April 25, 2024

This great article from Sheri Strykowski about metabolism boosting foods  and how to increase metabolism that is sure to have you nodding your head in agreement but there are a few that will probably be new to you as well.

Here are 10 metabolism boosting foods that will increase your metabolism and help you lose weight by boosting metabolism

metabolism boosting foods

I have made comments in bold just to highlight some of my own opinions on how to increase metabolism. 

Stoke your metabolic fire and burn calories faster with diet-friendly foods and beverages. Post this list on your fridge next to the photo of you in your “skinny jeans” and make a copy to bring with you the next time you shop for groceries.

Just remember: Calories count, portion control rules and there’s no substitute for a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. So get moving!

How to Increase Metabolism

1. Water – A new study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss and is a great way how to increase metabolism. Researchers in Germany found that subjects of the study increased their metabolic rates (the rate at which calories are burned) by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water.

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Water is also a natural appetite suppressant that banishes bloat as it flushes out sodium and toxins. Drinking enough water will also help keep you from mistaking thirst for hunger. So drink up!

Make sure that you are starting your day with a big big glass of water and drink throughout the day not just all at one time.

2. Green Tea – Studies show that green tea extracts boost metabolism and may aid in weight loss. This mood-enhancing tea has also been reported to contain anti-cancer properties and help prevent heart disease. It’s also a trendy drink among health-conscious celebrities.

You may Have already seen my green tea articles but this may be one really fantastic herb and it tastes nice too!

3. Soup – Eat less and burn fat faster by having a bowl of soup as an appetizer or a snack. According to a Penn State University study, soup is a super appetite suppressant because it’s made up of a hunger-satisfying combination of liquids and solids. In the study, women chose one of three 270-calorie snacks before lunch.

Women who had chicken and rice soup as a snack consumed an average of 100 fewer calories than those in the study who opted for a chicken and rice casserole or the casserole and a glass of water.

I used to joke that soup is not a meal but it really does fill you for very few calories and remember that when you eat a food with a lot of taste it really will satisfy.

4. Grapefruit – The grapefruit diet is not a myth. Researchers at Scripps Clinic found that participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal in a 12-week period lost an average of 3.6 pounds.

The study indicates that the unique chemical properties in this vitamin C-packed citrus fruit reduce insulin levels, which promotes loss and boost metabolism. NOTE: If you are taking medication, check with your doctor about any potentially adverse interactions with grapefruit.

Grapefruit, because of the soft peel is a nice alternative to an apple of orange and study after study of the last 30 years has shown that it can really help burn fat.

5. Apples and Pears – Over women who ate the equivalent of three small apples or pears a day lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn’t add fruit to their diet, according to researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro.

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Fruit eaters also ate fewer calories overall. So next time you need to satisfy a sugar craving, reach for this low-calorie, high-fiber snack. You’ll feel full longer and eat less.

6. Broccoli – Study after study links calcium and loss. Broccoli is not only high in calcium, but also loaded with vitamin C, which boosts calcium absorption. This member of the nutritious cabbage family also has plenty of vitamin A, folate and fiber. And, at just 20-calories per cup, this weight-loss superfood not only fights fat but also contains powerful phytochemicals that boost your immunity and protect against disease.

7. Low-Fat Yogurt – Dairy products can boost weight loss efforts, according to a study in the April issue of Obesity Research. People on a reduced-calorie diet who included three to four servings of dairy foods lost significantly more than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. Low-fat yogurt is a rich source of -loss-friendly calcium, providing about 450 mg (about half the recommended daily allowance for women ages 19-50) per 8-ounce serving, as well as 12 grams of protein.

As far as superfood go Yogurt is right there. It includes calcium, protein and a ton of other nutrients as well as good bacteria and probiotics for you digestive tract.

8. Lean Turkey – Rev up your fat-burning engine with this bodybuilder favorite. Countless studies have shown that protein can help boost metabolism, lose fat and build lean muscle tissue so you burn more calories. A 3-ounce serving of boneless, skinless lean turkey breast weighs in at 120 calories and provides 26 grams of appetite-curbing protein, 1 gram of fat and 0 grams of saturated fat.

