Q: I've had a thyroidectomy recently and a hysterectomy years ago, how do I boost my metabolism? I'm 52 y.o. 5'1 female work 3rd shift and have gained over 65 pounds.

A: I would love to help you, but I am very reluctant to make suggestions to somebody like you whose weight gain is clearly caused by past medical history. It is really something you should discuss with your doctor since he/she will likely advise for or against certain foods and/or forms of physical activity.

In general, you boost your metabolism by engaging in physical exercise (with moderate-to-heavy whole-body weight training being the biggest booster) and by restructuring your diet to have several small meals throughout the day with veggies, especially raw veggies, playing the most prominent part and eliminating sugary, starch-heavy, processed foods and focusing on getting your carbs from natural sources like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. You would also eat protein-rich foods like lean meat or poultry, fish, cottage cheese, and eggs and healthy fats like olive oil, flax seed, and salmon (also an excellent source of protein) and nuts (as long as they're not oil-roasted).

But again, these suggestions apply to people without medical history such as yours and you should consult your doctor before adopting any of these into your routine. Best of luck to you!