I try to do my part to help the environment. I turn off the water while brushing my teeth. I try to recycle as much as I can. I even stop (occasionally) to pick up litter on the side of my street as I drive through my neighborhood to my house. But, sometimes, I don’t feel like it’s enough. After all, we get pounded with messages everyday about how we’re supposed to “SAVE THE PLANET!” Maybe you even know someone who thinks they know it all about going green, someone like the ladies shown here: “Introducing The Green Housewives – ‘Greener Than Thou.’”

Reusable bags help keep plastic store bags out of landfills.

But going green doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful. In fact, there are several ways you can help out Mother Nature. For me, one of the easiest things to do is using reusable shopping bags. In addition to keeping plastic grocery store bags out of landfills, reusable shopping bags are larger than traditional bags, so they hold a lot more of your stuff. Plus, they are much stronger and sturdier, so you don’t have to worry about the bags ripping and your eggs busting all over your floors.

On the rare occasion that I do bring home plastic shopping bags (so sue me–sometimes I forget to take my reusable bags in the store), I already have another use planned for them. I use plastic shopping bags as trash bags in all of my little trashcans. You know, those you have in the bathroom, your office, the kids’ bedrooms. This not only saves the planet from even more plastic in landfills, but it also saves me money.

Clorox Green Works products are hard on dirt but soft on the environment.

Another way I do what I can to help the environment is using ecofriendly cleaning products, such as Clorox Green Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Because I have a septic tank, I want to make sure the cleaners I use are OK for both the septic system and the environment. Since Clorox Green Works products are made with plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, it’s a natural (pun intended!) choice for my cleaning needs. It also helps that Clorox Green Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner does a great job cleaning my toilets, and it smells great. In addition, Clorox Green Works has a complete line of products to help me clean my entire home without harming the great outdoors.

Finally, I try to keep the amount of bottled water I consume down to a minimum. In fact, drinking tap water provides many eco-friendly benefits, the least of which is reducing the amount of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills by using reusable water bottles. And with so many great choices to choose from, you can save the environment and drink your water in style!

See? Little steps can lead to big benefits for the environment. You just have to take the first one to see how easy it can be!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post Going Green the Easy Way appeared first on All Things Lifestyle.

Photo by Kate Elkins/NewOrleansOnline.com

New Orleans traditionally thrives on tourism, with visitors roaming the streets year-round. They hit all the usual spots: Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, Café Du Monde and the Garden District, to name a few. But when carnival time hits, the city re-invents itself.

Mardi Gras is a prime time to visit the Crescent City. Obviously, the biggest draw is the parades. Featuring floats, bands, horseback riders and various other participants, these events are not to be missed. And, of course, there are the famous Mardi Gras beads and other “throws” that float riders toss into the crowds. Cries of, “Throw me something, mister!” ring out along the streets as throngs of spectators vie for these special souvenirs.

To get the most out of your parade experience, choose a viewing spot that will suit your needs. Those spectators with families will find a more family-friendly atmosphere in Uptown along St. Charles Avenue. While the viewing arcade along Canal and other nearby streets is open to families, you may find this a more adult-oriented crowd. However, do not expect an abundance of “girls gone wild.” In my experience, those episodes are wildly exaggerated and occur less often than rumored unless you are on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.

A few of my favorite Mardi Gras throws

Regarding the “throws”–those items tossed into the crowds by float riders, be prepared to bring home a lot, if you are so inclined. Beaded necklaces, stuffed toys, doubloons and cups are just a few of the many things sailing through the air.

And when it comes to catching your fill, Errol Laborde–author of “Krewe: The Early New Orleans Carnival Comus to Zulu”­–offers the following advice: First, if you and another person both get hands on a necklace, don’t surrender it to the other person. Instead, grab on it until they let go or it breaks. After all, this is serious business. Second, if something lands near your foot, step on it to claim it. If you wait to bend over and grab it, chances are it will be gone before you reach it.

Finally, relax and enjoy yourself. This is a time of fun and festivity. Don’t fret if you aren’t the first person by the parade barricade. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to every parade. The goal is to celebrate and relish this special time. After all, this is Mardi Gras!