With the price of chicken going up and up these days Turkey has become a great alternative. Remember that Turkey is a little tougher than chicken and the taste is a little different but it is not just for Thanksgiving and Christmas anymore.

9. Oatmeal – This heart-healthy favorite ranks high on the good carb list, because it’s a good source of cholesterol-fighting, fat-soluble fiber (7 grams per 3/4-cup serving) that keeps you full and provides you with the energy you need to make the most of your workouts. Just be sure to choose steel cut or rolled oats, not instant oatmeal, to get your full dose of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

For many years now Pro Bodybuilders have relied on Oatmeal as a staple of their breakfast, it is amazingly high in nutrients.

10. Hot Peppers – Eating hot peppers can speed up and boost metabolism and cool your cravings, researchers at Laval University in Canada found. Here’s why: Capsaicin (a chemical found in jalapeno and cayenne peppers) temporarily stimulates your body to release more stress hormones, which speeds up your metabolism and causes you to burn more calories.

Metabolism Boosting Foods

Here’s how these 10 fat-blasting superstars help you lose and how to increase metabolism.

how to increase metabolismEach of these healthy weight-loss boosters fills you up and keeps you full longer on fewer calories.

how to increase metabolismWater-rich fresh fruits, veggies and soup dilute the calories in your food and allow you to eat more without breaking the calorie bank.

how to increase metabolismHigh-fiber fruit, vegetables and nutritious whole grains keep your digestive system on track and steady insulin levels, which prevents fat storage.

how to increase metabolismLean meat boosts metabolism and burns calories because it take more energy to digest than other foods.

Another Good way how to increase metabolism is to try a new diet that cycles your calories with some on day and other days off of your diet. This is a new style diet that works great, the name, Fat Loss 4 Idiots. Check out the review that I have done of the diet that is really built to boost metabolism.

metabolism boosting foods

Sheri Strykowski is a freelance journalist who specializes in health, fitness and lifestyle. Her articles have appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Lerner newspapers and National Safety Council publications. Tell us all your Metabolism Boosting Foods in the comments below.

344 thoughts on “How to Increase and Boost Your Metabolism

  1. Nice information, many thanks to the author. It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck .

  2. Hey,
    I’m sophie. im 5′ 3 and 149 pounds. I swear i’ ve tried every diet under the sun but they don’t give results and I always give up. I’ ve struggled with problems since i was six or seven and I think its time to lose the pounds. Please help!

    1. I think people need to stop thinking of a ‘diet’ as a way to lose , a kind of quick-fix. I like to think of diet as the way I choose to eat overall, from my food choices to the quantity I eat and even how often. Become educated in what foods are good. Avoid as many processed foods (i.e. prepackaged) as you can, and really start noticing not only what is on those nutrition labels, but what is in the ingredients. Learn what those ingredients are because some have different names. There are some conflicting ideas out there of what is good and what is bad, even among so-called professionals, so don’t be quick to believe eveything you read or see or hear. You may find studies that conflict with each other, for whatever reason. Perhaps one study was done with a bias because the company doing the research had an interest in the outcome. Have you seen “Forks Over Knives”? What an eye-opener. I bought the DVD over a week ago and have watched it three times already, and looking forward to watching it again. Really gives you something to consider, IMHO. If you seriously look at the Western diet we have in North America and all the health problems we suffer from, does it seem that far-fetched to think that by changing the way we eat, we might avoid many of these problems? Of course, not only our diets need to change, but we need to become more active. Even walking on a regular basis would be a great start. If you have excess , you need to burn calories to lose that , and that is through physical activity. Cutting back on excess calories is good too, because then you’ll have less to burn off later. If you try not eating to lose , the problem is that your body will go into starvation mode and instead of using up the calories in fat, it will go after your muscle instead. Take it too far and eventually it can even weaken your heart, which is muscle. Also, becoming more active will not only help burn those excess pounds, but a little training can help tone you up and keep you from looking like a deflated balloon if you lose considerable . You’ll also feel better when you exercise, not only physically but emotionally. As a last note, keep your chin up, remain positive and don’t expect overnight success. Just commit to staying with it, and if you stumble and pig out on ice cream or have too much at the all-you-can-eat buffet, just get back to your better lifestyle habits ASAP. You only truly fail when you give up. All the best, everyone!

