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The 9 Steps I Took to Fix My Metabolism to Stay Lean for Good

How I stay at 14% body fat year-round without calorie counting?

Ashley Richmond
ILLUMINATION
Published in
3 min readFeb 13, 2025

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Photo by Siora18 on Unsplash

Most diets fail because they treat the symptom, not the cause.

Your metabolism is the root of staying lean.

Here’s how I fixed mine to maintain 14% body fat year-round.

(And 9 steps to optimize yours):

1. Prioritize quality protein

Protein isn’t just for building muscle — it’s a metabolic powerhouse.

It:

  • Keeps you full
  • Reduces cravings
  • Supports fat loss
  • Burns calories during digestion

Every meal starts with protein.

Staples:

  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Red meat
  • Greek yogurt

2. Cut out seed oils

Seed oils damage your metabolism by causing systemic inflammation and harming your cells.

I avoid:

  • Canola
  • Safflower
  • Sunflower
  • Grapeseed

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ILLUMINATION
ILLUMINATION

Published in ILLUMINATION

We curate and disseminate outstanding articles from diverse domains and disciplines to create fusion and synergy.

Ashley Richmond
Ashley Richmond

Written by Ashley Richmond

I’ll show you how to leverage your daily habits to transform your health. Free weekly habit-building newsletter: https://www.ashleyrichmond.net/newsletter

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