Many over-40 men and women are battling obesity and, as a result, paralyzed with fear.

Late nights reading the gloom-and-doom news feed, combined with stress eating is commonplace.

Many have stopped exercising consistently or quit altogether.

My clients are an exception to the rule: Prioritizing their health, training smart using little-to-zero equipment, being mindful with nutrition, managing stress, and staying accountable with a coach.

But there are a few key things that you can concentrate on right now. There are things that you can do to make sure that you'll rebuild your body and slow aging too.

Focus on taking care of your yourself and building a positive community around you. That time is now.

Today I'm re-sharing Ed's story. Ed is a client-athlete who literally changed the course of his life in only 12 months.

What we need right now is to hear more stories like this. People who could have quit.

People who have had things stacked against them. Yet, in adversity, they got their mindset right and created the strongest and leanest version of themselves.

How Ed Lost 70 Pounds of Bodyfat

To say that I am proud of Ed's accomplishments (he lost 70 pounds of fat in one year) would be an understatement.

He eliminated excuses and followed a clear road map to help him achieve his goals.

It has been a great honor to coach him.

He is also a teacher and coach, so his personal transformation serves as a great lesson for his students, friends, and family:

"Give up your fears and believe in yourself. In the end, you will see results." ~ Ed Ziegenfuss

Ed's wisdom and advice can be a guide right now, for everyone.

If you are struggling to lose weight, check out these eight simple tips to help you along your journey to better health.

1. Drink water 30 minutes before meals

One study showed that drinking water a half hour before meals increased weight loss by 44% over three months.

Side benefit: When you're hydrated, you reduce the chance of mistaking hunger for thirst.

2. Eat a high-protein breakfast

Consuming a high-protein breakfast will help to reduce cravings and total calorie intake throughout the day.

3. Use smaller plates

Studies show that people automatically eat less when they use smaller plates.

Strange, but it works.

4. Avoid sugary drinks and fruit juice

Energy-dense liquids encourage fat storage because, well, they create a calorie surplus.

On the other hand, maintaining a caloric deficit can help you lose weight.

5. Drink coffee or tea

If you’re a coffee or a tea drinker, then drink 2-3 cups daily. The added caffeine can boost your metabolism by 3-11%.

Just make sure you have your last cup before 10:00AM so as not to disrupt your sleep.

6. Eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods

Mindful nutrition means you focus on whole foods.

Unprocessed foods are healthier, more filling, and much less likely to encourage overeating.

7. Eat your food slowly

Fast eaters gain more weight over time because your brain doesn't have time to release the "I'm full" chemicals.

Eating slowly and mindfully makes you feel more full.

8. Get a good night’s sleep, every night

Poor sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for weight gain, so prioritizing quality sleep is important.

If you are getting less than seven hours of deep slumber each night, weight loss will be tough. If you can't get your Zzzz at night, catch up on lost sleep with a daytime nap.

Think of these proven strategies as waypoints on your roadmap to success.

How you get to your goal might look a little different going forward, but if the outcome is the same, does it really matter? That's why you must focus on the outcome.

A lot of our clients are working out more now than they did a year ago. That's in large part thanks to our "hybrid" model where you can train in the facility, but if you can't make it in, you can click a link from home and be led through a great on-demand coaching session.

Our proven system includes things like nutrition and accountability and checking in with your coach, remotely, 24/7/365. This type of remote option means you can ditch the excuses and get better results

At its core though, two key pieces must be in place to get the outcome you want.

Without coaching and accountability, success is elusive.

Your "how" might look different based on your injuries or other things that are unique to you... and that's okay as long as you achieve your number-one goal.

What's the outcome you’re going after?

If you know where you want to go, we can provide the proven roadmap to guide you along the way.

Take imperfect action and results will follow.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online age-management personal trainer, or you want to visit the best longevity personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.