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Corbis

Corbis

Remember back in the day when you could eat anything you wanted? Fast food after a night of drinking? Chips and ice cream for dinner? Doughnuts for breakfast? No problem. Then one day, the number on the scale started to climb.

All of us have to grow up someday, and with a change in age comes a change in metabolism. As we get more mature, our metabolism slows down. And that means that some things have to change. And you might be surprised at what they are.

While no one can actually turn back the hands of time, you can take the right steps to stay in good shape and boost your metabolism. And it’s not all about diet and exercise. Compensate for these grown-up changes in your life and you can help your body look as good as it did during your 2 a.m. pizza days — no matter how many candles are on your cake!

Image Source: Shutterstock

Image Source: Shutterstock

Go To Bed

Remember summer vacations when you could sleep ’til noon no problem? Now between checking up on work emails in bed and waking up early to work out, you’re not averaging the hours that you used to.

But if you wake up tired every day, you could be waking up a little heavier too. Science has uncovered the link between a lack sleep and weight gain. Luckily there’s an easy fix: simply get some zs.

Check Your Medicine Cabinet

And ask your doctor if any medications you’re on are known to cause weight gain. If you’ve packed on a few medication-related pounds, you may be able to take a similar prescription that doesn’t have the same side effects on you and the scale.

Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Check Up On Your Thyroid

Not all weight gain is a natural part of aging. If you continue to gain weight despite your lifestyle changes, it might be time to make an appointment.

A slow thyroid, high hormone levels or other medical problems could be behind your weight gain.

Image Source: Shutterstock.com

Image Source: Shutterstock.com

You’re Not Eating Enough

Dieting and adult life sometimes seem like they go hand in hand. But cut too many calories from your diet and it will definitely mess with your metabolism. Follow that up with the inevitable snack attack and you set yourself up to plateau or even gain weight despite your dieting efforts.

The simple solution? Eat until you’re satisfied.

Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Get More Iron In Your Life

Women lose iron every month once they get their period. And being low in this mineral can slow down your thyroid and metabolism and make you gain weight.

Try taking a vitamin supplement made for women to make sure that you’re getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your metabolism working at top speeds.