What role does metabolism have in your weight loss or weight gain? Why is loosing weight such a yo-yo game? Let\’s look at metabolism, what is it, how it works, and what you can do to make it work for you – Lose weight and maintain a healthy slimmer you!
What is metabolism?
What role does Metabolism play in your body? Metabolism is the body\’s way of turning food into fuel or energy. Having a slow metabolism, means that you have a low Basal Metabolic Rate. BMR means the amount of energy the body needs to live on and run it\’s basic survival functions, like breathing and pumping blood. The metabolic rate is determined by your body composition, age, gender and genetics.
To figure out an approximate estimate of your Basal Metabolic Rate, multiply your weight in pounds by 10. This is the minimum number of calories your body needs to function at rest. You will need more calories than that in order to live a normal active, healthy life.
What are some reasons your metabolism is slow?
If you do not eat enough calories than your body needs to maintain it\’s basal metabolic rate, it will cause your metabolism to slow down, this is your body\’s natural defense against starvation. Also, if you are past the age of 30, there is a big drop in growth hormone as your body has completed all it\’s major growth. This causes a loss in muscle mass and your basal metabolic rate slows down. Other factors causing a slow metabolism can be not drinking enough water on a daily basis, the amount of stress you endure, and a problem with your thyroid (which can be diagnosed with a physician).
What you can do to speed up your metabolism . . .
Exercising is by far the best way to increase your metabolism. Some sort of weight lifting exercises can counter the natural loss of muscle mass that happens to your body with age. Avoiding certain foods that cause your body to become inflammed, such as, saturated and partially hydrogenated fats found in chips, fried foods, cooking oils made from corn, sunflower or soy and of course sugary foods. You can increase foods that are anti-inflammatory in your diets, such as, broccoli, brussels sprouts, garlic, green beans, spinach, sweet potatoes, Use oils like extra virgin olive oil, herbs such as, mint, oregano, tumeric, parsley and drink green tea.
Give Your Metabolism a Boost at the Right Moments
In the morning longer-burning complex carbohydrates in the form of whole grains and fruits are a great choice to speed up your metabolism and generate a full day of energy. By afternoon, vegetable-based carbohydrates are a better option – they are easier on your blood sugar and require less insulin from your body to manage. Even more important, is making sure you put something in your body at frequent intervals. You know those mid-afternoon cravings? By eating three meals plus two to three snacks a day – breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack and dinner – you\’ll avoid the peaks and valleys.
Avoid food products that contain sugar, which actually slows down your metabolism and create a fat-storing machine. Reach for foods that contain complex carbohydrates in the form of whole grains, low-fat dairy products or a protein-balanced smoothie. Start losing weight, controlling it and maintaining a healthy lifestyle by increasing your metabolism!
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