World Expensive Female Escorts

Most Expensive Female Escorts

 Zahia Dehar, $1,200/ per night

We do not condone hiring social escorts. Paying for love is like having sex for virginity. To the men out there, even if you do not respect women and would like to treat them as your play things, you should respect yourselves. Somewhere on Earth, there is a lady who will love you for who you are regardless of shape, size and color, you just got to be patient, good things come to those who wait. Yes, social escorts might tend to be prettier than the average girl, but at what cost? You fork out large sums of money for a night and she leaves you high and dry the next day. Check out the top 10 most expensive female escorts in the world that leech off men's desperation.

 

 

 

 Zahia Dehar resembles a life sized version of a Barbie doll. It will come to be of no surprise if she reveals that she is trying to emulate the famous Mattel doll. Many of her photos look unreal, they just look like photos of a mannequin, even her body proportions are highly unnatural. Zahia does not really charge on a nightly basis, instead her fee is $32,000 per month, so she is more of a sugar-baby looking for a couple of rich sugar-daddies.

 

 Loredana Jolie, $2,000/ per night

 

 

Loredana Jolie is notorious for being one of Tiger Woods' companions. Loredana claims she was only paid $15,000 at one time from all the men she has been with, so it is estimated that she costs $2,000 a night.

 

 Just Kassandra, $3,000/ per night

 

 

Just Kassandra is very exclusive and only accepts the clients that she likes. She will meet them in person first and if they are to her liking, she will then make the additional arrangements. She has a passion for traveling, so she typically prefer men of adventure and riches to invite her into their high-powered world. Her website depicts her as a very classy lady with whom men would want to show off.

 

Ashley Dupre (Kristen), $4,300/ per night

 

 

New York Govenor Eliot Laurence Spitzer had a little affair with a woman named Kristen a.k.a Ashley Supre. Apparently, Spitzer has been a customer of the Emporer's Club VIP that helped arranged his trysts with Kristen and several other women. He paid over $80,000 in companions, and it didn't work out for him when his dirty little secret was leaked. He was forced to resign as govenor while Kristen shot to fame for the scandal and has been featured in Playboy and other men's magazines.

 

 Miss Maya Blue, $4,500/ per night

 

 

Maya Blue is an enterprising young woman with her own website that includes a section describing herself, a photo gallery, rates and suggested services. For some reason, despite the steep prices, men can't seem to get enough of her. The traveling courtesan has men talking about her on Internet forums everywhere.

 

 Ava Xi'an, $6,500/ per night

 

 

Ava Xi'an used to be a New York Realtor and did not set out to be an escort. She is a victim of one of those sob stories where her father got ill and had no health insurance to pay off his medical bills. His heart surgery was going to cost more than they could afford, so Ava studied the art of coquetry and being a professional social escort. She decided to market herself to the more upscale clientele because she wanted to make the most money in the shortest period of time. She got so good at it that before long, she was making $45,000 a week and she had enough money to pay for her father's surgery.

 

 Natalie McLennan, $16,000/ per night

 

 

Natalie McLennan was formerly known as the number one social escort of New York City. Her career took a plunge as she got busted by the police for money laundering for a prostitution ring. After that, she wrote an autobiography called “The Price: My Rise and Fall As Natalia, New York's #1 Escort” which didn't bring in as much dough as her previous job.

 

 Lauren, $24,000/ per night

 

 

Lauren is a very secretive social escort who charges an exorbitant rate of $24,000 for a night. All we know is that she is loved for her personality, wit, charm and sensuality in bed.

 

 Cannes Film Festival Favorites, $40,000/ per night

 

 

Social escorts from all parts of France, Spain and Italy flock to the 10-14 day Cannes Film Festival which is typically held in May. The competition is fierce between the escorts and they are situated everywhere hawking their goods in hotel lobbies, marinas, clubs and restaurants. The highest paid and most sought after social escorts don't even need to lift a finger, men go to them and “book” them before the Cannes Film Festival. They have prearranged dates that will even take them out of the bedroom and into the prestigious A-list party scene. These select few are known for making $40,000/night.

