EAT TO LOSE

Metabolism at work

How many people in your world can eat whatever they like and never seem to gain an ounce?  How often is that person your husband or significant other?  Infuriating, isn't it?  For many people, men especially, metabolism plays a huge part in their ability to eat and not gain.

As you probably know, metabolism is simply the amount of energy burned by your body in any given day and the more muscle you have, the more calories are burned by the body.  Muscular people tend to have a faster metabolism than those who have little muscle mass.  Your body uses stored glycogen, gained through the food you eat, as an energy source, along with fat from fat cells.  Since digestion is an energy burning activity in the body, eating several small meals a day will burn many more calories than either larger meals or skipping meals all together.

Proteins, Fats & Carbohydrates

For many people, eating a diet low in protein will cause the body to give up its protein stores found in muscle to use it as fuel.  Fat is used by the body as a good source of energy as well as for providing the maintenance of certain tissues and bodily processes.  Carbohydrates are sugars which come from fruit, starches, milk products (in the form of lactose) and sugar (sucrose).  Simple carbs, such as those which come from white flour, sucrose and starchy vegetables, raise the blood sugar quickly, giving a shot of energy.  The body's response to this sugar shot is to produce insulin, a hormone occurring in the body to regulate blood sugar.  It is not uncommon for people who are "carbohydrate junkies" to lose their sensitivity to insulin, so the key is to eat carbohydrate dense foods, rather than those which provide a quick shot of sugar.  Choosing foods that are lower on the glycemic index can help to regulate blood sugar levels.

Our muscles need protein to build.  Protein and healthy fats go a long way in keeping us satisfied and full longer after a meal. A couple of good fats - like those found in olive oil - with lean protein and dense carbohydrates, and you've got a winning combination which will help keep the body healthy and strong.

Eat more often

By eating several small meals a day in which protein is included, aids the metabolism in its burning capacity.  Eating more frequently, including protein and healthy fats and carbs will assist us in our weight loss programs.