When your levels of cortisol–a fight-or-flight survival hormone–are high, it can put your body in fat-storage mode. So stress is one of the worst things, not only for your overall health but also for your metabolism. You want to eat things that are high in fiber and that keep moving through your body. For a lot of people, a ton of dairy can screw up digestion and cause bloating.

If you’re getting on one of those gym ab machines and crunching 100 pounds, pass. You could hurt your back, and you don’t want the thick bulk.