How much protein should I consume in order to burn fat and build muscle in my 50s?

In your 50s, getting adequate protein is one of the best ways to promote your health and facilitate fat loss. After all, among its superpowers, protein helps build lean muscle, assists in key metabolic processes, creates strong bones, and more!

When your protein goals are not met, your health and fitness suffers and the body cannot function optimally. 

How much protein your body requires each day is dependent on a variety of factors, such as age, and activity level, but by and large, it’s likely you’re consuming insufficient protein! When you work with me, I calculate your individual protein needs in my program.

Here are some ways to get 30 grams of protein:

1.   Chicken breast: About 5-6 ounces cooked.
2.   Salmon: Around 5-6 ounces cooked.
3.   Tofu: Approximately 7-8 ounces.
4.   Greek yogurt: About 1.5 cups.
5.   Lentils: Around 1 cup cooked.
6.   Cottage cheese: Approximately 1.5 cups.
7.   Quinoa: Around 1 cup cooked.
8.   Turkey breast: About 5-6 ounces cooked.
9.   Lean beef: Approximately 5-6 ounces cooked.
10.   Edamame: About 2 cups cooked.

Check out my All About Protein Quick Guide to learn more about the importance of protein. I also share quick tips and recipes that you can start using today to increase your protein intake. Get it by clicking here.

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How to minimize muscle loss as you age

If you are in your 40s or 50s, chances are that you are starting to notice some changes in your body, including muscle loss and diminishing strength, even if you exercise fairly regularly. Maintaining muscle mass becomes increasingly important as we age, especially for women who are looking to lose weight.

How to minimize muscle loss as you age:

1. Strength train a few times a week - Resistance training with or without weights is essential for muscle protein synthesis. Strength training not only builds muscle but also helps preserve bone density, which is crucial for overall health.

2. Eat high-quality protein at every meal - Aim to eat 25-30 grams of protein at each meal. Aim for a protein-rich diet including sources like lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, nuts, and seeds.  Protein intake becomes particularly important as we age to counteract age-related muscle loss.

3. Recover as hard as you train - Your muscles need time to heal to get stronger. Ensure you're allowing adequate time for rest and recovery between workouts. Muscles need time to repair and grow stronger after being challenged during exercise. Incorporate rest days into your routine and prioritize quality sleep to support muscle recovery and overall well-being.

4. Find a community - Your support system can help provide motivation and accountability. Building and maintaining muscle mass is a gradual process that requires dedication and persistence. Being part of community of like minded people can be the key to your success.

By implementing these strategies, women over 50 can minimize muscle loss while focusing on their weight loss goals, leading to improved overall health, strength, and vitality.

Click here to learn more about what it's like to work with me!

Wiggly Bridge & Steedman Woods

We are always in search of a new trail adventure especially one that is dog friendly now that we have two amazing dogs. Our most recent adventure was right in our neck of the woods -> Wiggly Bridge & Steedman Woods. 

You can see Wiggly Bridge from Route 1A when you're heading to York Beach, which is when it first caught my interest. It's actually part of the Fisherman's Walk that starts close to York Harbor Beach. We didn't know that the day we went and simply jumped on the trail at Barrel's Millpond. (There was very limited parking, many spots for residents only, but a local told us not to worry since it was off season.)

Wiggly Bridge was built in the 1930s when there were mills lining the river and is known as the world's smallest suspension bridge. The story goes that it got its name from a group of local girls who constantly called it "wiggly."

The flat path leading to the bridge is actually a dam separating York River with Barrel's Millpond and was used by the original settlers who were farming and trading. On the other side of the bridge is Steedman Woods Nature Reserve. 

Although it looks like an island, Steedman Woods is actually a peninsula. The short loop hiking trail is shaded and well maintained with water views on every side. There is a connecting loop that is accessible from the Old York Town side, but we couldn't follow it because it was too muddy.

The Fisherman's Trail follows the York River into York Village. I saw people walking that way, but didn't know where it went. Gives a good reason to go back and walk the full trail.

My Detox Routine

Following this protocol can help eliminate toxins, boost immunity and improve sleep. 

There's nothing better than ridding the body of toxins through a good sweaty workout. But have you ever thought about leveling up your detox routine? Here are my three favorite full body detoxing activities that I have been incorporating throughout the week.

Infrared Sauna blanket - I aim to do this every other day in 45 minute sessions. It is like climbing into a heavy sleeping bag. I have mine set up in our spare bedroom. I can watch tv, listen to a podcast or look out the windows while I sweat out some toxins. Link to my blanket here.

Dry brushing - I do this every morning to brush away the toxins that have released overnight and to encourage my lymphatic system to do it's thing. Dry body brushing is a simple way to help stimulate the lymphatic system and in turn release toxins and aid in digestion and kidney function. My brush was part of a Beautycounter exclusive holiday set, but here is one from my favorite local boutique.

7-Day detox - no gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol or caffeine!! In addition to living my FASTer Way lifestyle, I did a 7-day detox to really give my body a chance to let go of toxin build up. For 7 days, I followed a nutrition protocol of food and supplements. I lost a whole pant size of inflammation that had built up in my body over the last 6-8 months. Link to detox.

Send me your questions in the comments below!

Want to learn more about toxin free beauty products? Click here.

Interested in my FASTer Way lifestyle? I'm also a coach! Click here to read my story.

Why you should use more mint + recipes!

After months of not feeling my best, feeling puffy and having trouble sleeping, I started digging deeper and found out my gut bacteria was unbalanced. I've been following a gut health reset protocol (in addition to my FASTer Way strategies) for about 3 weeks now and sharing tips from what I'm learning here. 

Mint definitely smells good, but it also has many health benefits. It promotes a healthy gut by encouraging the flow of stomach bile which aids in digestion. It can also boost the immune system by helping rid your body of toxins.

Mint is super easy to add into your daily diet. Here a couple recipes to get you going!

Berry Mint Smoothie

Blend together:

1 cup water

1/3 cup blueberries

1/3 cup raspberries

1/3 cup blackberries

2 cups baby spinach

1/4 cup fresh mint

1 scoop protein powder

Refreshing Watermelon Mint Salad

INGREDIENTS

6 cups seedless watermelon

2 tbsp minced fresh mint

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp honey (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop watermelon into cubes

Place cubed watermelon and mint in large bowl

Whisk lemon juice, oil and honey in small bowl

Drizzle wet mixture over watermelon

Toss gently to combine

Refrigerate until ready to serve

TIP! Add salad to small mason jars and pack them in the cooler for your next outing!

Summer Mint Mocktail

Ingredients

10 fresh mint leaves

½ tsp. honey

¼ cup pineapple juice (or pineapple kombucha)

½ tsp. rum extract

Ice

1 can lime sparkling water 

1 fresh pineapple or lime wedge (optional)

Muddle the honey with the mint leaves in the bottom of a 10 oz glass 

Add the pineapple juice, rum extract and stir.  

Fill the glass with ice.  

Add sparkling water to the top.  

Stir & garnish with a pineapple or lime wedge. 

I hope you enjoy these recipes!!!