This is the time of year when many people want to make positive changes like losing weight or quitting smoking. Since I help people who want to make these types of changes using NLP and hypnosis in my office in San Diego, many people ask what they can do in order to permanently lose weight. What I explain is that when it comes to permanent weight loss, one of the best things you can do is to increase your metabolism.
Metabolism is how your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this process, the calories in your food and beverages combine with oxygen. This allows them to release the energy your body needs to function properly. Even when you are just lounging around watching TV your body still needs energy for all its “hidden” functions. These functions include things like breathing, blood circulation and growing and repairing damaged cells.
As you grow older your metabolism can slow. The same thing happens to smokers when they quit. When this happens, even though you eat less you gain weight. This can be extremely frustrating. This doesn’t have to be a problem for you. There are some simple things you can do to increase your basal metabolic rate, or how fast you burn calories even when you’re sitting around watching TV.
Let’s take a look at 4 ways to boost your metabolism:
1. Aerobic exercise
Every doctor and physical trainer will tell you that aerobic exercise is a very effective method for burning calories. An easy way to do this is to take a brisk walk or go for a morning swim. If you are a smoker, after you quit, in addition to helping you burn calories, these methods will help you repair your lungs. If walking or swimming doesn’t excite you then find a variety of activities that does.
2. Use strength training to increase your muscle mass
Here is a basic biological fact; muscle burns more calories than fat. This means that even a modest gain in muscle mass will help you burn more calories all day and night. Strength training activities like lifting weights, Pilates or even yoga can help you with this.
3. Eat smaller meals more frequently.
Most nutritionists will tell you that eating 5 to 6 small meals a day will help you regulate and lose weight. This is because eating food actually stimulates your metabolism. You see, calories get burned in the process of digestion. Most of the action takes place in the first hour after dining. So to increase your metabolism, try eating smaller meals with some healthy snacks in between.
4. Forget about the weight loss myth of magical solutions.
Forget about all those crazy diet plans to lose weight, you know the ones I’m talking about, the cabbage soup diet or the Hollywood diet. All foods have about the same effect when it comes to burning calories, its portion size (calorie intake) that counts. And forget about those diet pills too. Diet pills are a temporary solution that in many cases actually causes health problems. Permanent weight loss requires a change in lifestyle, not a fad diet or pills.
You need to develop healthy habits
So there you have it, 4 ways to boost your metabolism and experience permanent weight loss. In order to do this you have to change a few things. You have to develop healthy habits. If you are interested in developing healthy habits and losing weight I have a report you can download at absolutely no charge, it’s called “Weight Loss Secrets the Big Diet Companies Don’t Want You to Know About”. It gives you the secrets you need to have the body you want and to be healthy – for life.
Wil Dieck is the found of Total Mind Therapy , a system that has helped thousands of people make positive changes in their lives. He is a leading authority on helping women over 40 use hypnosis and NLP for permanent weight loss. His office is located in San Diego,California. If you would like to find out how Total Mind Therapy can help you lose weight then call (619) 293-3255. You’ll receive a complimentary, no-strings-attached, personalized weight loss phone assessment designed to help you with your permanent weight loss goals.
