No More Diets: Metabolic Rate and Its Effects on Weight

You and your husband have both given up sodas and "white" foods, but your husband is losing weight and you're not. Your friend is losing weight, too, but when you did what she did, you didn't get half the same results. So what is going on? Why can't you seem to shed the pounds as easily as others? It is most likely your metabolic rate. The metabolic rate varies for each person and that means that we each need to find a way of losing weight that works for us.

Metabolism is defined as the various chemical and physical reactions taking place in our bodies, in every cell and at all times, which are responsible for keeping us alive. Simply put, our metabolic rate is the rate at which our body burns calories to sustain life. Our body is endlessly burning calories, even when we are sleeping. It is our muscles that are responsible for burning calories even when we are not performing any physical activity.

Various factors affect our metabolic rates and therefore the rate at which we lose weight. Age(the older you get, the slower it gets), gender(males tend to have a faster metabolism), and heredity are factors which affect metabolic rate. These are factors, however, that you can't do anything to change.

Stress is also known to disrupt some normal processes of the body. This causes some individuals to gain weight more easily than those who experience lesser levels of stress. It is also true that people eat more when they are stressed or depressed. Eating serves as a catharsis for them. Finding other ways to destress is not only beneficial to your physical health, but it is also more emotionally healthful.

Another factor affecting our weight pattern is our thyroid gland. It is also responsible for many other processes in our bodies. The thyroid gland, which produces several hormones, is part of our endocrine system. Higher amounts of the thyroid hormone tends to increase our metabolism, while the opposite is true if our thyroid produces too little. If you believe you have thyroid problems, you should seek guidance from a trusted health care provider.

Of course, the food we eat is one of the biggest factors. Our choices for nutrition affect all aspects of our lives. One example is fast food. Much of our fast food choices are high calorie and low nutrition. More calories leads to a more sluggish metabolic rate causing weight gain. There are, however, more and more healthy choices being offered at fast food restaurants these days. It would be wise to start picking from this area of the menu when you find it absolutely necessary to grab food on the go.

Exercise affects our metabolism tremendously. Not only must there be a balance between your food intake and your work output, but lean muscle contributes to our metabolic rate in a big way. The leaner your muscles, the more work they do, even when at rest. This tranlates to bigger calorie burns.

There are other factors, such as illness and pregnancy, which affect our metabolism, but those mentioned above are some of the most important factors in how we gain or lose weight. While we have no control over some of these factors, we can effect great changes in other ares. Take a look at your nutritional and exercise habits. Make small changes and little by little you will begin to feel and look better.

6 Ways to Lose Weight by Increasing Your Metabolic Rate

No "diet" is truly effective in permanent weight loss. Most are only fads and instead of giving you the results you had hoped and worked for, they leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless. Well, worry no more. Here are 6 effective moves towards a healthier, sexier you!!!

Sleep well, live well. According to studies, people who just have 4 hours of sleep at night tend to have a slower metabolism than those who have 8-hours of sleep. Moreover, the former have also been known to resort to overeating since they feel that eating will give them the energy they require, but didn't get due to lack of sleep. You must have enough sleep to feel revived and energized.

Sweat out a little in the evenings. Recent research tells us that our metabolism tends to slow down late in the afternoon or towards the end of the day. So, in order for you to burn more calories, it is wise to take an evening walk or do some other form of exercise that will allow you to sweat it out and burn those calories.

Move more. As you move more, you burn more calories. Instead of taking a ride to the store down the street, walking is a better choice. Make gradual minor lifestyle changes. In doing it gradually, you will have an easier time. Some other minor changes you could incorporate into your daily life include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, do gardening instead of watching TV, or park farther away from the entrance so you have to walk.

Eat more proteins. Diet studies show that protein intake stabilizes the amount of insulin in the bloodstream. It is highly beneficial for you. Protein also helps build lean muscle mass.

Skipping meals is skipping life. A drastic change for your body is not good. That means no crash dieting. Missing meals does not make your waistline look well carved. What it does is cause your body to hang on to every morsel it gets, because it thinks that it needs to gear up for famine. This leads to a sluggish metabolism. And eventually you become more and more unhealthy, as the lack of nutrients starts causing more physical problems.

Build lean muscle. Leaner muscles increases metabolism. A few push-ups and squats daily are of big help. Lift weights three times a week to build leaner muscles.

These six moves should get you started in the right direction toward achieving your aims. Never let go of the vision of your healthier, sexier self!!!

