Many of us were dealt a crappy genetic hand that predisposes us to a sluggish metabolism, which makes it tough to keep off weight regardless of how careful we are with our diets. And once you get into your 30s, your slowly deteriorating body will require even more Jazzercise to work off whatever you stuff into your maw. That doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel and retire to the lard trough, however. These tips can help you speed up your metabolism and turn your body into a lean, fat-burning furnace.
#1. PUT ON LEAN MUSCLE
According to John Berardi, PhD, and author of The Metabolism Advantage, your metabolism works harder when you have more muscle. That said, you need to put on a fair amount to have any real effect; depending on your body, you’ll need to add 5-10 lbs. of lean muscle to accelerate your resting metabolism (i.e., the number of calories your body burns simply to stay alive) by about 100 calories per day. There is a downside, however: Putting on that much muscle takes an incredible amount of dedication and effort. More bad news: It also won’t negate the need for cardiovascular work; think of lifting weights as supplemental to aerobic activity.