  3. Being under is just as unattractive as being over, Healthy is beautiful, more than that being aware that your healthy is too. Reconsider your priorities when you want to loose , why? Is it for your health or an image. Understanding the reasoning behind your goals makes them possible.

    1. I totally agree. Personally I don’t care about losing since I know I’m quite thin. Right now I only want to get rid of my gut. Not by dieting, but by exercising. I haven’t been able to exercise much for the past couple of years because I live in the middle of nowhere and there’s nothing to do but go on the computer. I don’t like feeling unhealthy. Next year I’ll be going on to university though, and I’ll have more opportunities to get some muscle. I don’t know what it is about muscle that I like so much, but I’ve wanted to acquire some for a while now. Of course, not -lifter level of muscle, I find that to be kind of gross. just enough to give me some definition.

      1. unfortunately, “gut” fat is lost by eating right. Do as many abdominals as you want, it will not help. The thing is, enriched, white flour (white rice, white pasta, white bread, etc.) gets stored as fat in your lower ab region. My advice: cut out all enriched flour from your diet and replace them with WHOLE GRAINS. Do not buy breads that say wheat flour… it really has to say the word WHOLE in it. (i.e. whole wheat as opposed to wheat on the label). Do this along with your exercises and maintain a low fat intake so your body burns the fat you have stored already. That is how I lost my “pouch”. 🙂 it is difficult at first to get used to the taste of whole grains, but with a bit of time you will find which ones are yummy (I like the 100 calorie thin breads yummmmm!). Hope it helped!

  4. hi ,

    i have been following that above said column for increasing metabolism for last 3 months but i have not got good result.its not helpful.actually my face is so heavy..i mean i do have double chin and my neck is so bulky..so please give some suggestion to get rid of double chin and bulky neck problem

    thanx
    kapil arora
    INDIA

  5. i am a boxer and i am 14 years old i was 59 kg and was wanting to fight so i got motivated and made myself loose i am now fighting at 49kg and all you need to do is eat super noodles drink water and run

  6. Very helpful!Thankyou very much for this information,so many times we look for website to assit us and we get the run around.You have provide great information.

  7. Hi my names Febra, I am 22 years old a full time mom to two beautiful angels, a full time college student, and full time employee. I am having the hardest time losing after my second daughter, and i have no time for a ton of exercise a day i was hoping i could get some tips to short term and long term lose. Right now i weigh 198, which is better then the 214 i weighed less then a year ago but diffinently not enough for me. Please help!

    1. We help people with this all the time! the best products I have ever found is Herbalife! I own a nutrition club and help people to lose everyday! All the products are is good nutrition however the results are amazing!

      Check out site and contact me with any questions we are here to help!

    2. look up sparkpeople.com. they have assorted videos that range from 9 mins to 20 mins for a decent workout. i’m busy too and to find time to run to the gym just isnt feasable, i enjoy these videos and there are enough that you will never get bored with one workout. good luck!

  8. Hey so I am a 12 year old girl who is about 5’5 or 5’6 last time i was weighed i was 103pounds, but people say I look like 90 to 95, I eat a lot, but I stay skinny so i must have a high metabolism. Anyway though I was wondering how could I eat healthier and make sure my metabolism stays high.I really like fruits and vegetables so spinach and broccoli I defiantly do not mind eating, but I also love to eat really unhealthy foods too like barbecue chips, french fries, etc. . Also how can I tone my body for a nice lean curved look. I don’t know if this could help you but during the school week for lunch at my school i usually always eat the ham salads with water (I never drank anything other water most days, but occasionally I do drink sodas or fruit drinks) and cookies or the new baked lays chips. Also i never get to eat breakfast which is the most important meal of the day because i never have time so what could I eat that’s quick on the go and healthy?

    1. A 12year old girl would be in school at 8:00am, and would not write this fluently. 12 year olds arwnt looking for lean curved bodies either…

      1. What do you mean, “A 12 year would not write this fluently”? She’s 12, not two. Children learn how to compose and write sentences at the age of five. By the time they’re 12 they are perfectly capable of putting together a sentence with proper structure and grammar. I was also beginning to feel insecure with my body at the age of 12. We live in a culture where the media is worshiped and the pressure to be thin is high.