How To Lose Weight With Green Tea

Over the past few years, green tea and its connection with weight loss has become the center of various clinical studies. The effects of green tea on weight loss have been positive.

Studies show that the relation between green tea and weight loss are substantially linked through the plant’s thermogenic properties. Thermogenesis is the process by which the body produces heat by speeding up metabolism, burning calories, and breaking down fat. Certain substances in green tea are believed to help in the body’s thermogenesis, thus contributing to weight loss.


Maximizing Weight Loss Benefits in Green Tea

A standardized weight loss herbal extract of pure green tea is needed in order to maximize the weight loss benefits of green tea. The market offers several green tea weight loss products that do not use standardized extract. These non-standardized green tea weight loss products are cheaper but do not contain enough active green tea substances to have any significant weight loss benefit.

Scientists and traditional herbalists believe that better weight loss results are achieved when green tea is used in conjunction with other weight loss herbs and with other nutrients. So before buying a green tea weight loss product, it is advisable that you choose a product that contains a rich blend of green tea herbs, minerals and nutrients that aid in weight loss.

Green tea when combined with ginger and olive leaf helps lower cholesterol and promotes weight loss. Green tea helps stop blood vessel constriction while CoQ 10 protects the heart and ensures safe blood pressure levels. By mixing green tea with CoQ 10, you will not only achieve maximum weight loss but you will also be able to maintain the health of several body systems at one time.

The Ideal Green Tea Weight Loss Product

The first thing to make sure of when buying green tea products is to see if the manufacturer of the green tea extract follows strict GMP compliance, the manufacturing standard used throughout the world. Having GMP approval in green tea products assures you that you are getting a product of the highest quality.

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbal products such as green tea are considered dietary supplements. This means that the success or effectiveness of these products do not have any guarantees. Companies or manufacturers that claim 100% success in their green tea products are utilizing false advertising and should not be patronized.

For assurance that you’re getting your money’s worth when you buy a green tea product, find a product that is using standardized green tea extract. Look for strict GMP compliance and make sure that the manufacturer of the green tea product has all the proper credentials in product formulation.

Walking To Lose Weight

Human beings share three universal goals: to live longer, to
live free of illness and to control our weight. Interestingly
enough, normal walking lets us achieve all three goals.

In fact, walking is probably the best medicine for slowing the
aging process. First, it works almost every muscle in the body,
improves circulation to the joints and massages the blood
vessels (keeping them more elastic). Walking helps to
maintain both our muscle mass and metabolism as we age. It also
keeps us young in spirit. For anyone out of shape or not
athletically inclined, walking is the no-stress, no-sweat
answer to lifelong conditioning.

All it takes is a little time, common sense and a few
guidelines. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation
floating around regarding fitness walking, weight-loss and
dieting.

Walking is one of the best exercises for strengthening bones,
controlling weight, toning the leg muscles, maintaining good
posture and improving positive self-concept.

To lose weight, it's more important to walk for time than speed.
Walking at a moderate pace yields longer workouts with less
soreness - - leading to more miles and more calories spent on a
regular basis.

High-intensity walks on alternate days help condition one's system.
But in a walking, weight-loss program, it's better to be active
every day. This doesn't require walking an hour every day. The
key is leading an active life-style 365 days a year.

When it comes to good health and weight loss, exercise and diet
are interrelated. Exercising without maintaining a balanced diet
is no more beneficial than dieting while remaining inactive.

People who diet without exercising often gain more weight over time.
Although your weight may initially drop while dieting, such
weight loss consists mostly of water and muscle. When the
weight returns, it comes back stored as fat. To avoid gaining
over time, increase your metabolism by exercising on a daily basis.

The national research council recommends eating five or more
servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Fruits and vegetables
are the ideal diet foods for several reasons. They're relatively
low in fat and calories, yet are often high in fiber and rich in
essential vitamins and minerals.

Remember that rapid weight-loss consists mostly of water and
muscle - - the wrong kind of weight to lose. To avoid this, set
more reasonable goals, such as one pound per week.

Carbohydrates are high-octane fuel. They provide energy for
movement and help raise your body’s metabolism. They're also
satisfying. The key is not adding high-fat toppings to your
carbohydrates.

It is the everyday habits which define our weight and body composition.
A three-minute walk after each meal is worth four pounds less body
fat annually and two flights of stairs a day burns off half a pound
of body fat in a year. On the other hand, one candy bar eaten
daily will cost you 20 pounds annually and require walking an hour
every day.