Firstly we have to admit it. It’s harder to lose belly fat after 40, because of the way your body stores fat changes.  Extra pounds that used to be drawn to your hips, now accumulates around your belly and waist.

It’s still possible though, even after menopause, with a healthy diet and a focused exercise program.

The experts at WebMD have put together some

Top Tummy Tightening Tips

1. Work your core. Body fat settles around the midsection in many older women. You can’t spot reduce (target your tummy to lose inches in that area only), but you can do moves to strengthen your core, such as the plank. Get on your hands and toes (or knees and forearms, to modify) as if you’re going to do a push-up. Then hold your body there, keeping your abs pulled in, for as long as you can. Do this several times a day.

2. Make strength work for you. A pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat, so strength training pays off by boosting your metabolism even when you’re at rest. Many women think that if you’re not running around and sweating, you’re not exercising, but lifting weights makes your body work harder even at rest. (And if you don’t use it, you lose it — adults who don’t do any form of strength training lose 5 to 7 pounds of muscle every decade.)

3. Get on the circuit. Walking is great, but short spurts of cardiovascular interval training between yoga or strength moves — fun things like jumping jacks, jumping rope, or marching up and down — keep your heart rate up and make your workout do double duty.

4. Balance it out. Mixing up exercises, such as yoga and working out on the stability ball or a wobble board, is important for improving balance, but even more so once you reach menopause because falls are particularly dangerous for older women.

5. Reverse your meals. Eat like a queen in the morning, a princess at lunch, and a pauper at dinner. Taking in the bulk of your calories earlier in the day, when your metabolism’s going strong, helps a lot.

6. Take your time. It’s going to take longer to lose weight at this age. But remember: if you lose weight slowly, you’re more likely to keep it off. You’re not starving yourself to get into a wedding dress; you’re making healthy changes for the rest of your life.

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About the author

Jenny W
First career as newspaper and magazine journalist with daily newspapers and magazines, then as an editor who successfully launched a new national Sunday newspaper and NZ House & Garden magazine. First woman editor of NZ Listener. Enjoying a second career as a business owner and entrepreneur, health products marketer, social media habitué, blogger and web marketer. Still learning and loving it.

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