      2. Well in Canada, a 12 year old is in grade 6 or 7 of elementary school (depending on the day they were born). Elementary schools don’t begin classes until 9:00 am, or 8:30 am at the earliest. It really dpends on your schoolboard. Highschool definitely begins at 8:00 am though. This 12 year old girl probably was posting the message during a breakfast she skipped.
        Also with an increasing sexualized culture and the hormones in our food, girls are going through puberty at a younger age and will want their bodies to be toned or be somewhat conscious about it. It makes sense she wants them lean in our day and age.

        I could fill in the blanks, but I’m a 25 year old taking landscape architecture at university.

    2. I’m 14 and I get how you feel. Im 5’0 and I weigh a little over 70 pounds. I know that I’m skinny but I still would like a more defined body. Most adults just don’t understand how much pressure there is on middle school girls to look good. My advise to you is for you to make mini goals for yourself. like me, you eat pretty healthy and have a high metabolism. However, you should beware of most foods that say they’re fat free. Most just add extra sugar which can trick your body into thinking it’s more fat. Therfore it adds on to your . it’s actually better for you to eat the less processed versions of the food.

      1. ‘Most adults just don’t understand how much pressure there is on middle school girls to look good.’
        It’s not that they don’t understand, they’ve all been there before; they weren’t born 40, you know.
        It’s a good idea to watch what you eat but now is not the time to think about dieting and toning. It can have a negative impact on your body before about 16.

      2. Same EXCACT situation with me…I thought I wrote it!! lol– well I dont wanna be a body builder or a fitness worker or anything..and i dont wanna become too skinny or anything…just enough that when i sit i dont have a role…thats all 🙁

    3. Krissy: I am 5’0 and weigh 94 pounds. By all means I am considered a “Light Weight” and I have my curves. I am 30 years old (you think of my age, and must think I’m a world away from understanding where you stand, I have been in your shoes) and let me tell you if you want to have those curves and a defined body, at 12 you need to eat. Yes eat healthy but that does not mean you need to deprive yourself of treats. So you ate a chocolate bar twice in a week, so what? The rule is to enjoy your treats, don’t kick yourself over it. The fact that you are 12 and eating ham salads for lunch everyday sounds so joyless, taking one lunch out in a week to enjoy “junk food” which would include your fries is healthy and will prevent you in your adulthood from what you fear most, overindulging and the word “fat”. You already know what is junk food, which is great, now you need to be able to not think of eating junk food as “bad”. Eating junk food on occasion is not bad, junk food is a treat and therefore a reward to yourself, if you eat something “junky” that day, you needed to reward yourself, and you gave yourself a reward – GOOD! I have gone through my life worrying about , and the funny thing, when I was 21 and weighed 85 pounds, I thought I was “chubby.” Living up to someone else’s image of beautiful (of anything for that matter) and the pressures that come with it does not make for true happiness, it’s fleeting. I also understand that at 12 that last sentence may be hard to grasp but keep it with you, it will come in handy one day. All my best, Audj.

  9. Hi my name is Brittany I’m 20 yrs old. I used to weigh around 180-185. I now weigh 214 lbs. I put on all this in less than 1 year. I mostly ate out at Burger King and always ate fried food. About 3 wks ago I weighed myself and I had lost 16 lbs then I weighed myself last night and had gained 14 of those lbs back. I take diet pills and they do not seem to work. I plan to lose 64 lbs in 5 months.I want to be at least 160 by the summmer time. In the end I want to be at least 150 lbs. And I will reach this goal no matter what because I am tired of being FAT and tired all the time. Is this a realistic goal or am I trying to lose to much to fast? I now only eat boiled or baked foods. I don’t eat out very much and if I do I try to eat grilled chicken salads. I excercise 2 times a day for about 30-45 minutes each time. I hate eggs and I try to make my self eat them. I also hate grapefruit but I try to make myself drink at least 1 glass a day. I drink plenty of water. I work at night so I sleep most of the day on days that I don’t go to school. I just want to know if I am setting a realistic goal for myself? Can you please give me some healthy tips to achieve my goal. Thank you in advance.

