Speeding Up Metabolism, Speeding Up Weight Loss

By Deon Plessis

Metabolism is arguably one of the most misunderstood concepts amongst the general public. How often do you hear people saying things like 'she must have a high metabolism – that's why she can eat anything and still be so skinny.' Although this is not entirely wrong, it is important to understand what metabolism is and how it supports your body and how it works for you.

Metabolism is nothing but the natural process through which your body transforms food into energy. Food needs to be broken down for your body to be able to use it as energy. Speeding up your metabolism will obviously speed up the process at which your body converts food and stored fat into energy and consequently you ‘loose weight’.

The common misconception that so many people hold is that they are 'born' with either a high or a low metabolism. Your genetic make up accounts for only 5% of your metabolic rate. The rest of your metabolism is determined by none other than you. There are only two factors that can account for your metabolism. Speeding up metabolism needs to focus only on these two areas.

Although certain hereditary factors can play a role we will discard them for the sake of our discussion (it affects only a very small percentage of people anyway.)

1. What You Eat:
Loosing weight is not rocket science. We all to often blame things that are outside of us for our weight problems, but the fact remains that it is all just YOU. To loose weight there are only two things that can possibly play a role. What you eat and how you exercise your body. Speeding up metabolism starts with your eating patterns.

Many people deprive themselves of food in a vain attempt to loose weight. This actually slows down your metabolism and consequently it slows down the tempo at which your body burns calories. The key is to eat more, but less. Metabolism is a bit like getting a big heavy stream train to move – getting it moving is the hard part and once it's got momentum it is much easier to keep it moving. By having three to five smaller meals throughout the day you will keep your metabolism high.

Binge eating and depriving yourself of food are the two big no-no's if you are trying to speed up metabolism for weight loss. It is important then to eat high energy foods to keep up your metabolism. Fresh fruit and vegetables are packed with energy and will go a long way in speeding up your metabolism. Eating more does not mean eating and snacking on junk food. You need to eat more quality food.

2. Exercise
This is where most people 'bomb-out', but before you do, consider this. Your body was designed to move and to be active. Like anything in nature, if it's not used, it starts to deteriorate and being overweight is a nothing but a sign of deterioration. The reason why you always feel good after exercise is because the body releases hormones that only get released during exercise.

Your metabolism and the rate at which your body converts calories into energy is directly related to your body’s demand for energy. If your body does not require energy, the food will simply get stored as fat. When you increase the demand for energy you body will respond accordingly and increase your metabolism to meet this demand. Exercise is probably the easiest way to increase the demand and speed up your metabolism.

Speeding up metabolism by applying these two principles are often easier said than done. The cold hard truth however, is that this is all there is to it. To speed up your metabolism, either increase the demand through exercise or decrease the supply through what you eat.

Article by Deon Du PlessisIf you found this information useful and would like to learn more about how you can increase your metabolism, visit www.Sincere-Advice.Com/Metabolism.html for more information.


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5 Herbal Weight Loss Options

By Andrew Gee

The following article is one of a series of articles which focus on Self Improvement, Motivation and Empowerment. It is based on research done over twenty years as a personal and business coach. This self improvement article was written in response to questions which have been asked on losing weight and long term weight loss as well as address common challenges that people have with this subject. I sincerely hope that you find the following information of value.

5 Herbal Weight loss Options

These days, there is a great need for overweight Americans to lose those excess pounds. Being healthy would not only lead them to have a healthier lifestyle but it will also literally lighten their load, and improve their overall well-being.

There is a long list of dieting options available. There are exercise programs, exercise machines, dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills - there are even soaps which claim to help you lose pounds while you bathe.

One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal.
Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you take herbal supplements to lose weight, you would have to wait for a longer time for the results because of the more subtle effects of medicines which came from plants and natural herbs.

Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:

1. Herbal weight loss products

There are a lot of herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products.

Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but some actually have side effects because of non-extensive research on the effects of these products.

Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health:

> Senna. This is an herbal laxative. Senna is a main ingredient in weight loss teas, and it works by stimulation the colon. The downside effect of this herb is dehydration. It can also lead to colon problems and can become addictive. Some people, when addicted, are unable to perform bowel movements without it, so watch out.

> Chromium picolinate. This is a synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products. Chromium is a nutrient which helps regulate blood-sugar level. However, this ingredient, when taken in high doses, may cause damage in the chromosomes. It can also lead to dehydration.

> St. John's wort. This supplement increases the production of a chemical in the brain. If not used properly, it may cause eye and skin sensitivity, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue and itching.

Although a lot of herbal products claim to be safe and natural, it is better to scrutinize the ingredients and research about the effects of the product itself before going for these herbal dietary pills.

========SIDEBAR========
When it comes to the subject of self improvement, I fully understand (through my own experiences) that it is a lot easier said than done. However, you are here, right now, because you have a desire to improve your self or you are at least interested in this subject. Perhaps you are reading this to help a friend or colleague - great. If this article helps you or you help a friend, paying it forward is what lif'e all about so we all win.
======END SIDEBAR======

2. Organic food.

In Wichita, Kansas, organic food has found its way to more homes and restaurants. Organic food devotees believe that consuming organic goodies help their bodies as well as the environment.
A person who buys organically raised eggs and vegetables claim to be healthier, and they are not spending money on doctors and prescriptions as these keep them healthier and away from the hospital. This could also be an option for weight watchers, as organic food is known to be kinder to your weight than chemically-processed food products.

3. Green Tea.

Studies show that intake of green tea, or green tea extracts burns extra calories. Also, green tea with caffeine can increase fat burning by up to 40% thereby reducing fat.
This is one good option for those who want to lose weight. In a study done, people who took green tea were found to lose 2 to 3 times more weight than those who did not drink green tea.

These results show that green tea is a natural product for the treatment of obesity. Thus, it also makes for a healthier dietary option, not to mention the good effects that it has on the body as compared to caffeine. A cup of tea gives an emmediate energy lift without the side effects of caffeine.

4. Immortality Herb

This herb, whose scientific name is Gymnostemna Pentaphyllum, is known to have the following benefits:
> increases healthy blood flow
> reduces artery blocks
> aids healthy blood pressure
> increases the rate of fat burning

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

There are pills and food supplements whose main ingredient is apple cider vinegar. Here are the benefits of taking this herbal option:
> weight loss
> improved cholesterol level
> improved high blood pressure
> helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis

NOW is the time!

O.K. you have read the article. Now is the time for action. Without action, this article adds no value whatsoever to your self improvement. But remember, without action, you cannot blame this self improvement article or any article for that matter. So, take action NOW.
Even if only one piece of advice, one piece of information, one tip makes a difference, then the whole article has been worth it for all of us. NOW is the time!

Be the person you want to be, you deserve it!
Are you ready to drop those extra pounds you've been carrying around?You don't need to jump on any current diet craze and you don't need to start exercising for hours each day.

Just use our 101 'Everyday' Ways to Lose 10 Pounds or more and Keep it Off!
Get Your 101 Weight Loss Tips Now

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