For more information on Mardi Gras, visit www.mardigrasguide.com, site of Arthur Hardy’s “Mardi Gras Guide.” To plan your visit to New Orleans, visit www.neworleansonline.com.

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Upon arriving in Beech Mountain–the highest town in Eastern America at 5,506 feet above sea level–we checked in at the Pinnacle Inn Resort, a condominium rental community. Our condo was a spacious two-bedroom unit with a full kitchen, dining area and living area (with fireplace), plus a balcony. It was more than enough for just the two of us.

That evening we had dinner at the nearby Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria & Pasta. My daughter and I shared a pizza with the best crust I’ve had in years. The restaurant is within walking distance of the Pinnacle Inn Resort, provided weather conditions allow. The path is pretty dark at night, so I would bypass walking after the sun goes down.

The following morning we were up and ready to make our way to Beech Mountain Resort, where we fueled up with a hot breakfast at the resort’s View Haus Cafeteria. Afterward, we headed to gear up with ski and boot rentals followed by a stop in at the ski school office, where we signed up for a ski lesson (FYI, January is Learn to Ski month. Visitors to Beech Mountain Resort can purchase a Learn to Ski Package for $45. Good through Jan. 31 for beginners ages 8 and older, it includes a weekday lift ticket, equipment rental, helmet and a first-time beginner lesson. Sign up for the Skiing 101 package for $101, and get lodging, too!)

Back outside, we soon met up with Troy, our ski instructor, on the ski school field. In short order, he had my daughter and I working on the two basics of snow skiing: parallel skis, or “French fries,” for skiing, and wedged skis, or “pizza.” Having had a couple of ski lessons a few years earlier, the basics came back to me pretty quickly. My daughter caught on just as fast. We both had a learning curve, though, when it came to mastering the “J” bar, which takes skiers back to the top of the small hill we were on. Thankfully, Troy was really patient with my daughter, and he walked along with her until she got the hang of it.

Toward the end of our lesson, Troy had us working on left and right turns as we descended the ski school slope. Again, my daughter did very well; I was so pleased with her progress. Unfortunately, once the lesson ended, she was ready to move on to yet another new experience: ice skating.

Located below the ski slopes in Beech Tree Village, a 7,000-square-foot outdoor rink welcomes skaters to take a spin on the ice. After lacing up my daughter’s skates, she didn’t hesitate to start experimenting and exploring the ice. She just took off. And she crossed the ice. For a few feet. Then the inevitable happened. She fell.

She quickly picked herself up and took off again. I told her to slow down, that slow and steady was the way to acclimate to the skates and learn how to skate. She responded with, “Look! I’m doing it!” before taking off again. It was all I could to do keep up with her. Although she fell time and again, she picked herself up and kept right on going. Thankfully, for me, we vacated the ice after about 30 minutes so we could meet our group for lunch.

We made our way to the resort’s Beech Tree Bar & Grille, a comfortable restaurant with a sports-bar feel to it, but more family-friendly. The menu features appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads and more, including a kids menu. It offered a nice respite from a morning of activity.

Once lunch was over, we headed for the Beech Mountain youth sledding hill. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as conditions allow, this sled run is specifically for children age 12 and younger. Adults can sled with their children, but not individually. Therefore, you must talk your kids into letting you ride with them because this is one not-to-miss FREE activity. My daughter and I had a blast flying down the hill, and we didn’t even mind the mild climb back to the top to do it again. One note: Only plastic sleds are permitted, so plan accordingly.

Our day wrapped up with a group dinner catered by Famous Fast Eddie’s Chicago Style Hot Dogs and Deli. Now, I am not one to do much with my hot dog. Just a little strip of ketchup, a little strip of mustard, and I’m good to go. But I did give in and have Eddie put a pickle across the top. Turned out to be a great decision, because it was delicious.

My daughter is equally stingy with her hot dog, usually opting for plain all the way. However, she did surprise me by having Eddie add shredded cheese to her hot dogs. That’s right. “Dogs.” She ate four! And she wasn’t the only one going back for more. Several members of our group opted for seconds of Eddie’s hot dogs, many with traditional Chicago-style favorites like green relish, sport peppers, sauerkraut and coleslaw served up on poppy seed buns.

