J. Lo’s Nutritionist Swears That These 5 Tips Can Kickstart Anyone’s Metabolism

If you’ve been cursed with a sluggish metabolism, you’re not alone. The sad truth is that your metabolism slows as you age, so even if you’ve always lost weight easily, you might struggle as you get older.

The good news is, there are plenty of things you can do to kickstart a sluggish metabolism. Jennifer Lopez is nearing 50, and she continues to look amazing. Her nutritionist, Haylie Pomroy, offers metabolism-boosting tips that might explain why.

1. Chose real, whole foods

A clean diet keeps Lopez looking her best. | Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

By now, we know that choosing whole, unprocessed food over junk is a great way to stay lean and healthy. But Pomroy considers “real” food to be most important, meaning something that was once alive and came from the land, sky, or sea — in other words, fruits, veggies, grains, eggs, meat, and fish. She recommends reading labels and putting back any ingredients you don’t recognize.

Next: Even nutritionists know you can’t be perfect all the time.

2. Eat foods you actually love

There’s no point in eating foods you don’t enjoy. | Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Of course, eating nutritious foods is important — but if you try to restrict yourself too much, you’ll be miserable (and set yourself up for disaster). Eating food you love stimulates the secretion of endorphins and reduces stress hormones, which actually improves your metabolism. So choose healthy foods you genuinely love, but do allow yourself the pizza and tacos you’re craving on occasion.

Next: This advice contradicts the recent fasting trend.

3. Eat within 30 minutes of waking up

Lopez ensures that a healthy breakfast is the first thing she thinks about each morning. |  Jennifer Lopez via Instagram

Sorry, intermittent fasters, but Pomroy recommends starting your day with breakfast. If you don’t eat as soon as you wake up, your body starts running on zero fuel, which can cause stress on the metabolism. This makes your adrenals produce cortisol, a hormone that encourages your body to stockpile fat.

Try eating something, even something small, within 30 minutes of waking up. Eat lunch and dinner as well, and have healthy snacks if you’re hungry between meals.

Next: This also goes against some other health experts’ advice, but it makes things simpler.

4. Don’t obsess over calories too much

Jennifer Lopez shows off her abs in a mirror selfie | Jennifer Lopez via Instagram

While keeping track of what you’re eating every day is good for your health, obsessively counting every calorie is not. Pomroy firmly believes cutting portions too much sends your body into starvation mode, which makes your metabolism slow down and store everything (even lettuce!) as fat. As long as you’re eating good quality whole foods and not stuffing yourself, you’ll maintain a healthy weight.

Next: How you move matters.

5. Be strategic with your exercise

Dancing is one of Lopez’s go-tos. | Jennifer Lopez via Instagram

Any exercise is better than none, but Pomroy stresses that how you move matters. She recommends a mixture of cardio and strength training, with recovery like Epsom salts and massages as frequently as possible (which sounds great to us).

During cardio sessions, try to raise your heart rate to 120 to 140 beats per minute for 25 to 35 minutes. Lift weights at least twice a week, working up to heavier sets with more reps. Pomroy also recommends having a small snack before you workout, like a piece of fruit.

Next: Here’s another tip from Pomroy that will help beat diet boredom.

Try to mix things up in the kitchen

Healthy cooking keeps Lopez looking svelt. | Ethan Miller/Getty Images

You may know someone who meal preps every week, rarely straying from their standard few lunches and dinners. But if you eat the same things all week, you can get bored and give up. Research backs this up, indicating that the more varied a healthy diet is, the lower your odds are of having excess body fat or metabolic syndrome symptoms.

Next; You can boost your metabolism at any age.

It’s never too late

You can drastically improve your health at any age. | Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for FIJI Water

J.Lo may be nearing 50, but she’s been eating well and exercising for decades. Still, you really can improve your metabolic rate at any age. Utilize these nutritionist tips, and don’t buy into the common metabolism myths, like thinking your metabolism will slow when you start a diet or that spicy foods are the key to boosting it.

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