 

 Michelle Braun, $50,000/ per night

 

 

We do not know what makes this lady so special that men pay $50,000 a night for, but her clients include “big names”, as mentioned by her lawyer, Marc Nurik

Google planning a ‘watershed’ quantum computing announcement

Google planning a ‘watershed’ quantum computing announcement for December 8

According to Steve Jurvetson, venture capitalist and board member at pioneer quantum computing company D-WAVE (as well as others, such as Tesla and SpaceX), Google has what may be a “watershed” quantum computing announcement scheduled for early next month. This comes as D-WAVE, which notably also holds the Mountain View company as a customer, has just sold a 1000+ Qubit 2X quantum computer to national security research institution Los Alamos…

It’s not exactly clear what this announcement will be (besides important for the future of computing), but Jurvetson says to “stay tuned” for more information coming on December 8th. This is the first we’ve heard of a December 8th date for a Google announcement, and considering its purported potential to be a turning point in computing, this could perhaps mean an actual event is in the cards.

Notably, Google earlier this year entered a new deal with NASA and D-WAVE to continue its research in quantum computing. D-WAVE’s press release at the time had this to say:

The new agreement enables Google and its partners to keep their D-Wave system at the state-of-the-art for up to seven years, with new generations of D-Wave systems to be installed at NASA Ames as they become available.

Jurvetson made mention of the date in a comment on his Flickr account, specifically below a photo that he posted 3 years ago (below) showing Rose’s Law, a theory that suggests that sometime around the end of this year quantum computers should have power that’s “faster than the universe.” So far, he notes, Rose’s Law has seen itself proven mostly accurate — not unlike Moore’s Law, which was remarkably predicted by Gordon E. Moore after just five data points.

Effective Beauty Uses for Pumpkin

6 Effective Beauty Uses for Pumpkin

                                   Score glowing skin with your favorite fall flavor

From your Starbucks latte to the orange-laced displays at your local grocery store, it’s official:Pumpkin spice season is officially upon us. What you may not realize, however, is that this iconic American fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit!) has some serious beauty benefits.

“Pumpkin contains enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids that increase cell turnover, brighten and smooth skin, and are great exfoliaters,” explains New York dermatologist, Patricia Wexler, M.D. Vitamins A and C help prevent free-radical damage and boost collagen production for younger-looking skin. The zinc in pumpkin seeds is good for acne to help decrease oil production, while the essential fatty acids help with barrier function to increase hydration, she adds.

The beloved fall gourd is even good for your strands. “The essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E help increase the moisture of hair and maintain cell turnover of the scalp while healing inflammation,” says Wexler. And if you have an oily scalp, you’ll appreciate this—the zinc in pumpkin helps control the level of sebum, or oil, the scalp produces, says Wexler.

Ready to give pumpkin a go? Try these at-home recipes created by licensed esthetician Michelle Ornstein, who is also founder and formulator of Enessa Skincare. And if you’re not a DIY type, we’ve also suggested product versions you can nab on your next store or Sephora run.

Face Mask

¼ cup pureed pumpkin
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp manuka honey

Mix ingredients together. Apply a thin layer to skin, and rinse off after five minutes.

Turmeric powder helps brighten skin and heal inflammation associated with acne, while manuka honey is a humectant that provides moisturization and additional anti-acne properties, says Ornstein.

RELATED: The Secrets to Healthier Skin and Hair Are Hiding in Your Spice Rack

Product pick: MyChelle Dermaceuticals Incredible Pumpkin Peel, $28, mychelle.com

Face Scrub

¼ cup pureed pumpkin
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
¼ cup benzonite clay
¼ cup chamomile tea

Mix ingredients together. Apply a thick layer to skin. Wait 60 seconds, and then massage to exfoliate and rinse off.

The ground flaxseed is the secret ingredient here that washes off the dead skin cells that the pumpkin enzymes exfoliated off, says Ornstein.

Product pick: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, $42, peterthomasroth.com

Body Scrub

1 cup pureed pumpkin
¼ cup jojoba oil
¼ cup coffee grounds
¼ cup Himalayan salt

Mix ingredients together. Use as a body scrub in the shower or bath.

Jojoba oil is super-nourishing and rich in antioxidants, making it a great carrier oil for a body scrub. Caffeine from coffee grounds helps smooth out skin and reduces the appearance of cellulite as a bonus. Pink Himalayan salt contains trace minerals that are beneficial for skin, says Ornstein.

Product pick: Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Shea & Sugar Body Scrub, $17,bathandbodyworks.com

RELATED: How to Exfoliate Every Single Body Part—the Right Way

In-Shower Body Moisturizer

1 tsp pumpkin seed oil (such as Roland Virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil Cold Pressed, $10, walmart.com)
½ cup coconut milk
1 tsp monoi oil (such as The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Polynesia Monoi Miracle Oil, $20, thebodyshop-usa.com)

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, and spray on body in shower after cleansing, making sure to rinse completely.