Finally, at the end of a very active day, we headed off to bed. The next morning, we hated to say goodbye, so we went for one last sledding run. Unfortunately, our time came to an end, and we headed back down the mountain and turned toward home. We’re already planning a return trip.

Disclosure: Karon and her daughter visited the town of Beech Mountain and Beech Mountain Resort as a guest of the Town of Beech Mountain. All opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author.

The post Beech Mountain, N.C.: Where Family Fun Reigns appeared first on All Things Lifestyle.

I made sure everyone in the family was bundled up for snow conditions. Heavy jackets, mittens, wind pants to keep the underlying jeans dry, hats–basically, a lot of clothing. As it turns out, though, you don’t really need all of that stuff if you’re just tubing. The way the tube runs are set up, you don’t even touch the snow. You climb in the tube at the top platform, and climb out at the bottom platform, neither of which have snow on them.

But that’s OK. With the wind in your face as you race down the tubing run, you don’t have time to think about touching snow. You just try to soak in the exhilaration of the ride. And when you reach the bottom, you grab your tube and see how quickly you can get back to the top again.

There are two ways to do this. For both family and individual tubers, you can go around on one side and ride the conveyor belt to the top. However, it does move at a slow pace, so it can take some time. Family tubers who want to make the most of their time should head up the other side, taking the path up the hill to the top platform. My 6-year-old daughter and I liked the path because we quickly returned to wait our turn in line to tube. In our experience, the line was much shorter, and we were back to tubing in no time. NOTE: The walking path uphill is a bit strenuous, so be prepared for a mini workout, especially if you opt for this route more than once.

When purchasing your pass for snow tubing, it’s important to note that it comes with a two-hour session for tubing. This is the only time you will be allowed to snow tube, so plan accordingly to take full advantage of it. Your pass will allow full access to all other snow play areas.

“What play areas?” you ask. That would be the SnowZone and the Little Angels areas. In the SnowZone, kids 54 inches and shorter can explore Fort Snow, a castle with turrets, mini slides and tunnels. There’s also a mini snow tube run alongside Fort Snow. My 3-year-old son loved having the chance to snow tube on his own since he couldn’t do so on the larger, individual snow tube run.

The SnowZone also has a large area where kids can build snowmen, which my daughter really enjoyed. In addition, children can practice their aim with snowballs by firing at a series of moving targets. Even the littlest guests can get in on the action at the Little Angels section. Specifically for children 3 and younger (and shorter than 42 inches tall), Little Angels welcome babies and toddlers to experience the snow without getting run over by bigger kids. There’s even SnoBoggans, mini sleds so little ones can try snow tubing.

When visiting the SnowZone, you’ll want to don the aforementioned snow gear that was not necessary for tubing. The mittens, hats, snow or wind pants–you going to want this stuff to keep fingers warm and clothes dry.

If you are interested in exploring other areas of Stone Mountain Park, be sure to check the website for a list of attractions open during your visit. The park also offers a combo family value pass that features access to Snow Mountain, three specified attractions and a meal for a family of four. Tickets for additional family members can be purchased for an extra fee.

At the end of our visit, my kids (and their parents!) were thoroughly exhausted but very happy with their experience at Snow Mountain. This is definitely a family activity we will turn into an annual family tradition.

Snow Mountain is open at Stone Mountain Park through Feb. 18. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.stonemountainpark.com.

Disclosure: Karon’s family visited Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park as a guest of Stone Mountain Park. However, the opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author. 

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Simply put, I love using an all-in-one baby wash for bathing my 3-year-old son and washing his hair. He still squirms quite a bit, so being able to complete both tasks in one step saves me time and energy. With Aquaphor Gentle Wash & Shampoo, I found that it quickly turned into a rich lather when applied to a bath pouf. This made it even easier to bath my son in short order. In addition, thanks to its tear-free formula, the Gentle Wash & Shampoo didn’t burn my son’s eyes, which was definitely tested often. Plus, it was fragrance-free, so I didn’t have to worry that he smelled all flowery long after the bath was over. And, after several days of use, I was happy to discover that the Aquaphor didn’t irritate or dry out his skin. Overall, I was very pleased with the baby wash.

The Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment was a bit of a different story. I was looking forward to trying the lotion because I have dry skin on my hands, which is aggravated whenever I wash them. However, the lotion was very sticky and it felt like I had put on way too much, even when I used just a little bit. I had to wipe my hands with a napkin to remove the excess. I thought it wouldn’t take long to absorb, but, again, I was wrong. It took longer than I had expected, and while I did see some improvement in the dry skin on my hands, it wasn’t enough for me to regularly use the Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment. Eucerin has some other lotions that I prefer over this one.

So, in the end, the Aquaphor Gentle Wash & Shampoo is a keeper, but the Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment is not. At least, that’s my results. Give them a try, and see if you have a difference experience. Either way, leave a comment below so we know what you think!

Disclosure: Aquaphor provided samples of both products as well as compensation for this review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author.

The post Aquaphor Review appeared first on All Things Lifestyle.

The sidewalk outside the Dakota Apartments where John Lennon was assassinated

As a self-proclaimed tour junkie, I couldn’t wait to take my tour. I started at the Gray Line New York ticket office, which is located at 777 Eighth Avenue (between 47th & 48th streets). I traded in my voucher, which online ticket buyers will receive, for my actual ticket. I also grabbed a couple of the complimentary bottled water available for customers. This is just one of many perks I loved about my Gray Line tour.

Next, I headed across and down the street to the Uptown Loop starting point, which begins in Times Square and heads north through the Upper West Side along Central Park, into Harlem, back down along the east side of the park and returns to Times Square. From the moment I took my seat on the top deck of the Gray Line double-decker bus, I was ready to hear and learn more about some of New York’s more notable neighborhoods and sites. I also had my camera ready to snap some shots along the way, which was made easier by the open top deck.

American Museum of Natural History

As we set off on the tour, I was glad I had chosen a seat near the tour guide. The noise from surrounding vehicles sometimes made it difficult to hear her, but overall I caught most of her narrative. The weather was great and, surprisingly, so was the traffic. Unfortunately, this led to a smooth-moving tour; I actually would have preferred a little more traffic so I would have had more times for photos. But that’s just me.

As we moved through the streets of New York, I got to see many sites that captured my attention. These included the location of the infamous Soup Nazi’s storefront (made famous by “Seinfeld”), Lincoln Center, the Dakota Apartments where John Lennon was assassinated, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and the museum duos of the Guggenheim and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Apollo Theater in Harlem

If my schedule had been more flexible, I would have taken advantage of Gray Line’s hop on/hop off benefit to explore these sites in depth. This is another great perk available with many Gray Line tours. As you progress along your chosen tour, you can leave the tour at any Gray Line stop to visit a nearby attraction, grab something to eat or take a bathroom break. When you’re ready to rejoin the tour, you just hop on the next Gray line bus for your tour that comes to the stop.

The hop on/hop off option also benefits tour guests in some unexpected ways. If you find yourself on board with a tour operator that just rubs you the wrong way, simply hop off at the next stop and then rejoin the tour on the next available bus. Similarly, if you find yourself on a crowded bus, don’t get discouraged. As stated above, just change buses.

When all was said and done, I truly enjoyed my tour and am already looking forward to my next one. It’s something I highly recommend to everyone visiting New York. And it seems I’m not alone. Just before my tour ended, a trio of tour guests boarded my bus. They seemed very excited and were posing with one another for photos. I offered to take one of all three together, and they gladly accepted. Afterward, they told me how they never come to New York without taking a Gray Line tour because it was one of their favorite, not-to-miss activities. It looks like I’ll be doing the same!

Special thanks to Gray Line New York, Madame Deals Media and Mommy Needs Her Coffee for the chance to experience New York in a new way! While Gray Line New York provided me with a tour ticket, the opinions expressed herein are entirely mine. 

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In fact, in these developing countries, a child dies every 20 seconds from such preventable diseases as diarrhea, measles, pneumonia and polio. To put it another way, the number of children dying every year from preventable diseases in developing countries is nearly equivalent to half the children entering kindergarten in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Education in 2007. That’s A LOT of kids, folks.

Children in Myanmar receive measles vaccines as part of the Myanmar Measles Campaign.

