Our body is so well “organized” that excess calories can be burned spontaneously, even without much effort on our part. However, for this process, an efficient and fast metabolism is necessary. Metabolism is of great importance in a slimming diet. During the process of losing weight, we often make certain mistakes that slow it down. Make sure you don’t commit any of them!
- Not enough fluids. The proper functioning of our entire body requires adequate amounts of water. After all, the human body is largely made up of fluids, which is why it’s so important to keep it hydrated on a regular basis. Statistics show that Poles still drink too little liquid during the day. It is also important for getting a shapely figure – if we are not properly hydrated, the body does not burn as many calories as it could burn with proper hydration. For example, during physical exercise, when we feel thirsty and do not drink anything, after a while we move less efficiently. What’s more, drinking cold water works better for metabolism than drinking hot tea, because the body has to work on heating it up.
- Cardio above all. Cardio exercises alone, such as running, cycling, swimming or aerobics, do not speed up metabolism as well as combining cardio with strength training. Building muscle allows you to burn more calories, and muscle tissue itself requires us to use large amounts of energy. This is how the body converts excess calories into energy, which significantly speeds up metabolism.
- Food too little and at the wrong time. This is about eating too few meals during the day, e.g. two meals a day (even if both are very filling). When we eat too little, the body “switches” to starvation mode, and therefore deliberately slows down the metabolism and burns less calories. And that’s definitely not what weight loss is about. Try to eat more often, at least three meals a day, and if you feel hungry more often – along with snacks, do not exceed 5 small meals a day. Thanks to this, your body will work at full capacity and burn calories from food on an ongoing basis. Also try not to eat at night. Nutritionists recommend taking a 12-hour break from eating. It is not a good idea to eat too late or in the morning, e.g. at 6.00.
- Avoiding coffee. Caffeine is not as bad as it is made out to be. A small black coffee (no sugar or milk!) drunk before exercise is a good way to boost your body by providing it with a caffeine dose of energy. It will increase your stamina and boost your metabolism. Drinking green tea, which has similar properties to caffeine, will bring similar effects.
- Not getting enough sleep. Those who sleep too little are much more likely to gain weight. Research from 2012 proved that people who do not sleep are less efficient during the day (they have less energy), which makes them more likely to gain weight. What’s more, lack of sleep contributes to the disruption of the hormone that regulates our sense of hunger. As a result, we feel the urge to eat even when we shouldn’t, and as a result, we eat too much, which causes weight gain.