Dieting & Slow-Metabolism

Many dieters point the finger of blame at their slow metabolism when dieting, but there are steps you can take to speed it up.

If you've ever had trouble losing weight, you've probably placed at least some of the blame on a slow metabolism. It's true that the rate at which your body uses energy can affect your ability to shed kilos. But there are also a few external, controllable factors that can slow down that rate. Here are eight triggers that can slow metabolism (some of which you can control) to make sure you aren't sabotaging your weight-loss efforts:

 Older Peopele has slow Metabolism

As you get older, your ability to quickly use up energy dirninishes & your metabolism can slow. As cells age, they do metabolize less rapidly. Older people also tend to have less muscle mass than younger people, which translates to a reduced metabolic rate. While you can't make yourself younger to speed up your metabolism, being diligent about getting enough exercise many people tend to manage as they age. Adults 65 & older should get two & a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week & do strengthening exercises on all the body's major muscle groups at least twice a week. 

Avoid Stress

When your nerves are frazzled, your body releases cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal system that is linked to weight gain. There are definitely established links between psychological stress & the adrenal system. To make sure that stress isn't making it harder to take off kgs, try to calm yourselfby reducing the controllable stressors in your life. For example, if heavy traffic makes you nervous, avoid the roadways during rush hour. Regular physical activity, deep breathing & even professional assistance from a psychologist or counselor may also be helpful.

Lack of Sleep

Getting too little shut-eye can significantly alter your body's processes enough to predispose you to gain weight. There was a recent study where healthy volunteers were subjected to poor sleep. Even over one night, the lack of sleep was significant enough to disrupt their metabolic pattems & give them more insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for diabetes. Insulin resistance has also been associated with obesity. To increase the chances of boosting metabolism, adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Exercise for Boosting Metabolism

Exercise not only helps you expend more calories while you're physically active, but there's also some evidence that it may increase your resting metabolic rate. To make sure you get enough exercise for boosting metabolism, set aside a dedicated period of time, rather than trying to accomplish it during the course of your everyday activities. Adults ages 18 to 64 need about two & a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, as well as strengthening exercises for all muscle groups twice a week.

Not Eating Enough

It may be tempting to severely restrict your calories or skip meals to lose weight, but that may be a self-defeating practice. Not eating enough can actually cause your metabolism to slow down in an attempt to conserve calories. There's something to be said for eating a small meal around breakfast time to get your metabolism moving for the day, eating small meals throughout the day can also be helpful. What's more, under-eating or meal-skipping can make you more likely to overeat at your next meal.

Caffeine-Containing Drinks

A few studies have also shown that caffeine-containing drinks like green tea & foods containing capsaicin (a chemical that gives spicy foods their heat) may cause temporary increases in metabolic rates. However, they only increase energy expenditure & fat-burning by a very small amount.

Drugs

Certain drugs can make it easy to put on kilos & hard to lose them. Some antipsychotic drugs used for bipolar disorder & depression can make patients put on significant amounts of weight. One such medication, olanzapine (Zyprexa) has been shown to promote weight gain. Scientists aren't sure why it happens. If you feel your medications may be causing your body to hang on to extra weight, talk to your physician, who may be able to switch you to another drug that's less likely to have those unwanted side effects.

Exposure to Colder Temperatures

There is some evidence that exposure to colder temperatures causes an increase in metabolism, as the body attempts to stay warm. However, research in this area is scarce. People living in cold climates may be more likely to gain weight because the low temps have a negative effect on their moods. When you have long winters, you can have depression that can cause people to gain weight. If you live in a cold place, be extra vigilant for symptoms of depression & talk to your doctor if the blues don't go away.

Medical Conditions

There are some medical conditions that can make losing weight more difficult. For example, thyroid problems like hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, can cause body functions to slow down & weight gain to result. Medications are available to relieve most of these conditions or eliminate their symptoms. If you've been trying to lose weight for some time & have been unsuccessful, ask your doctor about screening tests for these conditions.

Increase the amount of exercise you do, get enough sleep & talk to your doctor about medical conditions that can be affeaing your metabolism.