Q:

Every year my weight goes up three or four pounds and it seems that my metabolism just gets slower and slower, how can I reverse this process?

A:

Muscle is the bodies most efficient calorie burner and after the age of 30 we lose approximately a half a pound of muscle per year. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn while at rest. So, with muscle lost over the years, your body does not burn calories as effectively and not surprisingly you gain fat. The solution is to perform a strengthening routine to prevent the inevitable age-related loss of muscle. Performing one strengthening exercise for each major muscle group is a great start. Resistance training will not only increase your fat-burning potential but it will also help to keep you firm and toned up!

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer in Vancouver. For further information call his office at 604-420-7800.