One thing we know for sure is that our metabolism is slowing down as we get older. Simply put, metabolism is way our bodies burn calories from food that we eat. The shift of midlife weight gain actually begins in our 20’s – 30’s. We naturally gain body fat while losing lean body mass. This loss of lean body mass can greatly affect our metabolism. Starting at about age 25, a person’s metabolism declines approximately 5 percent every decade! So it seems we are entering into battle of age vs. metabolism. We can’t control ageing, so what now? Do we wave our white flags and succumb to what seems a natural progression of unwanted, continuous weight gain?

Absolutely not! There are several simple and natural ways to triumph over this battle at any age.

•Increase Muscle Mass The most important factor of metabolism is lean body mass. Muscle burns up to 90% more calories than fat. The more muscle mass you have, more calories you will burn in a day. By adding three to five pounds of muscle you could actually burn 100 - 250 additional calories a day. Try adding a weight bearing activity 2-3 times a week such as lifting free weights, walking, or resistance training. Simply carrying your groceries home could be considered weight bearing! Lifting 5-8 pound hand weights while watching your favorite television show could go a long way towards burning calories.

•Don’t Skip Meals! The myth that skipping meals decreases your total calorie level and helps you to lose weight is not true. When people skip meals or decrease their calories significantly (< 1000 calories/day), they actually decrease their metabolism. They go into “starvation mode” where body tries to compensate for low calories. Your metabolic rate can actually decrease as much as 10-15% and your body will hold on to fat and burn lean muscle instead. Always eat at least 3 meals and avoid dipping below 1000 calories a day.

I know how hard weight loss is and I want to share a few things with you I found along way that helped me lose 70lbs in eleven months. I believe these weight loss tips can help you too, no matter what diet you chose to follow.

Tip #1 Eat Smaller Meals More Often

Eat breakfast, and then a couple of hours later have a snack. Eat lunch then a couple of hours later then have another snack. In another couple of hours you can eat dinner. Just make your choices are sensible. I buy small peeled carrots in bag that are ready to eat so I can eat healthy snacks.

Most diet plans leave you feeling deprived, but all of that chewing makes you feel more satisfied. Eating every few hours also raises your metabolic rate which means your body will burn fat and stop storing fat. Once you get used to this small change, you'll discover this weight loss tip really works.

Tip #2 Eat Lots Of Vegetables

Eat raw vegetables and salads because they are low in calories, low in carbohydrates and are loaded with vitamins. But if you cover your salad or vegetables with dressing, you may as well forget about losing weight. Always get your salad dressing on side because dressing is high in fat.

A good weight loss tip I discovered is dip your fork in dressing before you fork salad. This gives you a small taste but keeps amount of salad dressing you eat to a minimum.

Tip #3 Drink Plenty Of Water

I fought this tip at first because it was just too hard to believe. But I changed my mind when I saw benefits. Drinking water not only makes you less hungry but you will notice a big difference in way you feel.