Giving these children a chance at a healthy life is simple: Just provide access to vaccines. The results are undeniable. For instance, rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children. If your child has suffered through it, you know how draining it can be both physically and mentally for a baby or toddler. Unfortunately, more than half a million children age 5 or younger die as a result of rotavirus, according to the World Health Organization. However, after introducing the rotavirus vaccine in Mexico in 2006, diarrhea-related child deaths dropped 46 percent, saving the lives of approximately 880 children. Saving even one life is notable, but 880? There’s no question that providing vaccines to these and other children in need is something we all should strive to do.

And there are those people stepping up to the plate. In 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their foundation would commit $10 billion over the next 10 years to help research, develop and deliver vaccines for the world’s poorest countries. In 2011, the United Nations Foundation launched Shot@Life, a campaign to educate, connect and empower Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries. This organization makes it easy for you and me to help for as little as $5.

What can $5 do? Just $5 – little more than the cost of your favorite drink at Starbucks – will protect a child from polio and measles for his or her lifetime. For $20, you can give a child a lifetime free of pneumonia, diarrhea, polio and measles. Who wouldn’t want to increase the likelihood of these children in developing countries to reach such milestones as taking their first steps, celebrating their first birthday or starting first grade?

Join me in helping Shot@Life bring vaccines to more children around the globe. Visit shotatlife.org today for more information, get involved and/or make a donation. It may be cliché, but it’s true: Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children throughout the world.

The post Vaccines Do Save Lives appeared first on All Things Lifestyle.

Georgia Aquarium

With beluga whales and whale sharks included among the wide variety of aquatic life, no wonder the Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium. Of course, you also can see marine animals from the rivers of the world, a wealth of colorful tropical fish, even learn about the animals living along the Georgia coast. But what makes this aquarium truly special is the ability to go from gallery to gallery as much as you want. Unlike many other aquariums that require visitors to follow a specific path from start to finish, the galleries of the Georgia Aquarium fork off the open atrium so you can come and go as you please.

Address: 255 Baker St. NW
Telephone: 404-581-4000

World of Coca-Cola

Sure, you can learn about the history of Coca-Cola: how the drink was invented, the growth of the company, how Coke reaches people around the globe. Yes, you can go behind the scenes to see how the bottling process works. And, of course, you can have your picture taken with the loveable Coca-Cola Polar Bear. But what you really must do is head upstairs to Taste It!, where you can sample more than 60 different Coke products from around the world. It won’t be like anything you’ve ever experienced before!

Address: 121 Baker St. NW
Telephone: 404-676-5151

Centennial Olympic Park

Developed as a gathering spot for visitors to the 1996 Summer Olympics, this park continues to draw in both residents and guests who enjoy its beauty. The big draw for kids is the Fountain of Rings, the world’s largest interactive fountain designed like the five Olympic rings. They love playing around in the dancing water, which comes alive during the four shows held each day.

Address: 265 Park Avenue West NW
Telephone: 404-222-7275

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Teach your children a love of nature at the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Children’s Garden. Filled with interactive exhibits that teach kids how caterpillars transform into butterflies, how plants and humans sustain one another, and how carnivorous plants eat bugs, the Children’s Garden entertains and educates young visitors all at once. But the real draw may be the three-story tree house overlooking the garden or the Sunflower Fountain where kids can splash away during warm weather.

Address: 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE
Telephone: 404-876-5859

Center for Puppetry Arts

One part theater, one part museum and one part learning center, the Center for Puppetry Arts offers experiences sure to entertain children of all ages. You can catch a performance of the latest puppet production, or check out puppets past and present in the museum’s permanent and special exhibits. For hands-on fun, sign up for one of the Create-A-Puppet Workshops, where kids can create their own puppet to take home.

Address: 1404 Spring St. NW
Telephone: 404-873-3089

Inside CNN Studio Tour

Ever wonder how the folks at CNN get the news? With an Inside CNN Studio Tour, you go behind the scenes to see how a story comes to life on not only national but also international television. From a replica of the control room to the actual newsroom, you’ll go through the entire process of bringing a story to viewers throughout the world. You even can sign up for a special tour allowing you to go onto the set of HLN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade during the live broadcast!

