Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Jump Start Metabolism - How Metabolism Controls Our Weight!

By Dan Beckwith

Have you ever wondered why it is that some people can eat whatever they want and never gain weight, while others spend their whole lives dieting and trying to lose weight with no success. No - they don't lead a charmed life. Maybe you need to jump start metabolism.

The answer of course is your metabolism. Every individual has a metabolic rate that is unique to them.

Your metabolism determines how your body burns calories. You are always burning calories, but everyone has a different rate at which they are burned. Muscles burn the most calories, even when not being used. Muscles are often said to be "metabolic reactive". Simply get more muscle to jump start metabolism.

Muscle burns calories, so you want more muscle. Diet plans often include an exercise requirement to build muscles.

Healthy foods jump start metabolism and junk foods slow it down turning calories into fat. The food we eat combined with the exercise we get determines the rate of our metabolism. There are other things as well:

How old you are plays a role, as aging slows metabolism.

Also influential is stress. Studies are being done that show over and over that there is a link to stress and obesity. The tendency to eat more when stressed plays a role. However, stress also has been shown to induce chemical reactions in the body that slow metabolism. To jump start metabolism, try yoga!

Another factor is sleep. Studies show not getting enough sleep or even getting too much sleep can interfere with metabolism. To jump start metabolism, most people should aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night.

Metabolism can be affected by our genetic make-up and various health issues. (Like an over active thyroid.) So, that's one good reason to always see a doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise program. It never hurts to get a little peace of mind, knowing that you don't have any health issues that will hurt your efforts to jump start metabolism.

Most diets include advice about drinking plenty water. Most diets say it is to make you feel full so you don't overeat. While that may be a good idea, it is not the entire story as to why water helps with weight loss. Water helps in weight loss because it hydrates the body, flushes out toxins and keeps excess water stored in the body to a minimum. All of this leads to a speedier metabolism and more weight loss.

Want to know more about how to jump start metabolism? Check out all the information about your metabolism and losing weight at my website. Also get my FREE mini-course Fast Weight Loss Tips!

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