I make no claims about knowing everything there is about losing weight, but one thing I am certain off and that is Metabolism is the key to losing weight and having it stay off. If you can control that, then a really good weight loss program will certainly help you achieve your goal of a fitter and lighter you.
First off all you have to understand just exactly what the word Metabolism means, and how it relates to the human body. In this short article I will endeavour to explain it as simply as I can.
First off Metabolism is mainly divided into two categories.
1. Catabolism which breaks down organic matter, for example to harvest energy in cellular respiration. (Cellular Respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms such as humans to convert biochemical energy from nutrients and then release waste products).
And
2. Anabolism which uses energy to construct components of cells such as proteins and nucleic acids. (Nucleic Acids are some of the most significant molecules found in living organisms. Their role is to store and transmit genetic information to build proteins).
Some experts have classified hormones as anabolic or catabolic, depending on which part of metabolism they stimulate. The classic anabolic hormones are the anabolic steroids, which stimulate protein changes and muscle growth. The balance between anabolism and catabolism is also regulated by circadian rhythms (you can liken these rhythms to your body clock), with processes such as glucose metabolism fluctuating to match your periods of activity throughout the day.
Although fat is a common way of storing energy, in vertebrates such as humans the fatty acids in these stores cannot be converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis as these organisms do not have the necessary machinery to manufacture enzymes. As a result, after long-term starvation, vertebrates need to produce ketone bodies from fatty acids to replace glucose in tissues such as the brain that cannot metabolize fatty acids.
(Ketone bodies are three water-soluble compounds that are produced as by-products when fatty acids are broken down for energy in the liver and kidneys. Two of the three are used as a source of energy in the heart and brain while the third is a waste product excreted from the body).
Well there you have a very basic description of the metabolic processes that are taking place within your body all the time, even when you are sitting down doing nothing or when you are asleep.
Understanding these metabolic processes means you can lose weight without knocking yourself out. You certainly do not need to spend hours in a gym doing all those crazy aerobics and cardios. You can do it quite easily in the comfort of your own home in between TV commercials.
My advice to anyone who wants to lose those extra pounds and keep them off is simply this. All these different metabolic processes are what make your body the size it is. Controlling what you eat and how much will give you the body size you want.
Therefore program your brain to program your body. Get your body to listen to what your brain is telling it, and then find a really good weight loss/fitness program such as the one below. No matter how busy you are it should help you get started and it can’t hurt to try and achieve your goal.