Coconut milk is extremely hydrating and rich in anti-aging and soothing fatty acids and oils. Monoi oil contains methyl salicylate, which nurtures skin and prevents environmental damage, says Ornstein. This one is so unique, you’ll need to make it yourself!

Hair Mask

1 Tbsp pumpkin seed oil

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup jojoba oil

5 drops eucalyptus essential oil

5 drops peppermint essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

Mix ingredients together. This can be used as a scalp treatment or hair oil mask on clean hair. Allow it to sit for several minutes, then rinse out completely.Coconut, eucalyptus, and lavender are all natural ingredients that help stimulate the scalp to protect against hair loss. Jojoba oil hydrates both the scalp and hair, says Ornstein.Product pick: Sexy Hair Pumpkin Puree Treatment Masque, $25,

amazon.com

Peel-Off Exfoliating Treatment

½ cup pumpkin juice (While this can be difficult to find in stores, Ornstein says it’s easy to juice at home. “Simply peel it and separate out the stringy pulp and seeds before juicing,” she says.)

2 packs unflavored gelatin
½ tsp tomato juice
2 tsp egg whites

Microwave the mixture so everything dissolves together, and then wait for it to cool (but not to completely solidify). Apply two layers onto skin, allow to dry, then peel off.The gelatin creates the peel-off mechanism while tomato juice helps brighten skin and control sebum production. The egg whites help lift and tighten skin, says Ornstein.Product pick: Freeman Beauty Pumpkin Peeling Mask, $2,freemanbeauty.com

Michelle Obama Opens Up About Her

Michelle Obama Opens Up About Her Less-Than-Healthy Past

“It got to the point where our pediatrician pulled me aside and urged me to make some changes for the sake of our daughters’ health.” 

First Lady Michelle Obama is living proof that just because you live in the White House doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. While she certainly takes her Let’s Move! campaign seriously, she’s also danced up a storm with Jimmy Fallon and tweeted inside jokes to her husband. It’s clear she’s high-energy (um, have you seen this workout video?), but more importantly, she’s driven by a serious passion to help America get healthy.

RELATED: A Message from the First Lady of the United States

In this exclusive interview, the FLOTUS explains why putting yourself first is key to getting and staying healthy, how she’s helping kids learn to love being active, and what she hopes to achieve next.

On Her Less-than-Healthy Past…
“Too often, we as women work so hard to take care of everyone in our families and manage everything at our jobs, and we forget to pay attention to ourselves. In fact, our own health is often our very last priority—that last item on the to-do list that we never quite get around to.

"That used to be the case in my own life. I remember back when our older daughter was born, and I was exhausted, struggling with all those late-night feedings and diaper changes while trying to manage my own career and support Barack’s career. Back then, I was barely able to take a shower every day, let alone get to the gym. And one day, my mother sat me down and told me, ‘Michelle, you cannot be there for everyone else if you’re not there for yourself.’ Like usual, she was right. And while, like many women—and men—I’ve struggled to find the right balance, I try to make sure that my own health and wellbeing is up there at the top of the list along with my family’s.”

On Walking the Walk…
“I certainly don’t consider myself a fitness icon—that’s way too much pressure! But I do hope that by being active, whether by hula-hooping with kids on the White House lawn or by hitting the gym as often as I can, I’m showing people that there are all kinds of ways to get fit and that it’s really about finding the activities that work best for your own body. I hope I’m also showing people by example that getting fit can be fun!”

Related: The Workout That Michelle Obama Will Be Doing this Year

On Helping Her Family Stay Healthy…
“Back when I was a busy working mom living in Chicago, Barack and I didn’t always make the best nutrition choices. We were a little too dependent on our microwave and the local takeout places. It got to the point where our pediatrician pulled me aside and urged me to make some changes for the sake of our daughters’ health. That was a real wakeup call for us, so we started making some simple changes that made a big impact: cooking at home more, eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water. And we could really feel the effects on our bodies. ”

