It is nothing less than a crime of nature, but somehow your best friend can eat ice cream and chocolate without putting on weight while if you indulge it goes straight to your hips. The reason for this cruel injustice lies in your metabolism, that engine in your body that burns calories (fuel) all day, every day. Now, if you could simply increase your metabolism to match that of your friend...
But is that possible? Actually, it is, as you are about to discover.
Because of genetics, some people burn fat faster than others. But age, body weight, diet, and exercise habits also play a role. As people grow older, their metabolism slows down, mainly because they are losing five or six pounds of muscle each decade, starting in their mid-20s - assuming they do not work to keep it.
What does this mean? Well, for one thing, you will likely be burning 100 fewer calories a day at age 35 than at 25. But there are some fairly easy things you can do to stoke your fat-burning potential and there is no reason why you cannot have the same metabolism in your 30s and 40s, and beyond, that you had in your 20s.
So here are some ways to keep your motor running hot:
1. Strength training - Experts say this is the best way to crank up your resting metabolic rate. As you get older this rate drops, but strength training can rev it right back up again. A pound of muscle burns up to nine times the calories a pound of fat does as it is much more active tissue. You don't think you have the time to hit the gym? In fact, you can get great results with only two short 30 minute sessions a week. This is so effective that your metabolism will remain in overdrive for hours after the session ends, burning lots of extra calories.
2. Add interval training - A couple of sessions of short burst training each week will provide a great metabolic boost. You can use any cardio activity or bodyweight exercise for 10-20 seconds and slow the activity, or rest, for 1-2 minutes. Repeat 8-12 times.
For example, sprint 10 seconds, and then walk for 1 minute.
2. Don't overdo calorie cutting - Putting yourself on a low-calorie diet is actually a great way to decrease the likelihood that you will lose any body fat. Your body is programmed to defend your usual weight. So, if you suddenly drop 1,000 calories from your diet, your metabolism will automatically slow down because your body will assume that you are starving and that you need to preserve your existing fat reserves to increase your odds of surviving until the next meal comes your way.
3. Eat breakfast - This may be the most important meal of the day as far as metabolism (and weight loss) is concerned, and breakfast eaters lose more weight than breakfast skippers do, according to studies. Your metabolism slows while you sleep and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again so take the opportunity to get your motor going as quickly as possible each day.
4. Pile on the protein - Research shows that getting plenty of high quality protein can boost your metabolism, causing you to burn an extra 150 to 200 calories a day. That doesn't mean you have to live on a high-protein diet, but you should have a serving of protein as the center of each meal. Choose it first and add vegetables etc to that base.
5. Go for good carbohydrates - Such as vegetables and fruits and a small amount of grains that do not create a surge in insulin that promotes storage of fat. Refined carbohydrates like white bread, cakes and cookies etc may drive down your metabolic rate and increase fat storage.
6. Eat all day - Eating five to six mini meals every 2-3 hours rather than three larger meals every day keeps your metabolism humming 24/7 and will also prevent you from going without food so long that you become so hungry you overeat. Try not to let more than four hours elapse between meals and make sure each meal includes protein for an extra metabolic boost.
These six methods of boosting your metabolism are hugely effective and will knock off excess body fat in the quickest possible manner. Try it and see for yourself.
If you need a comprehensive overview of the metabolic regulation fat loss strategies discussed in this article, be sure to check out Carolyn Hansen's book Hot Metabolism, where she shows you how to take control of your body's fat burning mechanism for optimum results.
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