Tips on How to Keep the Weight Off

At around age 40, the average woman gains about a pound every 12 months. Initially, the system is simple arithmetic: Consume more than you expend and eventually your clothes will be tight. But other factors can complicate the equation. Knowing more about the four most popular changes will help you lose stomach fat and stay in shape.

Problem 1: You Start Losing Muscle - Muscle burns about three times as many calories as fat, even at rest. And, with age, muscle tissue doesn't work as efficiently so you're not able to exercise as hard.

Solution: Weights - Few exercises battle the loss of muscle mass better than strength training with hand weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight. It increases muscle tissue and improves bone density, which helps you stay active longer and work out harder.

Problem 2: Your Hormones Fluctuate - Over the decades, women's bodies generate less of certain hormones like estrogen, which typically starts ebbing in the 40s. Since estrogen has appetite-regulating properties, many women are hungrier as their hormone levels drop. Estrogen also affects how body fat is distributed, migrating it from the hips and the thighs to the waist, where it's tougher to burn.

Solution: Eat Well and Reduce Stress - A sensible diet and an exercise regimen can reduce the spread, as can reducing stress by getting enough sleep

Problem 3: You're Eating More - Studies have shown that marriage tends to lead to weight gain, possibly because women dish out portions equal to their husbands'. As a matter-of-fact: In your 20s, you burn about 2,000 calories a day. By your 50s, you burn only about 1,600 calories.

Solutions:

* Hop on a Scale. People who weigh themselves daily are, on average, seven to eight pounds lighter than those who don't. Tracking your weight helps you cut back on meals or step up activity.

* Eat Mindfully. Break-up that barrel of pretzels into snack bags. Little adjustments may pare 100 to 200 calories from your daily diet.

Problem 4: You're Slowing Down - A recent study followed more than 9,000 people for 10 years and found that the least active people were seven times more likely to gain weight.

Solution: Become More Active - Experts suggest doing 50 to 60 minutes of exercise, five days a week.