Metabolism 101

So.. what is metabolism? It's basically the rate you burn the calories you consume... In order to lose weight, you need to increase the total calorie burn (which is called total energy expenditure). Pretty simple right? You should also know that your bodies burn calories 24/7, regardless of whether you work out! Because your body does this, it needs energy all the time, which is why it is important to NOT skip meals!! I know most of you think that eating less will help you lose weight, which is true, but skipping meals will not help you reach your goal! The trick is to eat smaller portions a day (about 5-6 meals), this way your metabolism will speed up. You see, when you skip meals, you are slowing down your body's metabolic rate in order to conserve energy.

Ways to kickstart your metabolism:
#1. Get rid of that excess fat! Cardio, Cardio, Cardio... It's important. Swim, bike, play a favorite sport, go for a walk, run, or hike.. do anything active to start kicking up that heart rate of yours!
#2. Strength Train... (Note to the ladies: you will not look like a bulging gym rat of a man if you lift weights, so do it!) Muscle is metabolically active, so the more muscle you gain, the more calories you will burn! I personally do not like going to the gym and doing reps by myself, so I take certain strength training classes or watch videos online ( Tone It Up  BodyRock TV).
#3. Eat foods that kickstart your metabolism!
    * The Meta-D Drink from livestrong has a mixture of awesome spices and drinks that increase your metabolism including cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar) Note: drink it fast, it tastes disgusting.
    * Water.. yes I know it seems simple, but increasing your water intake helps digest foods and remove toxins from your body so try to drink at least half your body weight in ounces per day.
    * Foods high in protein and fiber
    *Green Tea. I drink this stuff almost daily, it is so amazing. It has awesome antioxidants and lowers your LDL levels (bad cholesterol).

Hope this helped a bit!