On the Success of Let’s Move!…
“We’ve helped create healthier daycare centers—where fruits and veggies have replaced cookies and juice—for 1.6 million kids. We raised standards for school meals, and more than 30 million kids are now eating healthier school breakfasts and lunches. We created our Let’s Move! active schools program, and nearly nine million kids are attending schools where they get 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Thousands of chain restaurants have created healthier kids’ menus, and food and beverage companies have cut 6.4 trillion calories from their products. And today, childhood obesity rates have finally stopped rising, and obesity rates are actually falling among our youngest children. ”

On What She Hopes to Achieve Next…
“While we’ve made some real progress on this issue, we clearly still have a long way to go—nearly one in three kids is still overweight or obese—and I really wish we could solve this problem more quickly. Unfortunately, our childhood obesity epidemic has been decades in the making, and we can’t fix it overnight. But if we keep pushing forward in all sectors and giving families the information and support they need to make healthy choices, I believe we will be able to give all our kids the healthy futures they deserve.”

Related: Shonda Rhimes Wants Her Daughters to Own Their Sexuality

On What We Can Do to Help…
“One of the most important things we can to do to protect women’s health is to protect the Affordable Care Act that my husband passed back in 2010. Because of this law, most health plans now cover preventive care like pap smears, contraception, and flu shots—with no out-of-pocket costs. Insurance companies can no longer discriminate against women—believe it or not, insurance companies used to be allowed to charge women more than men for the very same coverage. And they can no longer discriminate against you and charge you outrageous rates if you have a pre-existing condition like HPV or even pregnancy—yes, pregnancy was sometimes considered a pre-existing condition.

"This law has helped so many women, and we need to make sure that no one takes away the protections it provides for us and our families.

Right Way to Remove Your Makeup

The Right Way to Remove Your Makeup

Take your face off without any irritation

Today’s makeup can stand up to heat, long hours of wear, and even a Soul Cycle session. While this saves us the worry of having to reapply all the time, it does have a serious downside: Trying to get all that damn product off. Constant scrubbing is a disaster for your lashes and can cause major irritation to the delicate eye area and sensitive skin. Here’s how to gently (yet completely) remove your makeup.

Protect Your Eyes 
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your face. That’s why it’s prone to irritation, inflammation (hello, bags!), and dark circles. So first things first: A fragrance-, oil-, and alcohol-free liquid makeup remover is a great gentle option for everyday use. We love Renée Rouleau Soothing Eye Makeup Remover ($21.50, reneerouleau.com), which has a PH of 7.2. (Your tears have a natural pH of 6.9 to 7.5, so it won’t sting.)

Apply two to three drops of liquid makeup remover on a cotton pad, and hold it on your eye for 20 to 30 seconds, says Viviana Martin, the Director of Global Artistry and Pro-Artist Relations for Kevyn Aucoin. This allows the remover to start dissolving the makeup before you rub. You can then gently rub your eyes, but make sure you don’t pull and that you aren’t too rough, which can break your lashes.

RELATED: Yes, Makeup Primer Actually Works: Here’s the Right Way to Apply It

Pick a Heavy-Duty Remover if You’re Wearing Waterproof Makeup 
Because they have a stronger consistency, oil-based removers are ideal for removing waterproof makeup, says Martin. “A regular remover may not be able to handle the long-wearing action of a waterproof mascara,” she says. MAC Cleanse Off Oil ($31, maccosmetics.com) is a good option.

Be aware, however, that the oil can leave greasy residue behind. It can also create a barrier against other products, such as eye cream or moisturizer—stopping them from penetrating your skin. To prevent this from happening, do a full cleanse after you take off your makeup.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Keep Your Summer Glow into Fall

Use Towelettes Sparingly 
Makeup remover wipes have their benefits, but because they’re not highly saturated (the whole point is to reduce mess, after all), they require constant scrubbing, which can, of course, cause irritation and damage. So only use them in a pinch (like after a workout).

DIY It 
Combining a little bit of Vaseline and moisturizer and rubbing it into your skin works wonders when you don’t have a traditional makeup remover handy. Martin also recommends another DIY idea: honey. Similar to an oil-based remover, it’s gentle on the eyes and hydrating—opposed to traditional alcohol-based removers, which can be very drying. Just remember to cleanse your face after to avoid any stickiness.

RELATED: How to Try an At-Home Peel Without Effing up Your Face

Finish with Toner 
Unless your skin is severely dry or irritated, use a toner to remove any leftover makeup or remover residue. We’re fans of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Skin Clearing Face Toner ($18, thebodyshop-usa.com), which serves as an acne treatment, too.

