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Picking
up speed:
Metabolism

Improving metabolism involves a healthy exercise regimen and a sensible diet. Certain foods like oats, blueberries and
almonds have been found to boost metabolism.

          By Mike Gullickson                   at which your metabolism uses up energy,     intensity workouts. Don suggests shopping
           and Jaime Calder                    from your genetics to your gender to your    as a fun, mobile activity because you tend
                                               age. The faster your metabolism burns        to keep moving – and if you spot something
Aquick Internet search for “metabo-            through its fuel, the less it stores in the  you’d like to buy, your metabolism will be
        lism” will turn up thousands of        form of fat on your body. The slower your    raised. He also suggested playing games
        products promising you that they       metabolism, the more energy your body        such as catch, tag or keep away with your
are the answer to waistline woes. But what,    will store. A high-functioning metabolism    grandchildren.
exactly, is metabolism, and why do people      has many benefits. Yes, there’s the trim
believe it’s to blame for their extra pounds?  figure, but a strong metabolism is also      Beth White, Sun City Texas’ group fitness
Simply put, your metabolism is the way         associated with lower rates of infectious    coordinator and the leader of the Lighten
in which your body converts fuel into          and degenerative diseases, a healthy sex     Up for Life program, said that when it
energy. Whenever you eat or drink, your        drive, increased energy, longevity and       comes to efficient calorie intake, several
metabolism utilizes those calories to keep     much more.                                   small meals a day are better than three
your muscles moving, your brain thinking                                                    large ones. What you’re snacking on, of
and your whole body functioning as it          Developing your metabolism is a matter of    course, matters – yogurt and blueberries
should. Extra calories not immediately         improving not just the way in which your     at 10 a.m. will be better for your body than,
necessary are stored away for future use,      body burns calories but also the quality of  say, a bowl of chips and a beer. Certain
typically in the form of fat.                  the calories you put into your body. If you  foods have actually been found to help give
Many different factors determine the rate      want to burn calories, you need to build     your metabolism a boost. These include
                                               up your muscles. Muscle cells need a lot     hot peppers, green tea, oats, blueberries,
  Fitness Center suggestions                   of energy to keep working, so they’re key    grapefruit, lentils and almonds. Oh, and
  to boost your metabolism                     when it comes to burning calories. Because   coffee (thank you, God).
  Cardio Fun • TD                              your body naturally loses muscle mass
   Monday, Wednesday 8 a.m.                    with age, this means that regular exercise   Oh, and those products you see on
   Thurs. 9:15 a.m.                            is particularly crucial for people over the  the Internet? The only thing they’re
  Basic Kickboxing • TD                        age of 40.                                   guaranteed to lighten is your wallet.
   Monday, Wednesday 1 p.m.                                                                 Worse still, some may cause unintended
  Senior Bootcamp • CC                         Sun City Texas fitness trainer Don Moore     and even dangerous side effects. There
   Monday, Wednesday 2 p.m.                    suggests interval training for a mega        are no shortcuts to fitness, so talk to your
   Tuesday, Thursday 5:45 p.m.                 muscle and metabolism improvement. The       doctor about your health, your exercise
                                               basic idea is to work at maximum effort for  options and moving your metabolism into
32 | SUNRAYS MARCH 2017                        a few seconds to a minute, then slow down    the fast lane.
                                               and let your heart recover. Hard work
                                               punctuated by short rest periods has been    Always consult with your doctor about
                                               shown to deliver a larger, longer-lasting    health concerns or before beginning an
                                               boost to your metabolism than lower-         exercise regimen.

                                                                                                                                      ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
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