Dieting After 60: What You Need to Know (2024)

Keeping a healthy weight is a worthwhile goal at any age. As you get older, it can get trickier.

You might not be burning calories like you did when you were younger, but you can still take off extra pounds.

The golden rules of weight loss still apply:

  • Burn more calories than you eat or drink.
  • Eat more veggies, fruits, whole grains, fish, beans, and low-fat or fat-free dairy; and keep meat and poultry lean.
  • Limit empty calories, like sugars and foods with little or no nutritional value.
  • Avoid fad diets because the results don't last.

There are some other things you need to do if you're over 60 and want to lose weight.

1. Stay Strong

You lose muscle mass as you age. Offset that by doing strength training. You can use weight machines at a gym, lighter weights you hold in your hands, or your own body weight for resistance like in yoga or Pilates. Keeping your muscle mass is key to burning more calories, says Joanna Li, RD, a nutritionist at Foodtrainers in New York.

2. Eat More Protein

Because you're at risk for losing muscle mass, make sure your diet includes about one gram of protein to every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. "Protein also keeps you full for longer, so that helps with weight loss efforts," Li says. She recommends wild salmon, whole eggs, organic whey protein powder, and grass-fed beef.

3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Drink plenty of water. Sometimes, thirst masks itself as hunger. As you get older, you may not be as quick to notice when you're thirsty, Li says. She says you should get 64 ounces of water a day. You can drink it or get part of it from foods that are naturally rich in water, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. If you're not sure if you're getting enough water, check your urine: It should be pale yellow.

4. Outsmart Your Metabolism

Eat more small meals and snacks, and don't go much longer than 3 hours without eating. "Because your metabolism is already slow, if you're starving yourself, it just gets slower," Li says. You may need fewer calories than you did when you were younger. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian about that. "If you're eating the same way you did when you were 25, you're definitely going to be gaining," Li says.

Dieting After 60: What You Need to Know (2024)

FAQs

Dieting After 60: What You Need to Know? ›

Eat a wide variety of foods from the five food groups : plenty of colourful vegetables, legumes/beans; fruit; grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and high fibre varieties; lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds; milk, yoghurt, cheese or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

What is the best way to lose weight after 60? ›

  1. 6 Most Effective Weight-Loss Steps to Take in Your 60s. Eat less, move more. ...
  2. Start your day with protein. ...
  3. Choose farm foods over factory foods. ...
  4. Move at least 30 minutes a day. ...
  5. Cut down on simple carbohydrates, especially sugar. ...
  6. Stop eating at 7 p.m. ...
  7. Go to bed at least seven hours before you need to wake up.
May 17, 2023

What is the best diet for a 60 year old? ›

Eat a wide variety of foods from the five food groups : plenty of colourful vegetables, legumes/beans; fruit; grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and high fibre varieties; lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds; milk, yoghurt, cheese or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

How to lose 20 pounds at the age of 60? ›

Basics for weight loss over age 60
  1. Burn more calories than are taken in during the day.
  2. Choose healthier foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and low-fat dairy.
  3. Make sure meat and poultry are as lean as possible.
  4. Cut out sugars and foods of little or no nutritional value.
May 25, 2023

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

How do you get rid of belly fat after 60? ›

The golden rules of weight loss still apply:
  1. Burn more calories than you eat or drink.
  2. Eat more veggies, fruits, whole grains, fish, beans, and low-fat or fat-free dairy; and keep meat and poultry lean.
  3. Limit empty calories, like sugars and foods with little or no nutritional value.
Feb 14, 2024

What exercise burns the most belly fat for seniors? ›

Some great cardio of aerobic exercises for belly fat include:
  • Walking, especially at a quick pace.
  • Running.
  • Biking.
  • Rowing.
  • Swimming.
  • Cycling.
  • Group fitness classes.
Apr 25, 2023

How to speed up metabolism after 60? ›

While your metabolism may slow down with age, there are several ways to boost or increase your metabolism, even after 60.
  1. Resistance Training. ...
  2. High-Intensity Interval Training. ...
  3. Get Enough Sleep. ...
  4. Eat Enough Protein. ...
  5. Eat a Balanced Diet. ...
  6. Stay Hydrated.
Jun 20, 2023

What are the three most important foods you can eat for healthy aging? ›

Fruits and vegetables (think orange, red, green and purple) Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta) Low-fat dairy (milk and its alternatives)

What are the two vegetables that destroy stomach fat? ›

She said that artichokes and asparagus are the best vegetables to eat to reduce abdominal fat. This is because they are both rich in fiber and antioxidants, and they help maintain a healthy gut microbiome to support weight loss.

Does lemon water burn fat? ›

Lemon water can promote fullness, support hydration, boost metabolism and increase weight loss. However, lemon water is no better than regular water when it comes to losing fat. That being said, it is tasty, easy to make and can be used as a low-calorie replacement for higher-calorie beverages.

What to drink at night to lose belly fat? ›

Drinking water before bed like lemonade contains polyphenols that help to get rid of accumulated fat. Grape juice contains resveratrol, which converts white fat to brown, which is easier to burn. Apple juice, ginger tea or strawberry juice are also effective choices.

How can I kick start my metabolism after 60? ›

Tips to Speed Up Metabolism
  1. Increase Strength Exercise. Strength exercises include anything from light weights to rubber bands to bodyweight exercises. ...
  2. Get a Healthy Amount of Sleep. Research suggests lack of sleep impacts a person's metabolic rate. ...
  3. Go For a Walk. ...
  4. Eat More Protein.
May 8, 2023

Why is it so hard for a 60 year old woman to lose weight? ›

Hormones and Metabolism

A slower metabolism means that your body can take significantly longer to digest and process the food you eat. So, a meal plan that kept you at a certain weight 10 years ago may now actually cause you to gain weight. It's a frustrating reality for seniors.

How to jump start weight loss after 60? ›

  1. 13 Tips to Help You Lose Weight Over 60.
  2. Get aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise—walking, cycling, swimming, and more—increases the amount of calories you burn, Malin says. ...
  3. Start strength training. ...
  4. Try to avoid processed foods. ...
  5. Keep a food journal. ...
  6. Drink lots of water. ...
  7. Enjoy healthy snacks. ...
  8. Load up on fiber.
Feb 22, 2024

What is the average weight for a 60 year old woman? ›

Average Weight for Women By Age
AgeAverage weight (pounds)
20-39167.6
40-59176.4
60 and over166.5

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