Benefits of Taking a Cold Shower

5 Health Benefits of Taking a Cold Shower

For most of us, a cold shower only happens when we’re last in line for the bathroom or our S.O. “accidentally” flushes while we’re in there. (In the words of Stephanie Tanner, “How rude!”) But it turns out the hot water hogs in your life may be doing you a serious favor: When it comes to body-boosting benefits, experts suggest cold showers are where it’s at.

To reap the potential rewards of a cold shower regime, Halse recommends a water temp of 60 degrees or under, which is the equivalent to very cold pool water. Start out using as cold a temperature as you can stand, says Schultz, and gradually adjust the temp so it’s a little cooler each time you hop in.

Here are just some of the perks chilling out can provide.

Brightens Your Mood

“Hydrotherapy with cold water can increase beta-endorphin and noradrenaline levels in the blood, as well as noradrenaline levels in the brain, which may in turn have an anti-depressant effect on mood,” says Sheenie Ambardar, M.D., a Beverly Hills-based psychiatrist. A study published in the journal Medical Hypotheses found that taking two to three minute cold showers on the reg (like, 68-degrees cold) over a two-week period boosted the moods of their participants.

Related: Is It Better to Wash Your Face in the Shower                   

Soothes Sore Muscles

Cold showers can help you recover from a hardcore workout by reducing soreness and inflammation, says Henry Halse, a Philadelphia-based certified strength and conditioning specialist. If there’s a particular muscle giving you ‘tude, Halse suggests focusing the shower water directly on the area for as close to five minutes as you can. “The increased blood flow to the area can help repair damaged muscle or other tissue because your blood contains the nutrients that heal,” he says.

Improves Your Skin

The best way to score beauty benefits from a cold shower is to first cleanse with warm water, and then shift to a cooler temperature, says Neal Schultz, M.D., a New York City dermatologist, host of DermTV.com, and creator of BeautyRx by Dr. Schultz. The cold can help tighten your skin and pores, put the kibosh on unwanted redness, and reduce puffiness below your eyes. Not only will your skin look smoother and brighter, but your makeup will go on like buttah.

Related: 5 Ways Your Shower Is Making You Look Worse

Makes Hair Shinier

The cuticle of hair shafts can be dried out more by warm water, leaving your tresses looking…well, blah, says Julia Tzu, founder and medical director of Wall Street Dermatology. A shot of cold water post-conditioner can make your hair appear shinier and smoother by flattening your hair follicles and locking in moisture.

Helps Combat Stress

Cold water to the face may help with relaxation by slowing the heart and in fact has been studied to treat abnormally fast heart rates, says Tzu. Another study found that participants who swam in ice-cold water on the regular showed an increased tolerance to stress—all thanks to their bodies adapting to the repeat exposure.

Stylishly Grow Out Short Hair

How to Stylishly Grow Out Short Hair

This will only hurt a bit

A pixie cut is super trendy—but it takes major upkeep. And growing one out can be seriously awkward. In addition to cutting back your visits to the salon, there are some simple tricks you can keep up your sleeve to prevent an unflattering look for months on end. Here, Damian Santiago, co-owner of Mizu New York Salon, schools us on returning to long hair.

Hold onto as much length as possible so that you can style your strands into a short bob, says Santiago. Because most pixies are longer in the front to frame the face, the simplest transition is an angled bob with shorter pieces in the back. Going an extra two to four weeks between trims is ideal for getting back some length.                                      

RELATED: Are Your Friends Who Swear by Biotin Lying to You?

Use product to camouflage uneven layers or funky growth. “Play with styling it differently and exploring different products during that period,” says Santiago. The best option is to add texture to hide obvious ends. Santiago swears by R+Co’s Rockaway Salt Spray ($25, randco.com) and Death Valley Dry Shampoo ($29, randco.com). On seriously stringy cuts, you can add texture and volume with a curling iron and setting spray.

If you have just a little length, braids are your best bet at hiding your awkward phase. “You can be really creative with braids these days,” says Santiago. Starting at the part, French braid down the hairline (using as much or as little hair as you’d like) and secure with a bobby pin or elastic where the hair ends. This creates an intentional asymmetrical aesthetic so any uneven layers look almost purposeful. And if pieces start to slip out (one of the tribulations of short hair!), just pin them back in place. Messiness is part of the style’s charm.

