Burn belly fat 50% faster

Christa Fioresi lost 5 pants sizes with simple drink & exercise hacks that make postmenopausal middles shrink

- ALLISON NEMETZ

When a doctor referred Christa Scott Fioresi, 54, to a wellness center for help with menopausal symptoms, the Atlanta empty nester was hoping to cool hot flashes and quiet anxiety. And she did just that. At the same time, she learned simple strategies that fight over-50 muscle loss and target a stubborn 'meno-belly.' Christa's whole body firmed up as her waist shrunk 8 inches. "Was I surprised by the weight loss? Yes! But more than that, I'm surprised by how strong I feel. I have never felt this strong." Read on for all the age-defying details...

For most of her life as a working mom of two, "I thought of myself as midsize," says Christa. Sure, her weight crept up over the years.

But if she really focused on eating less and moving more, she could get back into smaller jeans. At least that was the case until perimenopause hit.

As Christa dealt with the first wave of hormonal changes in her late 40s, she started to get significantly heavier, especially packing on pounds around her middle. "And nothing I did seemed to work anymore." Over time, other menopausal symptoms like mood issues and night sweats left her feeling wiped out. "I saw a video from a holiday party and didn't recognize myself. I worried about my long-term health." She scheduled a checkup and was soon learning strategies to feel like her old self againincluding a surprisingly convenient and waist-shrinking hack backed by recent French research.

The magic of protein

Relieved to find insurance covered the wellness center she was sent to, Christa met with one of their nutritionists. The first advice she got: "I needed to gradually increase to at least 100 grams of protein per day," she says.