Address: One CNN Center
Telephone: 404-827-2300

Zoo Atlanta

Spend the day monkeying around with the zebras, pandas, lions and more. Kids even can get up close and personal with the animals through a variety of live shows, a petting zoo and feeding opportunities. If animal encounters aren’t enough, romp around on the KIDZone Playground, test your skills on the Rock Climber, take a spin on the Nabisco Endangered Species Carousel or relax on the Georgia Natural Gas Blue Flame Express Train.

Address: 800 Cherokee Ave. SE
Telephone: 404-624-9453

Photos courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development

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Set the scene

Hosting a dinner party doesn’t mean a full-scale approach; you can have an upscale affair with a few simple touches. First, opt for low-key lighting such as lamps and lots of candles. Second, set out fresh flowers in all your entertaining spaces, including the kitchen and the guest bathroom. While a big extravagant centerpiece is a great idea, put it anywhere but on the dinner table. Go with low-range pieces on the table so people can talk to one another over the flowers.

Third, consider your music. High-energy music leads to a high-energy event; therefore, if you want something more relaxed, tone it down a bit so you create a cool atmosphere where people can enjoy themselves. For example, turn on Frank Sinatra or Michael Bublé for a really dressy party. If you’re going for a summer theme, beach music such as Jimmy Buffett is a good fit. Whatever you select, choose something that makes conversation easy for you and your guests.

Prepare the menu

When it comes to the food, choose dishes that you can prep ahead of time. For instance, a day before the party, cook braised short ribs, and then stuff the meat in piqueo peppers. Then, heat it up right before dinner. Another easy dish that can be prepared early is seared tuna over Asian noodle salad. Just sear the tuna and then refrigerate. Once you are ready to serve, simply slice the tuna and serve over the salad.

For dessert, take easy dishes and serve them up in elegant containers. Suggestions include chocolate mouse layered with peanut butter served in a martini glass or tangerine sorbet served with champagne in a flute.

Dress to impress

The right attire for your dinner party should reflect your tone or theme. For example, if it’s a casual affair, guys can go with linen pants and a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, while girls can opt for white jeans paired with a colorful tunic. The goal is something stylish yet comfortable.

If you want a dressier event, go with suits with a loose skinny tie for the guys and a fun, playful cocktail dress for the girls. Themed events also lend themselves to certain clothing choices. For example, if you want a monochromatic theme such as yellow, ask your guests to dress in yellow. Or perhaps you plan to host a “Mad Men”-themed party. If so, dress in that era–1960s New York.

Whether you go casual or opt for high style, keep one thing in mind: It’s all about enjoying your friends’ company, so do as much of the work as possible beforehand so you don’t miss the party!

The post Have a Better Dinner Party appeared first on All Things Lifestyle.

The metabolism for each person varies, and research shows the metabolism is established at birth. To determine if you have a fast or slow metabolism, also known as your basal or resting metabolic rate – the rate at which you use energy at rest (sleeping, sitting on the couch, etc.), examine your body composition. The more total fat-free mass you have (including muscles, bones, organs, etc.), the higher your BMR. On average, BMR is about half a calorie per pound of body weight, per hour. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you will use approximately 70 calories per hour doing nothing.

The main factor affecting metabolism is the amount of muscle tissue (fat-free mass) in the body. Building and maintaining muscle tissue occurs with regular exercise. If your exercise program slows down or is non-existent, this explains why you may feel that your metabolism has slowed down as well.

Food intake also affects your metabolism. When you reduce the amount of calories you consume or go long periods between eating meals, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy.

Though many attribute a slower metabolism to increasing age, it, in fact, is due to the decreased amount of exercise and the resulting muscle loss that comes with getting older.

There are several key ways you can improve, or speed up, your metabolism. The first, and perhaps most obvious, way is to increase lean muscle mass. You can achieve this with regular exercise that includes a weight and strength training program as well as an aerobic regime. The second step is eating a healthy diet at regular intervals. Maintain a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables and grains. These fuel your metabolism. Also, make sure your calorie intake is more than 1,200 calories per day. This will help maintain your BMR rather than slow it down. Be sure and drink a lot of water. This helps your metabolism function properly. Also, avoid alcohol, which depresses your metabolism.

Finally, do not opt for an easy fix with supplements or miracle pills. They simply do not work. By following the above recommendations, you should see an improvement to your metabolism. As you continue heeding this advice, your metabolism – and you – will stay in great shape.

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