Why I’m Taking a Different Approach to Weight Loss After 40
If you have followed my journey, then you likely know one thing about me: I am not a big fan of extreme diets. Instead, I focus on simple, balanced meals, and this weight loss dinner after 40 is one of the realistic meals that has helped me stay consistent on my journey.
If you’re new here, you can also read my post “Day One of My Healthy Journey Starts Now“, where I shared why I decided to begin this journey and what motivated me to change my habits.
In the past I have attempted to follow some of these extreme diets, and while they were successful in terms of immediate weight loss, I was consistently left feeling exhausted, hungry and ultimately, I found myself right back at square one.
This time, however, I am taking a different approach.
Although I have now lost approximately 10kg since starting this journey, I believe that this is only the beginning. My objective is not fast weight loss, but rather developing habits which will allow me to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Why I Started the Dinner Series
One of the most significant changes I have made is to begin preparing and consuming “real” meals that keep me satisfied throughout the day, instead of continually dieting.
This is the exact reason for my Dinner Series.
Each Friday, I will be sharing with you one of the dinner options I am currently consuming as part of my weight loss after 40 journey.
These are not “diet meals.” These are simply well-balanced, satisfying dinner options that will enable me to remain consistent with my objectives.
And one of the things I am learning during this journey is that it is consistency that matters much more than achieving perfection — particularly when we reach our 40’s.
Tonight's Dinner
This was one of the meals I prepared while my weight was steadily going down.
There was nothing fancy about this meal.
Just real food.
Here was my plate:
• Grilled Meat (Protein)
• Sausage (Extra Protein & Flavor)
• Baked Beans (Fiber + Carbohydrates)
• Fresh Tomato Relish (Vegetables)
• Chia Seed Water (Hydration + Fiber)
You may think this type of meal wouldn’t be good enough to be featured in a trendy diet book, but this type of meal works because it keeps me full, satiated, and energized.
Why I Sometimes Drink Chia Seed Water
You may have also noticed the glass to the right of my plate in this picture. The water in the glass has Chia Seeds added to it.
Like many people I’ve been interested in chia seeds for a long time; therefore adding them to water is a habit that I’ve carried over from my previous “healthier” eating times. Although they are very small, they do provide us with a good amount of dietary fiber, healthy fat, and a modest amount of plant-based protein.
According to the USDA FoodData Central nutrition database, chia seeds are also a rich source of fiber and several important nutrients.
It’s not a magical drink or anything, it’s just another way to increase your fiber intake while staying hydrated as you continue on your weight loss after 40 journey.
The Importance of Protein in Our Diet After 40
One of the things I’ve come to realize in my journey has been how much protein becomes important as we age.
As we age, our bodies naturally begin to lose muscle mass. As that muscle mass decreases, our metabolic rate may decrease as well.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, getting enough protein can help maintain muscle mass and help people feel fuller for longer.
Consuming sufficient amounts of protein allows you to:
• Maintain your muscle mass
• Remain fuller longer
• Regulate your blood sugar levels
• Promote fat loss rather than muscle loss
Carbs Aren’t the Enemy in a Weight Loss Dinner After 40
For many years, I thought that carbohydrates were the enemy.
However, once I attempted to cut them out entirely, I realized something interesting:
I couldn’t follow it.
I would eventually go into a binge mode, feel guilty and then go back into the same cycle again.
Now I focus on appropriate portions rather than restricting myself.
Beans, rice, potatoes and fruits all make an appearance in my meals; however, they appear in reasonable portions.
To my surprise, this method has proven to be much simpler to maintain.
What Is Helping Me Stay Consistent Right Now
Something I’m learning about on this trip is that I am not going to be able to follow those complicated meal plans.
Preparing simple meals I can just do again without thinking too much about them is what seems to have worked best for me so far.
I think decision fatigue is for real.
At the end of the day when I am tired and starving complicated recipes usually fail.
That’s why all of my dinners follow a super basic format:
✔ Solid Protein Source
✔ Lots Of Veggies
✔ Reasonable Amounts Of Carbs
✔ Easy To Prepare
And that’s it.
Not extreme or anything. Just simple meals I think will be easy to manage and realistic for an average every day.
This Isn't About Being Perfect in Your Diet
Some days my plate is healthier than other days.
Some weeks I am more consistent than other weeks.
But this journey isn’t about perfection.
It’s about developing habits that I can sustain for years, not just a few weeks.
And honestly, that has been the difference.
Dinner Series: What's Coming Up
Each week I will post another dinner from my weight loss journey.
Real Meals.
Real Life.
No Diet Tricks.
If you’re also working on losing weight after 40, I hope that this series shows you that it does not have to be complicated.
Sometimes success begins with one balanced meal at a time.
In my next post, I’ll share how my first week of consistency went — the highs, the lows, and what I’m learning along the way.
—Nonto
Sense of Bloom | Blooming gently, one day at a time