Pedal to the metal
W
hen I hear people say, “I have a slow metabolism”, my answer is, “Do you really? Or are you simply preventing it from reaching its potential?” To release your metabolic handbrake, address these five mistakes.
YOU CRASH DIET \ Sure, restricting your calories
or skipping meals might cause you to lose weight quickly but, more often than not, you’ll put it all back on and then some. Dramatically lowering your calorie intake for prolonged periods of time puts your body into “starvation mode”. This means it can sense that food might be limited so it starts to conserve energy by reducing the amount of calories you burn. It’s your body’s way of protecting you from starvation.
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SAM WOOD \ FITNESS
R E S I S TA N C E T R A I N I N G I S K E Y
YOU’RE STRESSED \ Stress releases the hormone
YOU’RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP \
cortisol and too much cortisol can interrupt our bodies’ metabolic processes and ability to burn fat. Cortisol is considered a catabolic hormone, meaning it breaks down muscle for energy. Loss of muscle can ultimately cause a decrease in your metabolism as the greater muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn even when you’re simply going about your day-to-day life. One stressful incident might not affect your metabolism too much, but prolonged stress – and therefore muscle breakdown – can.
Prolonged sleep deprivation can cause what is known as “metabolic grogginess”. This means that your body’s metabolic rate decreases and you burn fewer calories. Bummer. Not to mention that when you’re sleep-deprived you’re more likely to skip your early morning workout.
YOU DON’T DO RESISTANCE TRAINING \
Incorporating resistance training into your routine is not only a fantastic way to tone and shape your muscles but also to increase your metabolism. The more lean muscle you have, the more calories you burn – even at rest.
YOU’RE NOT EATING REAL FOOD \ A balanced,
wholefood diet packed with foods that have a high thermic effect can help to naturally boost your metabolism. You should make especially sure that you are getting enough protein and high-quality good fats. High-quality proteins have a high thermic effect but are also good at promoting satiety, keeping you fuller for longer. ● ● 28bysamwood.com
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