5 Easy Tips To Boost Your Metabolism

We all know that exercise is essential when trying to lose weight, but even more calories can be burned while at rest by watching what and when you eat.

Below are five more simple tips you can use, when trying to boost your metabolism.

#1

 Don't Skip Breakfast

The morning meal jump starts your metabolism and helps to prevent bingeing later in the day.  A cup of coffee does not count, while the caffeine and added sugar may give you a bit of energy and suppress your appetite for a little while it is sure to back fire into severe hunger and you will be more likely to overeat later.

Breakfast should include complex carbohydrates like whole grains (granola or oatmeal), along with some protein and fat (low-fat yogurt or milk), this will help keep your energy levels even and hunger in check.

#2

 Eat more often

Get into the habit of eating every three to four hours or at least four times a day.  Eating frequently stabilizes blood sugar, when blood sugar drops too low you want to eat more.  By keeping your blood sugar stable you can control your appetite and keep you metabolic rate high.

When going many hours without eating, your body in time will start to compensate for its lack of fuel, by slowing down to conserve energy, this in turn can sabotage your weight loss efforts.

#3

Eat protein at every meal

Protein will help to reduce your appetite, it takes more energy and time to digest, in fact eating more protein will help you feel fuller longer than eating carbohydrates alone.  Research shows that eating more protein can help you lose weight without cutting calories.

Try these protein possibilities: turkey on whole wheat; hummus and pita; vegetarian chili; fruit and nuts; or protein snack bars that contain 12 or more grams of protein.

#4

Hold off on snacking

Many of us grab a snack for a quick burst of energy when we are feeling tired.  But do not confuse true hunger with fatigue.  If you are feeling tired go for a 15-20 minute brisk walk.  This will raise your heart rate and give you a boost of energy.

Follow it up with a large glass of cool water.  If you are truly hungry have a protein and complex carbohydrate rich snack like; whole wheat crackers and peanut butter or cheese.

#5

Consume enough food to fuel your body needs

Eating too little slows your body metabolism the same way eating to infrequently does.  If you want to lose weight, do not slash your calories too drastically.  Instead, cut out some of the extras in your diet, like soda, juice, packaged goods or candy.

Processed foods tend to be high in fat and calories, while being low in vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Other Tips you may enjoy: 5 Genuine Weight Loss Tips , 5 Simple Weight Loss Tips

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.

 

Introduce Yoga To Your Weight Loss Journey

Many people today are trying all sorts of things in their pursuit of a more healthy, permanent weight loss goal, or change for a healthier lifestyle.  Unfortunately, many seem to fall all to often for fad diets, diet pills, or celebrity diets, just to name a few .

While someone might temporarily lose a few pounds with a "diet", diets are not successful when it comes to permanent weight loss and healthy weight loss. To achieve long lasting results, require more than a diet, it requires you changing , or switching to a long lasting healthier lifestyle. In other ways, its a way of living.

Now, as my mother use to tell me, I have good news, and bad news......

The good news is that there is a known and proven way to achieve significant, healthy, permanent weight loss, and even more good news is that, although some modification to what you presently like to eat will be necessary, extremely drastic changes are seldom required.

Of course you might have to learn to substitute something you don't like that much right now for something you do like, but, in time, you can get accustomed to this, and even learn to like the new flavors and foods.  I know.  I've been there.

The bad news is that, along with modifications to your eating habits, you are going to have to become more active.  Dare I say it....?

You will have to exercise!

The benefits of exercise is an article in itself, and I have written elsewhere about how exercise can take many forms, so there is no need to lock yourself into an unpleasant or painful exercise regimen.  What I really want to do here is give a small pitch for the practice of yoga as my exercise program of choice.  Remember, however, my exercise program of choice might not be yours.  As much as I like yoga, you will have to decide if yoga is right for you.

Before I speak specifically about yoga, let's just list some of the known benefits of regular exercise in general.

Exercise...

>Reduces the risk or affects of many illnesses and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis to name a few.  Some studies even show possible reductions in the risk for some cancers.

>Elevates mood and reduces depression.

>Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, joints, and nervous system.

>Delays affects of aging, making seniors more mobile and self sufficient and less likely to fall prey to injury or illness.

>Reduces risk of premature death (sounds like a big one to me).

>Helps maintain a healthy weight.

Okay, since any good exercise program can provide these benefits, what does yoga have to offer that makes it special?

In addition to providing the basic benefits of exercise in general, yoga does have a few specific things going for it.

Despite the apparently agonizing contortions seen in every yoga book, the benefit is in the attempt to achieve the position.  The models in the books arrived at their present level of ability over time, and many a skilled practitioner of yoga today began in the same shape you're in right now.  It is okay to modify a position or to come out of it a little early if your body is not ready yet.  The regular practice of your best version of the movement or position (asana), combined with yoga breathing techniques (easily learned) will produce progress over time.

No personal trainer or special equipment is needed, nor is it necessary to go to the gym or even out in public at all.  You can do yoga naked if you don't have a pair of gym shorts, and a carpet is just as good as a yoga mat...at least at first.  Yoga is actually so simple that it can be learned from a book, although it certainly wouldn't hurt to get guidance or training from a certified instructor.

Yoga is relaxing and relieves stress.  Not only is this of great personal value in today's world, but if any part of your weight loss problem is stress related, and I can almost guarantee some relationship, the stress relief offered by yoga can ease that portion of your weight loss journey.

In addition to being good for your health for several reasons, simply learning yoga breathing and practicing it regularly can help you burn fat.

As you begin to progress in your ability to better perform yoga poses (asanas) you will notice a sense of control, of mastery of life and self, which will become more evident.  This new inner strength will aid you in facing difficulties, including temptations concerning eating and your new eating behaviors.  You will also find yourself more forgiving, not only of others, but of yourself as well, and when you slide a little, you will be better able to shrug it off and get back on your path to success.

With more progress in your yoga practice, you will begin to experience new feelings of health, strength, and well-being.  These feelings will in turn motivate you to take even more control of your life so that you can continue your progress with no desire or temptation to return to the way things used to be.

Nothing is perfect for everyone, but, as you can see, the practice of yoga does have some benefits to offer which may make it valuable in the pursuit of healthy, permanent weight loss, and a healthier lifestyle.