Imagine Fitness

For many who are trying to lose weight, or even just maintain their  present weight we are interested in how to boost our metabolim. That is the rate at which our bodies burn calories. Faster metabolic rate = more calories burned = weight loss.  So how can we keep our bodies a calorie burning machine? As a Calgary personal trainer, here are a few bits of advice I want to pass along.

I don’t advocate fat burning supplements or resorting to unhealthy gimmicks, but there are a few tips of what you should and should not do that can imapct your metabolism.

Metabolism DO’s

1.  Don’t reduce calorie intake to low. Commonly known as starving yourself. When you drastically reduce calories this messes up your bodies chemistry and it actually begins to slow down your metabolism in order to keep you alive.

2. Don’t skip meals.  If you are like me, life can get pretty busy, as a trainer working in  a city like Calgary, it can be easy to miss a meal.  However, studies have shown that up to 10% of our daily calories are actually burned through thermogenesis. That is the process of converting calories to energy. That means that regular eating, such as 4-5 small meals a day actually keeps your body burning calories all day long without any drop in your blood sugar levels, so you have more energy for longer and have the capacity to burn stored fat.

3.  Don’t forgo sleep. Research has shown that sleep is essential for your body to repair itself. Sleep actually triggers an increase in the hormone called ‘leptin’ which is our hunger curbing hormone. Just 1 hour of sleep less a day can drastically effect your weight loss efforts.

So now you know what NOT to do, stay tuned for my next newsletter when I will reveal tips on how to BOOST your metabolism.

Stay motivated,

Shelley

Be Sociable, Share!

•