subject: Weight Loss And Your Metabolism-the Importance Of Understanding Your Metabolism And Weight Loss [print this page] Catabolism Catabolism
When we talk about metabolism, we usually mean catabolism. This is the process of breaking down food and converting it to energy, which of course we require to keep our bodys processes going and for our daily activities. The converse is anabolism, which is the process of building new cells, for growth and repair.
For people trying to lose weight its important to boost catabolism because it prevents excess energy being stored (as fat) in the body. If your body produces more calories than it can use for some or other process or activity, then the excess calories are stored as fat. They cannot be got rid of any other way.
Thus, if you are trying to lose weight you should reduce your calorie input, as you are obviously taking in more than you are using, and, also, you should try and boost your metabolism (catabolism) in order to use up more calories. The way to do this is to do more exercise and burn more calories.
For many people walking is the easiest way of fitting in exercise in their busy lifestyles. Most people can find a half hour slot two or three times a week for a walk, or as you get fitter, a jog. When you start out its best to take things gently, but with regular walks you should soon find you can step it out a bit, increasing the pace, until you are ready for jogging or slow running.
Gradually your body will get fitter and be able to produce the energy required with less effort. You should find you dont get so breathless on a 30 minute run as you did when you started.
Once having reached a plateau of performance you can further boost your metabolism by occasionally breaking into a sprint as you jog, say for 30 seconds or 1 minute. This sudden sprint will give your body a quick jolt, so that your body needs to find more energy quickly and is forced to burn more calories.
Interval Training
This kind of routine is called interval training, and the key is to vary the intervals. When the body is called on for sudden extra energy supplies at different times it becomes less used to mulling along at a steady pace and is more able to deliver. In so doing your body is burning more calories and you are more likely to lose excess fat. As with all exercise you dont want to overdo it and strain yourself. Start with short interval sprints and gradually increase the duration.
Another key to boosting metabolism is to undertake different activities rather than pursue the same one week in and week out. If you do different sporting activities coupled with some strength training in the gym occasionally you will be improving different muscle groups in turn and achieving better all-round fitness.
