One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are trying to lose weight is to significantly eat less. They think that if they eat less they will lose lots of weight. Right? Wrong. The way we lose weight is by taking in fewer calories than we burn off. So, you need to be increasing your metabolism to drop pounds.
Metabolism is that rate at which calories are burned. When you reduce the number of calories that you take in, your body will view it as starvation. To combat the danger of starving to death, it will actually reduce metabolism. Thus, fewer calories are burned each day. Metabolic rate is adjusted to meet the caloric intake. The key is to have the right balance of how many calories you eat each day and how quickly they are used up by your body.
So how can you raise that metabolism? First of all, you need to build muscle. The more muscle mass you have, the more energy your body will require to maintain them. Weight training is an important part of any exercise routine. So is aerobic activity. Cardio exercises are not only great for your heart, but they will also boost the need for energy. Thus, a higher metabolism. Running for 15 minutes will have a bigger impact on metabolism than will 30 minutes of walking.
You should also pay attention to when and what you eat. Protein builds muscle. This will aid with the weight training we just discussed. The body needs more energy to burn protein than it does carbohydrates, so this will have a little bit of a positive effect on metabolism as well. High protein foods include beef, fish, pork, poultry, nuts, seeds, soy, eggs, and dairy products.
Like protein, fiber also takes a little extra work for the body to break down. Not only is fiber great for your digestive system and heart, it will also affect metabolism. High fiber foods include whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and many fruits and vegetables.
As for when to eat, try eating more frequently. Instead of the idea of eating three meals a day, consider eating five or six smaller meals each day. This will help keep the calorie burning at a steady pace throughout the day. And always eat breakfast. Too many people skip breakfast. By eating early in the day, you get metabolism started right away.
Something to avoid is alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant that slows everything in the body down. This includes metabolism. This does not mean you need to cut out all alcoholic drinks together. Just be careful not to drink too regularly or you run the risk of negating all the good things you are doing, like working out and eating better.
What else can you do? Well, give yourself little bits of incidental physical activity. During the day you want to have some exercise and not become sedentary. This means doing things like taking the stairs instead of the escalator. If your job is one that has you sitting at a desk all day, take several opportunities to get up and walk around.
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