Speed fat burn

Here’s a happy slimming secret: It’s surprisingly easy to triple weekly weight loss just by correcting hormonal imbalances. And your trouble spot reveals which hormone to target

Heavy hips? Sprinkle salads with flax

Blame extra curves on estrogen dominance, a problem that affects up to 66% of women largely because estrogenmimicking compounds lurk in processed food and farm pesticides and hormones. Easy fix: Sprinkle your salads with 2 Tbs. of flaxseeds (which contain a fiber that blocks the absorption of estrogen) daily, and British researchers say you could lose weight 56% faster.

Round belly? Picture calm success

When you’re under pressure, your body releases cortisol, a stress hormone that fuels the formation of belly fat, says obesity researcher Andrew Steptoe, PH.D. Easy fix: Set aside five minutes twice daily to visualize yourself tackling problems calmly and successfully, and researchers at Logan’s Utah State University say you’ll cut stress levels in half, lower cortisol production by 33% and easily shed up to 14 lbs. of stubborn abdominal fat!

Flabby arms? Boost your smoothie

By your mid-40s, your ovaries slow the production of the fatburning hormone testosterone. The first sign? Loose upper arms. Easy fix: add 4 Tbs. of whey protein powder to your daily smoothie. Say researchers at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital: The amino acids will prod your adrenal glands to make testosterone, speeding fat loss by as much as 68%!

Muffin top? Move like this

Side fat is a sign your body isn’t using insulin properly—the hormone is depositing blood sugars into tissues at your waist, where they are turned into fat. Easy fix: Pick up the pace for 20-second “bursts” during walks, and metabolic researcher Tom Fritz, M.D., explains you’ll switch on insulin-sensitizing genes, helping tissues burn 50% more blood sugar before it’s converted into fat. — Brenda Kearns