We all know that our metabolism is what is responsible for burning fat and keeping our digestion and bodies running at optimal speeds. We know that there is also very little we can do to affect it - much of your rate is determined by your gender, age, body composition and DNA. Does that mean we don't have any say in how our bodies process our food, and that we can't touch our metabolic rate no matter what we do or how hard we work? Not at all. Exercise in fact has been shown to be an optimal way to increase it, allowing you to burn many more calories long after you stopped exercising. Further, muscle burns more calories than fat, so getting in good shape can make a real long term difference. In today's article we're going to take a look at two different ways you can affect your metabolic rate, and thus get your weight firmly under control.
It is common knowledge that women tend to pack on pounds after they hit 40. Up until now, people thought that it was simply a byproduct of menopause and premenopause, and that there was nothing you could do about it. A new study however has shown that it occurs due to a dip in estrogen in women's bodies, which leads to less activity in estrogen receptors in your brain that control how many calories your body is told to burn. The result is that your metabolism slows, and you end up burning about 50 calories less per day. What is the solution? Hit the weight room. If you go three times per week, and do a solid session of three sets of 10-12 reps, you will build enough muscle mass to offset this caloric problem. The bonus is that you will also help your bone density as well as staying younger and healthier in general.
Second, you can directly affect your metabolism through what you eat. How does this work? Your metabolism is directly connected to your levels of blood sugar. If your blood sugar drops, so does your metabolism. This is because your body releases cortisol to break down tissue to bring glucose to your brain. So low blood sugar means less lean body mass as your body cannibalizes muscle for energy. The trick to avoid this is to eat smaller meals with small snacks in-between to maintain a constant source of energy in your body.