Your Weight and Your Metabolism

Your wondering what your weight has to do with your metabolism? Well, your metabolism has an enormous effect on your body weight. It refers to how fast your body burns the calories you decide to consume. Everyone burns calories at different speeds. Someone with a slow metabolism will not burn as many calories as a person with a fast metabolism and those extra unburned calories will be stored in the body as fat. More stored fat equals more weight to carry around with you. Besides exercise, there are foods that will help the body increase metabolism.

Eating foods that speed your metabolism will do more than just help you lose weight. They will also give you more energy and as a result you will feel better both physically and mentally. the following foods are known to speed up metabolism:

• Eggs-Yes they are high in cholesterol, but they are also very high in protein. Limit your intake of eggs.
• Skinless chicken breast
• Peanut butter
• Beans
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Hot peppers
• Broccoli
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Raspberries
• Oatmeal
• Granola
• Cold water
• Green tea
• Coffee
• Cereal high in fiber

There are other foods to speed your metabolism, but these are some of the ones I incorporated into my eating habits to help me lose weight and increase energy. As with anything else, you don't want to overdo it. For instance, you are not going to eat six skinless chicken breasts at a sitting! We all know eggs are high in cholesterol, so consumption of eggs has to be limited, but included. Here are some other quick tips to speed your metabolism:

• Eat breakfast! It is very important to eat a complete breakfast and not just a muffin or toast. Eating a breakfast high in fiber and protein will give you the energy you need to get going and it will speed your metabolism.
• Don't skip meals...try to eat six times per day. Three smaller meals than you usually eat and if you get the munchies in between, choose a healthy snack like an apple or a piece of celery with peanut butter lightly spread on it. Do not starve yourself! You still need calories!
  
• Incorporate an exercise program into your diet. Make sure you talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise program! Lets face it, most of us live a very sedentary lifestyle so something is better than nothing. Bottom line is after getting cleared by your doctor, get up off your butt and get your body in motion!
• Drink lots of water. Cut way back or eliminate soda and sugary beverages.
• Stop drinking or reduce the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink.
• Quit smoking.

If you incorporate some of these foods into your diet and eliminate or cut back on things like cake, doughnuts, ice cream and pie you will be on your way to eating healthier.  Adding an exercise program will only add to the benefit you reap.  I know it's hard, but the next time you reach for a chocolate covered Boston cream filled doughnut, why not have a grapefruit or an orange and a cold glass of water!  Try it, what have you got to lose?  Happy eating!