We are told that a fast metabolism burns more calories. This principle becomes more and more marked as people age. The older we get, the slower our metabolism becomes. Thus when it comes to weight loss, the implication is that older people must stimulate their sluggish metabolism by eating less and moving more in order to improve their bodies' calorie burning ability. Below are three easy-to-follow weight loss suggestions.
When we say metabolism, we refer to the rate at which the body burns calories and this translates to how fast one gains and loses weight. Generally speaking, age determines one's rate of metabolism. After age 40, the metabolic rate naturally slows down to about 5% per decade.
People who are desperate to lose weight often resort to strict diets which are usually accompanied by drastic changes in their lifestyles. This approach is only bound to result in failure. Huge weight gain takes place over time therefore it is unrealistic to think that it can be eliminated instantly. Knowing what caused you to gain all that weight in the first place will increase your chances at successfully getting rid of it.
The reason why many people are attracted to diets and weight loss systems is because most of them offer drastic solutions while promising dramatic weight loss results. Although these types of weight loss methods may seem to offer hope, it is the simple lifestyle changes that have been proven to create positive and lasting results. The changes described below will help you focus on the big picture and not on the daily ups and downs of your weight loss battle.
1. Stop drinking cola. A small 12 ounce cola contains 140 calories and about 40 grams of carbohydrates. If you drink one can a day, that adds up to over 51,000 over the course of 12 months or the equivalent of about fourteen pounds. Water, water with lemon, or natural tea on the other hand, can be just as refreshing without the heavy caloric burden. Sports drinks are also packed with calories (about 110) which is why drinking them is counterproductive to your weight loss efforts.
2. Get your body moving! To boost your metabolism, put your body
in motion. You do not have to do something very strenuous, just make sure you move. Make some adjustment with the way you do things in your daily life so that you get to burn more calories. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk after meals to increase your circulation, or park at a slot that is farthest away from your destination.
To increase your metabolic rate so you need to engage in physical activities that will burn a lot of calories and build muscles. Walking and other aerobic activities are fat burning exercises, while lifting weights develops muscles. Also, snack only on low calorie foods such as fruits and whole wheat bread and eat high-protein foods for your muscles such as chicken meat.
Another strategy to boost your metabolism is to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. If your time between meals is long, you put your body in "starvation mode" thereby slowing down your metabolism.
3. Easy on the mayo. A tablespoon of mayonnaise contains 10 grams of fat and a total of about 100 calories. Therefore if you eat a sandwich smothered with mayo 5 days a week, you consume about 25,000 calories over a period of one year. This is roughly equivalent to seven pounds! Substitute mustard instead which is only 10-20 calories per tablespoon. This simple switch can make a huge difference.
As you may have seen, there are certain habits you may have that are insidiously causing you to consume more calories than you should. What's so great is that by just making slight changes in the way you usually do things, you can dramatically cut down the calories you take in and increase your metabolic rate to create significant weight loss. Learn the principles in the list above and apply these to any habit which may be working against your weight loss efforts. That's the power of simplicity!
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