How
to Avoid a Metabolism Meltdown
 Looking for ways to
jumpstart your metabolism? You may not know it, but dieting can actually
slow down your metabolism. Although your goal may be to reduce calories
if you are trying to lose weight, you should aim to keep your metabolism
"running full speed ahead." Here are some tips to help you fine-tune
your body to perform at its best and burn the most possible calories.
Try these suggestions to avoid a metabolism meltdown.
Don't skip meals. It sounds like a good idea to skip meals to take
in fewer calories, right? Actually this is one of the worst things you
can do if you are trying to lose weight. Skipping meals causes the body
to reserve its energy. When you cut back on calories, the body begins
to "slow down" to ensure that your brain and heart are well
supplied with energy. Although you may be aware that you are trying to
make changes to your body for the better, the body only senses "starvation
mode" and this slows down metabolic processes. This, in essence,
slows down your metabolism.
Eat small frequent
meals. It's okay to graze! Eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day
can help control your appetite and keep you feeling satisfied. If you
prefer, your breakfast, lunch and dinner meals can still be your larger
meals, but you can incorporate snacks between meals to curb hunger. You
might try an apple with peanut butter or graham crackers with low-fat
cream cheese. "Snacking" helps curb your appetite and prevents
you from becoming ravenous. (You've probably had those days when you get
home and want to eat everything in sight!) Avoid this by eating snacks
and keeping your hunger pains at bay.
Tone up! Adding
weight training to your exercise routine can help you build more muscle
(and muscle burns more calories than fat). The more muscle you have the
more calories you burn - even at rest! You don't have to get a gym membership
to add weight training to your routine. There are tons of exercises that
you can do at home using your own body weight, such as push-ups, squats,
lunges and sit-ups. You can also purchase some small weights for arm curls.
Or, you might try elastic bands for toning and tightening that can be
purchased at sport stores or other "department-type" stores.
Make the most of
your current exercise routine. Make exercise worth your while. If
you are going to do it, do it right. If you have become so accustomed
to your current workout that you're not increasing your heart rate or
breaking a sweat, step it up a notch. Exercise for a longer period of
time or try adding a new routine. Your body will eventually adapt to doing
the same thing over and over. In other words, the same exercise gets easier
for the body and ultimately you don't burn as many calories. If you're
great on the stairmaster, try the rowing machine. Or if you walk 3 times
a week, try running the other two days. You've got to continually challenge
yourself!
Stay positive! One of the most effective tools you have to boost your metabolism is your
positive attitude. You have to believe in yourself and focus on your goals
- both of which are very empowering. With a positive attitude you are
more likely to exercise on a regular basis, eat right and stay motivated.
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