Eat for health, exercise regularly and you will get the fat loss and weight loss that you want! There are sometimes benefits to cycling carbohydrates, cutting fats, etc. Let’s not deal with the exceptions right now…..remember, you are trying to establish eating habits that will help you for a lifetime and not just some 30-day weight loss program!
The type of food you eat and timing of what you eat is very important for your metabolism. Your body needs adequate amounts of the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) to function right.
Increasing lean body mass is critical to permanently speed up your metabolism. The body has to work harder to maintain muscle mass. Protein’s main role in the body is to repair and rebuild body tissues (especially so after an intense weight training workout). When your body doesn’t get enough protein, it will take protein from other sources–mainly your muscles! Obviously, you don’t want that to happen.
Carbohydrates, in the form of glycogen, are your body’s preferred source of energy. Glycogen is stored in your liver and muscles and it is broken down into glucose. Glucose is then used by your body to make energy. As a result, when your glycogen stores are low, your body’s performance will suffer. When your body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates, it uses energy from proteins and fats. As just stated above, protein has another primary role in the body. And, again, your lean muscle mass will take the hit.
Fat is important for your diet because it helps you feel full and keeps skin, hair and nails healthy (among other things). You should limit (not eliminate) your intake of saturated fats (usually solid at room temperature, such as butter). Eat no trans fats ( partially hydrogenated fats found in packaged foods and fast foods).
Instead, increase your intake of unsaturated fats (they are usually liquid at room temperature, such as olive oil, fish, nuts, seeds and avocados). Fats should not exceed 30% (closer to 20%) of your total caloric intake. Again, fat should not be used as your primary energy source.
Your body needs the macronutrients at all times to function properly. When your body functions properly, your metabolism will also function properly. That’s why you need to eat every 3-4 hours to give your body what it needs and to protect your vital lean muscle mass. If you are a person who skips breakfast, stop doing that! You are sabotaging your fat loss and weight loss efforts and throwing your metabolism out of wack!
-Cathering Ebeling and Mike Geary are co-authors of the popular ebook, Fat-Burning Kitchen, which shows you how to totally revamp your kitchen to make your body a fat-burning machine!
Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
My Fitness Hut
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs
Aside from making weight-loss much easier, I found-out timing my consumption of carbs, lean proteins, etc. makes me feel less deprived. More people should know that how and when we eat is as important as how much we eat.
Very true Lynn! Thanks for the visit and comment!
Very useful tips here. I actually tried timing the kinds of food I eat, carbs early in the day and so on and snacking on fruits more to keep my metabolism going. I actually a couple of pounds in just a month! I’m sure I’ll speed-up the process (weight-loss) if I started exercising regularly, but thanks very much for the nutrition tips! 🙂
Thanks for the visit Lynn! You are off to a good start. You are right that regular exercise will speed up your metabolism and keep the weight off.
Came across your post as I was looking for bodybuilding related info. Very nice post. Hope to learn more from you.
I have just recently started my blog and am really enjoying leaving comments on my favorite blogs 😉 Bookmark for sure.
Found your blog while browsing Google. Bookmarked. Looking forward to more nutrition tips.
I think it’s great that you remind people that weight loss is not a matter of eating less, but eating the right foods. Losing weight shouldn’t have to mean losing out on nutrition.
Thanks for the comment Liggy!