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How to Boost Your Metabolism |
Pick the Right Foods.
Your body burns calories during digestion, more so with
some foods than others. Lean protein burns the most and
complex carbohydrates score second place. Refined sugars
and flours burn the least number of calories and have little
or no nutritive value – avoid them. |
Eat Less More Often.
Eating six small meals daily minimizes blood-sugar
swings that may cause uncontrollable cravings and
overeating. In addition, some experts believe that small,
frequent meals directly speed up metabolism. |
Build Muscle.
Muscle burns more calories than fat. Therefore,
strength training should be a part of every exercise
program.
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What is Metabolism?
Metabolism is the body’s process of converting food and
stored fat into energy. This energy is used to stay warm,
move around and keep vital organs functioning. Metabolism
is typically measured in calories. |
Be
Good to Yourself. Get enough sleep – seven to
eight hours a night. Keep stress levels to a minimum. Both
lack of sleep and stress can create hormonal imbalances that
disrupt metabolism.
People who are overweight or
prone to gaining weight easily sometimes blame a slow metabolism
for their bodies not expending calories quickly. But before
pointing the finger at your metabolism, you should understand
exactly what it is, what affects it and how you can raise it.
When most people talk about metabolism, they are referring to
the rate at which their bodies burns energy, which is provided
in the form of calories by food they eat. The two main types of
metabolism are basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate.
Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Your body needs energy
simply to exist. Every time your heart beats or you take a
breath, you burn calories. BMR is the minimum level of energy
required to sustain your body’s vital functions, such as
breathing and brain activity, while awake, and does not account
for physical activity. The number of calories required for basal
metabolism varies with sex, age, body size, lean body mass
(muscle) and hormones. Because of the increased activity of
cells undergoing division, younger folks have a higher (faster)
metabolic rate than older people. In addition, as a result of a
greater percentage of muscle tissue in the male body, men
generally have a 10-15 percent faster BMR than women.
Resting
Metabolic Rate (RMR)
This is similar to BMR but
refers to the rate at which you burn energy or calories at
rest.
Resting metabolism makes up about 50 to 75 percent of your
caloric expenditure each day and is proportional to your body
size and surface area, so taller, heavier individuals have a
higher RMR than shorter, lighter people. In addition, people
with more muscle have higher RMRs because muscle processes
more calories than fat.
THE INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Physical activity, such as
exercise, also has a great effect on your overall metabolic
rate, boosting it both during the workout and afterward.
Research proves that during vigorous exercise, metabolic rates
can increase as much as 10 times the resting value. Physical
activity can account for between 15 percent and 30 percent of
your daily caloric burn, depending on the intensity and duration
of the activity.
Even your digestive process
burns calories and increases metabolism. So just eating and
processing food accounts for about 10 percent of your overall
caloric expenditure. Climate also can play a role in determining
your metabolism, as studies show that the RMR of people in
tropical climates or very cold environments is generally five
percent to 20 percent higher than those in more temperate
locations. With these temperature extremes, the body has to work
harder simply to maintain its core temperature.
The reality is that RMR
accounts for the majority of your caloric expenditure, and
several things out of your control, such as genetics, sex,
hormones and age, determine it. The good news, however, is that
you can increase your metabolism through exercise. The
combination of regular cardiovascular activity and strength
training will result in a body with more muscle and less fat,
which produces a higher metabolism because even at rest, your
muscles actively use more calories than fat tissue does. As a
result, your metabolism speeds up to provide your muscles with
energy. The more muscle you have the higher your metabolism will
be. Therefore, the best thing to do to raise your metabolism is
to get, and
stay, active.
The 5 Components to
Success
Depending on your goal we can help you find success.
1. Food Intake: With the ability to affect
energy levels, body composition and overall health, food intake
is a key component to helping people achieve their fitness
goals.
2.
Cardiovascular Training: Most people want to alter their
body composition. If fat loss or muscle gain is your goal, our
program will help you attain maximum results with minimum
efforts.
3.
Supplementation: Experts agree that most people don’t
give their bodies the required nutrients they need with diet
alone. Through our exclusive screening process, we recommend the
ideal combination of multi vitamins, meal replacements and goal
enhancements for the exerciser. To help you maximize your
efforts and achieve your goals.
4.
Resistance Training: Whether using machines or free
weights resistance training is a necessary component of any
fitness program. We introduce you to cutting-edge techniques;
provide one on one training, or group training to help ensure
safe and effective exercise to help you reach your goal.
5. Personal
Assistance: A knowledgeable staff provides service with
more confidence, credibility and consistency, leading to your
success. We provide the knowledge, guidance and accountability
you need to achieve your personal health and fitness goals. |