Lose Weight with The Whole Body Reset

Interviews

Mar 29

Wondering why it’s a challenge to get rid of stubborn belly fat? AARP’s Stephen Perrine explains why and shares a weight loss plan specifically designed for people at mid-life and beyond in his new book The Whole Body Reset.

Perrine says that The Whole Body Reset is not a traditional diet plan. There is no sacrifice or restriction of the foods you can eat. “The whole idea of The Whole Body Reset is to give you a way of eating that is sustainable for the rest of your life and that will take off the weight slowly but permanently,” Perrine said.

The Myth of Metabolism

How often have you heard that a slowing metabolism is the cause of weight gain? This is a fallacy. In a 2021 study, data from more than 6,400 individuals across 29 countries showed that our individual cells operate at the same rate in our forties and fifties as they did in our twenties.

So there is something else causing weight gain in middle age.

Several factors contribute to more pounds, including disrupted sleep, hormonal changes, and age-related muscle loss, Perrine noted.

The loss of muscle or sarcopenia reshapes our mid-life bodies everyday, Perrine said. He noted that between age 30 and 40, adults begin to lose 3 to 8 percent of their muscle mass each decade. The Whole Body Reset plan protects against muscle loss and strength.

Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat so losing muscle causes us to burn less calories and gain fat. One may think that restricting or reducing the amount of calories is the answer. But that’s wrong. When faced with a dramatic shortage of calories, your body thinks it’s starving and turns down the metabolic rate, which can lead to an increase in fat.

Exercise, particularly strength training, builds muscle which burns more calories and will increase your strength and agility, which is critical for daily living. A complete exercise program includes strength training twice a week, balance and flexibility work, and at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular workouts.

Protein Timing

A major focus of The Whole Body Reset is eating protein timed throughout the day in conjunction with a healthy dose of fiber, fats, and vitamins and minerals, particularly potassium, magnesium, folate, Vitamin D, and calcium. As we age, our bodies have difficulty absorbing these nutrients. So we need to provide a steady supply.

Eating protein at each of three meals a day (25 grams for women and 30 grams for men), especially at breakfast, is critical as we get older, Perrine said. The approach can eliminate cravings, hunger pangs, and any sense of deprivation. The revolutionary idea of this plan is to eat regular amounts of protein at each meal as opposed to skipping breakfast and/or loading up on protein at dinner.

Six Secrets of Better Health

From a dietary standpoint, the six secrets of better health are: