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What is happening to my body? The older I get, the more fat I store. Is it just me? Am I imagining things here, or what?
These questions often haunt us as we get older. We see our muscle tone deteriorate and our energy level wean as well as our ability to burn off excess calories decreases. But, rest assured, you are not alone. Statistics show that as we grow older we lose muscle in our body, muscle which allows us to burn more of our
calories. We will grow weaker because of muscle loss as well.
 Diet and exercise play a big role in our decreased metabolic rate. Research has shown that if we eat twice as many meals as we’re used to in a day’s time, allowing about 3 ½ hours between the lighter meals, that we will actually burn some of those excess calories because it causes our metabolism to perform at a higher rate. Exercise need not be running a marathon. Even casual exercise will be beneficial. Being a regular and frequent exerciser is important. Take walks around your office building. Lift weights while you’re at work or take power walks before or after you work. Go bowling, hop on your bike, or stroke your racquet. Joining a Texas Holdem Poker league probably won’t help.
Another factor in the metabolic battle is your sleep, or better said, the lack thereof. Research has also shown that insufficient sleep on a regular basis can have an impact on your metabolic rate. The lack of sleep triggers hormones that adversely affect your system and encourage you to overeat, and thus the “gaining” cycle perpetuates itself.
 But don’t blame it all on our age; a lot of it has to do with our sedentary life-styles. In-activity can be a cruel friend. We’d be better advised to get off that recliner and onto the sidewalks for a quick walk, or onto the court for a quick pick-up game of basketball, or onto our bicycles and involved in some form of aerobic exercise that makes our muscles work, our heart beat faster and our metabolism to kick in. Just be careful not to start out running a marathon. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take it slow and easy at first.
 You’ll probably find your biggest obstacle to be taking the initiative to begin to do it at all. Just remember; habits aren’t formed overnight. It should only take you about two months to work into a routine that becomes a habit. The end result will be a healthier and happier you. You’ll feel better, look better, and function better throughout your day. Your muscles may hate you in the morning, but your mirror will love you at night.
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