1. Don’t Be a Lightweight
Shrinking muscle mass is the main culprit driving the thirtysomething slump, so get pumping. Muscle incinerates way more calories than fat and burns them up long after you hit the showers. But there’s no need to spend hours at the gym. Sculpt your body slim with just 30 minutes of muscle action three times a week. Lift weights, use resistance bands or hoist your own body weight (yoga, Pilates and push-ups count!)
2. Eat up Already
Sounds counterintuitive, right? Not so. Your metabolic engine relies on frequent food intake, and high octane fuel at that, like veggies, beans, nuts, tofu and whole grains. And don’t even think about missing your morning meal. Skip breakfast and your metabolism takes a nosedive, hanging on to every calorie and burning them sloooowly.
3. Thyroid Troubles
Just ask Oprah – a sluggish thyroid gland dampens the fat-burning flames, promoting fatigue and fat storage. See your doctor to rule out a thyroid imbalance, and don’t forget your multivitamin. Coming up short in certain nutrients can inhibit optimal thyroid function.
4. Stressed Out
Great, another thing to worry about when you’re stuck in traffic – stress can make you pack on the pounds! Spikes in the stress hormone cortisol hampers metabolism, triggers ab flab and ratchets up our appetites, especially for sweets.
5. Allergy Alert!
Undetected food sensitivities can wreak havoc on metabolism. It’s not uncommon to shed pounds once offending foods are removed from the diet. Start by eliminating common food allergens (such as wheat and dairy) for a week, noting changes in bloating or other unpleasant symptoms.
xoxo RitzyNina
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