I've been a gym rat for most of my life. But the truth is my metabolism slowed down a long time ago. If I depended solely on exercise to burn calories, I wouldn't have as low a body fat ratio as I do. Even with all my hard work, I couldn't have made the progress I have without some help from science. Here's how I've been able to keep my body fat ratio at 8% at the age of 57.



There are a number of supplements that can help you burn fat while you sleep. Here are some of the best:

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): This naturally occurring group of linoleic acid derivatives promotes fat loss and the prevention of further fat gain while simultaneously stimulating muscle growth. CLA not only helps you lose fat by decreasing the amount that's stored in your fat cells by boosting metabolism, but it also increases the amount of fat that's burned during sleep. This supplement must be taken consistently.

Guggulsterone: When you diet, the body tends to slow down the metabolism because your brain thinks you're starving. The idea is to keep your metabolism up without keep you up at night. Guggulsterone, an extract from the resin of Indian Commiphora mukul trees, keeps your metabolic rate up without keeping you up.

Glucomannan: This fiber, derived from the konjac root, expands to 50 times its original volume when mixed with water. This fills your stomach, giving you a sense of fullness and helping you avoid late-night snacking. It also slows the digestion of foods like carbohydrate to prevent unwanted insulin spikes and further help weight loss.

Tid-Bit: The link between Vitamin D and Diabetes

Our sources of Vitamin D are two-fold. One: it is found in such foods as milk and cheese. Two: it is made in the body after exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D levels have been falling In America because we are getting less sun and consuming fewer dairy products. Dermatologist encourage people to stay out of the sun and wear sun block while obesity experts tell people to cut down on dairy products because of the high fat levels. UCLA scientists found that people with low levels of Vitamin D were resistant to

insulin. This means that it takes more insulin than normal to regulate blood sugar. Insulin resistance is related to high blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, diabetes, abdominal obesity, and blood cell clotting problems.

Key: wait 15 minutes before applying sunscreen; try to get a little sun every day, consume non-fat dairy products and take a Vitamin D supplement.