RELATED: Hair and Makeup Pros Reveal the Worst Beauty Disasters They’ve Had to Fix

The bottom line:  Don’t chicken out in fear of the inevitable growing-out phase. If all else fails, use bobby pins to pull the hair up into a creative updo. Twist small sections of hair and pull them into the center of your head. Or even faster—pull the front strands back with a simple headband (FranceLuxe.com sells a variety of cute, chic styles.) You’ll have longer hair before you know it. 

Some Lucky Women Have STD-Fighting Vaginas

Some Lucky Women Have STD-Fighting Vaginas Are You One of Them

                       Hoo-has are even more special than we originally thought

It’s no secret that your vagina can do some pretty amazing things. But it might be even more awe-inspiring than you think.

According to new research from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, the bacteria in your vagina could be protecting you from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

For the study, scientists examined vaginal mucus from 31 women and used high-resolution time-lapse microscopes to test whether HIV particles became trapped in the mucus or spread out (which could then lead to an infection). The results were published in mBio, an open-access journal published by the American Society for Microbiology.

RELATED: 5 Times Vaginas Proved How Talented They Are

Vaginal bacteria is considered “healthy” if it’s dominated by a species of the bacteria Lactobacillus, lead study author Sam Lai, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy,said in a press release. But Lai and his team discovered that a strain of this bacteria, Lactobacillus crispatus, helps create a mucus barrier that fights off HIV and other STDs.

Cervicovaginal mucus that contained Lactobacillus crispatus and higher levels of the compound D-lactic acid was very good at trapping HIV, researchers found.

But not all cervicovaginal mucus is created equal. Researchers also discovered that mucus didn’t trap HIV when it had low levels of D-lactic acid, Lactobacillus iners (another type of Lactobacillus) or significant amounts of Gardnerella vaginalis, a bacterium associated with bacterial vaginosis (a condition that happens when you get too much bad bacteria in your vagina).

“These findings could lead to the development of novel strategies to protect women against HIV,” researchers wrote in the study.

The downside: Your body can’t make D-lactic acid, so you can’t take a supplement or eat something new to add it to your cervicovaginal mucus. There’s also no way of knowing the makeup of your vaginal bacteria without undergoing a lab test like this, so you’ll definitely want to keep having safe sex. Still—pretty cool!

Your Metabolism Changes in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s

How Your Metabolism Changes in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s

A.K.A. why you need to start strength training right now

When you’re a kid, you can wolf down candy bars, fast food, and frozen pizza bagels without a second thought—you know it won’t impact your weight. Now, you’re a hardcore veggie eater and struggle to lose those extra few pounds. Why does this happen? As you likely know, your metabolism takes a nosedive over the years and ultimately impacts your waistline. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are all the ways your natural calorie-burning power transforms as you age—and what you can do to keep it in high gear.

In Your Twenties…

You Hit Your Peak 
Most women enjoy their highest basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn by just being alive), in their late teens or early twenties, says Christopher Ochner, Ph.D., weight-loss expert at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Some women will hit it a bit earlier, others later, which has a lot to do with genetics, but your activity level also plays a big role. After all, the more you hoof it around campus, play on intramural teams, and hit up the university weight room, the more calorie-torching muscle you’ll build and the higher your metabolism will be, he says. Plus, until you’re about 25 or so, your body is still building bone, and that process burns up calories.

But It Doesn’t Last Long 
According to the American Council on Exercise, your basal metabolic rate drops roughly one to two percent per decade. “By the late twenties, many women notice that they can’t eat the same things they used to without gaining weight and that the weight doesn’t fall off as easily as it once did,” says Ochner. Since this drop starts right about the time people settle into the (largely sedentary) workforce—and start losing muscle—your office job might actually be to blame, he says. Buzzkill.

In Your Thirties…

​The Fattening Cycle Continues
As you lose muscle, your natural calorie-burning ability slows even more. And as you lose muscle and gain fat, fat can develop into the muscle and cause weight gain and metabolic dysfunction, says Caroline Cederquist, M.D., creator of bistro MD and author of The MD Factor. To add insult to injury, during your thirties, you aren’t producing as much human growth hormone as before (no more growth spurts for you!), which also leads to a dip in your metabolic rate, she says. However, strength training can help you build muscle and produce more human growth hormone, both of which keep your metabolism running as fast as (or faster than) it did when you were 20.

