention to yourself and giving your body and soul everything they need. Every little step counts – whether it’s healthier food choices, a peaceful walk, or a pleasant conversation. If you take care of yourself now, you will live a more energetic, balanced, and happier life in the long run. Take the first steps, then make it a routine. I believe in you, you can do it!

Read these, too!

• Tips for happiness and healthy living
• The young person’s guide the age of 17 and 35
• How to maintain a healthy lifestyle from age 55 to 77 and beyond?

Source: Mireille Guiliano: French Women Don’t Get Fat – The Secrets of Eating for Pleasure