Weight loss has been a historical struggle for most women. The fact is, women’s bodies are different than men’s, and that means you can’t rely on the same strategies as men do when they hit the gym or sit down at the dinner table. Plus, women have unique health concerns that men may not need to worry about.
Challenge 1: Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Many women struggle to lose weight. Why is that, and how can we overcome it?
Studies suggest that women have a slower metabolism than their male counterparts. But the thing is, metabolism isn’t just one measure of your body’s performance: it involves countless factors and can be influenced by countless more. As Vox explains, metabolism varies widely, and one of the few things researchers know for sure is that it slows as you age.
Getting Around It. While you can’t “speed up” your metabolism, dieting can slow it down. That’s part of the reason yo-yo dieting is so harmful; each time you restrict calories and cut your food intake, your body responds by slowing your metabolism to a crawl.
The solution involves balanced meals and snacks that are high in nutrients and low in ‘fillers’ so your body gets the most energy possible from your meals.
Challenge 2: Preventing Diabetes
Studies suggest that women aren’t necessarily at a higher risk of developing diabetes. The problem is that women who do wind up with the condition can experience symptoms that are harder to pin down, says Healthline, making diagnosis and treatment tougher.
Women who develop diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease, and studies have shown that many women who wind up with Type 2 diabetes already have an underlying heart problem. Clearly, avoiding diabetes is a priority for women of any age!
Getting Around It. Consuming fewer carbohydrates and balancing your blood sugar is an excellent way to prevent diabetes. But paying closer attention to your blood sugar can also help you avoid carb cravings and weight gain from snacking. Of course, physical activity is an essential part of the equation, too.
Challenge 3: Avoiding Heart Disease
Consuming fewer carbohydrates and balancing your blood sugar is an excellent way to prevent diabetes. But paying closer attention to your blood sugar can also help you avoid carb cravings and weight gain from snacking. Of course, physical activity is an essential part of the equation, too.
Women are often considered to be at higher risk of heart disease, and unhealthy weight is one significant hurdle when it comes to lowering your risk. Here’s what you need to know about women and heart disease.
A long list of factors can put you at risk for heart disease, and women are particularly susceptible. As Go Red for Women elaborates, some risk factors you can’t control include heredity, age, race, and any pre-existing conditions. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless!
Stress is also a risk factor for many heart problems. You can’t control everything in life, but there are ways to fight back against stress and release your worries.
Getting Around It. The factors you can control — or manage — when it comes to heart disease are high blood pressure, bad habits like smoking or not exercising, weight loss, diabetes prevention (or control), and lowering cholesterol.
Feeling better about yourself is one way to help spur your weight loss and healthier living journey. You can do this by choosing stress-relieving strategies, making time for yourself, and indulging in a bit of pampering.
Buying new clothes that are high-quality, for example, is a great non-food reward that helps you feel confident. The better you feel, the more you’ll feel inspired to adopt healthy habits.
Losing weight isn’t easy for anyone, but it can be tougher for women than men. Now that you know why you can start working toward healthier changes that make your path to wellness easier to navigate.
If you’re hoping to embark on a journey toward better health — naturally — I can help.
Contact me here for a free discovery call today!
Corinne
Article submitted by Sheila Johnson, CHC.
