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Embarking on a diet plan is almost always about giving your physical appearance a makeover. You dream about getting thin so you can fit into that new pair of jeans, the bikini for your Caribbean... |
Embarking on a diet plan is almost always about giving your physical appearance a makeover. You dream about getting thin so you can fit into that new pair of jeans, the bikini for your Caribbean vacation, your wedding dress and so on and so forth. You imagine shopping for clothes with your new skinny body, the different hair style you can wear and just how great your life is going to be when you reach your goal weight. That is all very well and good, of course, but don’t forget the makeover that needs to come before that outward makeover. This one is for your inside – your metabolism. In many cases, to reach that goal of the makeover on the outside, you need to give you metabolism a facelift. Make sure you turn your metabolism into a bona fide fat fighting machine so you can make your other glamour makeover a reality.
Step number one in the metabolic makeover is to take a good hard look at what exactly you’re dealing with. Think about all of the things you might be doing to keep your metabolism in less than tip top shape. Have you been burning the candle at both ends, not getting your beauty rest? Have you been eating only when you remember to – and eating all of the wrong kinds of foods when you do get around to meal time? Are you unsure if your gym is even open any more? Living an unhealthy lifestyle will make your metabolism think it’s on vacation, and it will be burning fat only when it absolutely has to. Once you have identified all of the things that need to be changed about your metabolism, you can get started on making it kick into high gear again.
Now, it’s time to start eating. Yes, that’s right. You’re trying to lose weight, so you absolutely, positively must eat. That doesn’t mean that wine and nachos should become an every night thing. You have to eat the right kinds of foods in small doses at regular intervals to keep your metabolism on your side. And what are these right kinds of foods? Anything high in fiber is your friend, because it makes your metabolism really work to break it down, burning more calories. In fact, many fruits and veggies are negative calorie foods, meaning your body burns more calories by digesting them than are actually in the food to begin with. Protein is another good choice, because it encourages lean muscle building, and lean muscle loves to burn up the fat.
Now, it’s time to start moving. If you can’t show your face in your long forgotten step class any more, just get outside and walk. You don’t have to go far. If the most exercise you’ve had in a while is walking from the couch to the fridge, even a ten minute walk around the block will have your metabolism singing. Build up slowly and find something you like to do.
These steps will have your metabolism on board for your outside makeover, and you’ll feel healthier and more energized to boot.
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