Pregnancy Can Go Either Way 
If you decide to bring a baby on board, pregnancy can give your metabolism a bump—but not enough to start eating your normal diet times two. “Yes, you need to eat for yourself and the baby, but that baby might only be a couple millimeters large, so you don’t need that many extra calories,” says Wesley Delbridge, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During pregnancy, you’ll likely burn about 200 extra calories a day, says Delbridge. Women who are at a healthy weight before pregnancy should only gain about 25 to 35 pounds during those nine months, he says. Unfortunately, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, almost half of women gain too much weight when they’re preggers—which can contribute to muscle- and metabolism-wrecking insulin resistance.

Breastfeeding to the Rescue 
A huge calorie burn comes from breastfeeding. The average woman who’s breastfeeding full-time can expect to burn an extra 500 to 1,000 calories per day, says Delbridge. Unfortunately, as soon as you start weaning your little one, your metabolism goes back to pre-pregnancy levels—as long as you haven’t lost any muscle since you got pregnant.

In Your Forties…

Your Hormones Tank 
Around 40, your baby maker prepares to close up shop, and your levels of estrogen, progesterone, and (again) human growth hormone decrease, says Cederquist. So unfortunately, your metabolism follows suit. That means you’ll have to focus on reducing your caloric intake during your forties in order to maintain your weight, says Delbridge. If you’re working out, that might only amount to eating about 150 less calories per day, he says. But if you don’t exercise and sit most of the day, you’ll probably have to cut more calories to stay svelte.

Building Muscle Becomes a Non-Negotiable 
Okay, so this is a must at any age, but around age 40, your body’s natural decline in muscle mass, called sarcopenia, sets in. To combat the loss of lean mass and keep your metabolism revved, you really have to turn to strength training. (But, hopefully, you have already!) According to research from the Harvard School of Public Health, people who lift weights put on less belly fat as they age than cardio bunnies. While any exercise will help you burn calories while you’re at the gym, strength training gives your metabolism the biggest boost after your workout ends, says Ochner. On top of pumping iron, eating enough protein (about 100 to 120 grams a day) will boost your efforts to get stronger. “A woman who was sedentary in her twenties and thirties can actually have a higher metabolic rate in her forties if she exercises and changes her diet,” says Cederquist. 

Secrets to Vegan Meatballs at the Meatball Shop

At any one of the Meatball Shop’s six New York outposts, patrons relish, say, orbs of spicy pork over a bed of sauteed broccoli, or pesto-dressed chicken atop freshly milled polenta. And while a vegetable version of the meatball has long graced the menu, now Meatball Shop owner and Chef Daniel Holzman has dreamed up a vegan recipe.

“Vegan food can be difficult to make for traditionally trained chefs, because we often rely on animal fats and proteins for moisture, flavor and to help bind ingredients together,” he explained. But Holzman, who launched his cooking career at New York’s acclaimed vegan restaurant Candle Café, isn’t perturbed by the challenge. “I love vegetables and don’t find cooking with only them to be constraining,” he added.

After myriad requests from customers for a vegan iteration of the meatball, Holzman decided it was time to experiment. By melding the likes of lentils, mushrooms and walnuts with carrots, tomato paste and breadcrumbs, he found success, yielding these fresh thyme- and parsley-flecked balls. “They aren’t made with any strange meat substitutes,” he pointed out. “The lentils and mushrooms are very ‘meaty,’ and the walnuts lend great texture and richness.” They’re just begging to be heightened by an indulgent jolt of pesto or tomato sauce sopped up by focaccia.

Related: 11 Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes 

Vegan Meatballs

Yield: About two dozen 1 ½-inch meatballs

2 cups lentils
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ large onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons tomato paste
10 ounces button mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced
½ cup breadcrumbs
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup finely chopped walnuts

Combine the lentils and two quarts water in a medium stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the lentils are soft (but not falling apart), about 25 minutes. Drain the lentils and allow to cool. Add ¼ cup olive oil to a large frying pan and saute the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme and salt over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to brown. Add the tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.

When cool, add the lentils to the vegetable mixture. Add breadcrumbs, parsley and walnuts to the cooled vegetable mixture and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle the remaining two tablespoons olive oil into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside. Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-sized meatballs (about 1 ½ inches), making sure to pack the vegetable mixture firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, allowing ¼ inch of space between the balls and place in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid.

Roast for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. Allow the meatballs to cool for five minutes on the baking dish before serving.

Per serving (3 balls): Calories 353; Fat 14 g (Saturated 2 g); Sodium 687 mg; Carbohydrate 46 g; Fiber 17 g; Sugars 6 g; Protein 16 g