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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