In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Your metabolism is affected by a variety of factors. There are several factors that you can control and change, and some factors that you can't. Age - Metabolic rate decreases 5% each decade, after the age of 40 , partly because of decreased muscle mass. Gender - Men generally burn calories more quickly than women because they have more muscle tissue. Heredity - You can inherit your metabolic rate from previous generations. Thyroid disorder - Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) can slow down or speed up metabolism. Talk to your doctor if you think you might have a thyroid disorder. This is especially important for women. Hormones and other factors can greatly increase the effort it takes to lose even a small amount of weight, and often conditions like PCOS go undiagnosed. Weight - Different tissues of your body contribute different amounts to resting metabolism. Muscle contributes more than fat per unit mass and, because it is denser than fat, muscle contributes much more per unit volume.. Body size - Metabolic rate increases as weight, height, and surface area increase. Body composition - Fat tissue has lower metabolic activity than muscle tissue. As lean muscle mass increases, metabolic rate increases. Climate and body temperature - The base metabolic rate of people in tropical climates is generally 5 to 20 percent higher than their counterparts living in more temperate areas because it takes energy to keep the body cool. Exercise performed in hot weather also imposes an additional metabolic load. Body fat content and effectiveness of clothing determine the magnitude of increase in energy metabolism in cold environments; it takes energy to keep the body warm if you work or exercise in very cold weather. RMR is often used interchangeably with basal metabolic rate (BMR). Although they are slightly different, estimating either is sufficient for the purpose of losing weight. What these equations will show you is, that if you weigh more, your RMR will be higher! To calculate your RMR, use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation (which is more reliable than the Harris-Benedict equation). There are also calculators online that can do this for you: RMR = 9.99w + 6.25s - 4.92a + 166g-161 w = weight in kilograms; if you know your weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms s = height in centimeters; if you know your height in inches, multiply by 2.54 to get your height in centimeters a = age in years g = gender = 1 for males, 0 for females Your metabolism will slow down as you lose weight. The more weight your body is carrying, the more calories your body has to burn in order to sustain itself, even at rest. When you begin restricting your calorie intake, you'll lose weight relatively easily because your body's high caloric needs are not being met. But after you begin to shed the weight, the body has less mass to carry and thus needs fewer calories. In order to continue losing weight, you will have to restrict your caloric intake even further in order to maintain a difference between what your body needs and what you are providing. Let's go through a hypothetical example: You are 200 lbs and your body needs 2500 calories a day to sustain itself. You cut down your caloric intake to 2000 calories. You lose 25 lbs. Now your body only needs 2250 calories to sustain itself because it's carrying less weight. If you continue with your 2000 calorie per day diet (the diet that helped you lose the first 25 lbs) you will still be losing, but at half the speed. In order to maintain a steady weight loss you will need to reduce your caloric intake further. However, it is at the utmost importance you do not try to consume fewer calories than your RMR! No two people are the same, so there is no "one size fits all" caloric total. While the Harris Benedict Equation is universally accepted and as close to accurate as possible, you may need to experiment with your caloric intake to get the exact number that works best for you. Lowering your caloric total is not recommended unless you do not see change for two weeks. You need to give your body time to adapt.
Summary: Determine what is influencing your metabolism. Estimate your resting metabolic rate (RMR). Recalculate your RMR as needed.

When stored for long periods of time, dirty clothing attracts pests and can also produce unwanted odors, mold, or mildew. Unclean items that contain perfumes, lotions, oils, and/or perspiration can also cause fabric to stain and yellow. Before you pack up your winter wardrobe for several months, you should properly launder each article of clothing. Machine wash all of your non-delicate winter items. Dry clean any winter items made from natural materials, like silk, wool, and cashmere. Do not store these items in a plastic garment bag. Winter shoes come into contact with harsh salts and dirt. Prior to storing these items, thoroughly clean each pair. Remove built up salt and grime with a cotton cloth or shoe brush. Don't forget to polish and condition your leather boots. If your winter shoes are badly stained, consider having them professionally cleaned. To prolong the life of your winter shoes, clean them frequently throughout the winter too. As you wash, dry clean, and clean your winter items, set aside any pieces that appear damaged or broken. This might include coats with missing buttons, clothing with minor rips or stains, and/or shoes in need of new soles. Bring the items you are interested in fixing to a reputable seamstress or shoe repair professionals. If you don't have an interest in fixing the item, find a way to recycle it. While you sort through your clean winter apparel and accessories, set pieces aside to donate. These items may include garments that no longer fit you and/or items you didn't wear at all last season. There are several ways to recycle these items. Ask friends if they are interested in taking any of the pieces. Donate the items to a person in need. Bring the items to a donation center and ask for a tax deduction form. Sell the items to a consignment shop. Host a garage sale.
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One-sentence summary -- Machine wash or dry clean all of your winter items. Wipe down and polish your shoes. Send out items for repair. Donate items you will no longer wear.

Q: A couple of weeks before your prom, try on your dress with your shoes, jewelry, make-up, and hairstyle to be sure you like the finished look. Walk and move around in your prom dress a little to give it a comfort check. On the night of your prom, put your dress and a "cover-up" (any clean shirt or jacket) on before applying make-up or styling your hair. This will prevent any make-up smudges or product stains on your fabulous prom dress. Wearing a nice prom dress is good, but if you are smiling it will make you look like the best person in there. Your confidence will go through the roof when you get all the compliments.
A: Try everything on to check how it all comes together. Get ready on the night of the prom. To complete the look, don't forget that beautiful smile.

Problem: Article: Make sure the edges are lined up and pinned before you begin stitching. You are making a mini-version of the main blanket, only without the batting. One side of the rectangle should still be open so you can flip the fabric right-side out. Snip off the corners with scissors. This gives your pocket nice, sharp edges. Again, reach into the opening and use a pencil to push out the corners. Press the fabric with a warm iron, locking the stitches and smoothing out any wrinkles. Fold the open side of the rectangle so its is even with the edge of the rest of the pillow pocket. Use the iron to crease the fold and pin the opening closed. You will be sewing these edges later, when you attach them to the large blanket.
Summary:
Fold the 12 yard (0.5m) fabric in half, right sides facing each other, and stitch the long edges of the rectangle together with a 12 inch (1.3cm) seam. Turn the blanket right-side out through the open side of the pillow pocket. Sew a 1/4 inch seam to close the open edge only; do not stitch the way around the pocket.