    1. oink oink piggy, just busting. stop with the bk’s, dear lord that stuff will kill you. no woman should be 214, but 64 lbs in 5 months is a big goal. I hope youre doing training and lifting. diet alone aint gonna do it.

    2. Hi i agree… i think it is a big goal, and maybe you should start with fifty pounds or something. But here are some facts about dieting that are sort of inspirational:

      1. “It take 8 weeks for yourself to notice any change, 12 weeks for family or friends to notice, and 16 weeks for the world to notice. Stay strong!”

      2. “Every 1000 jumpingjacks is a pound lost”

      Just stay with it, eat healthy, and exercise regularly. If you cut junkfood out of your diet after awhile you will stop craving it.

    3. go to myfitnesspal.com it’s a calorie counting website that you can literally log EVERYTHING from , food intake, exercise, measurements and even has a forum support group. I’ve lost and kept off thirteen pounds since christmas!

    4. Hi No name.

      I had tried every diet going and nothing worked for me. i was yo yo dieting all the time, I decided i must lose the for good so i joined slimming world and have never looked back iv lost 14.5 pounds in 5 weeks. U dont have to starve or not have your treats. its brillaint im always full and full of energy.

      I eat stuff like potaoes, rice, pasta, chicken,beef even chocolate at times and have never gained each week.

      I promise you if you join slimming world you could lose it in 3 months max if you stick to it.

      Good luck x

  10. Hey Everyone,

    Im a competing sports model and personal trainer and every few months before competition my diet becomes strict but it works because if it doesn’t it means no competiton and a lot of wasted money. It also means having to get up in front of hundreads in a bikini being judged on your body.. So i’m giving you all my best tips in loosing .

    DIET
    – eating less will mean you’ll loose in the short term but not in the long term so its a big no no.
    – eat every 2 hours: eating every two hours keep your digestion working therefore increasing your metabolism.
    – For every 25kgs that you weigh, you must drink one litre of water (its a lot but it works)
    – Cutting out carbs, sugar and fat does work you just might feel a little out of it but if you want to loose the ..
    – No alcohol! 9 calories per gram of alcohol which is more than fat, carbs and sugar..
    – Okay so everyone knows its the lean meats that work fish and chicken so eat up 🙂
    – vegetables easiest is lettuce, carrot, celery but whatever you like not potato, you can eat sweet potato but not past 12.
    – So eating every 2 hours can be hard for some people so have little snacks almonds, nuts, rice crackers (limit these) organic peanut butter or almond spread can go on these but dont eat to many.

    EXCERCISE
    Excercise is important and for those that don’t go to the gym the best cardio to loose is a fast pace walk. If you have a treadmill at home put it on incline set the speed to a comfortable pace where you will still be able to keep a conversation without puffing..If your puffing your usin the wrong body system (aerobic, anaerobic) If you want to learn more on the different body systems its worth looking up <<.
    For those who are only starting doing excercise keep it down to half an hour and as you get fitter go for longer.

    SHORT TIPS
    – Dont eat after 7 if you have to keep the carbs very low.. egg whites yums usually kill the cravings 🙂
    – If your craving sugar like I do always at about 4-5 during the day I have a little protein bar call low-carbs they are yum and will hopefully kill the craving or munch on some strawberries.
    – Breaskfast can be carbs 🙂 so muesli, oats, whole meal toast.
    – Carbs causes bloating in women so if you get bloating easily its probably the rice, pasta or bread.
    – Focus on green vegetables! great for metabolism.
    – my meals consist of a small can of tuna, corn for fibre and mixed vegetables.
    – Everytime you eat sugar just remember your setting yourself back further from your goal.

    I hope this helps and goodluck to everyone 🙂

  11. Hi, Im 12 years old, and i have really muscular legs, but my stomach sticks out, and im not focused on my number on the scale, i just want to look thinner, and toned too. And i NEED this to happen in a month.I started this little loss expedition because the girls at my dance school make fun of me, and it makes me a little frustrated. Please reply to this asap!!! i need to start shedding of the fat btw- i dance three days a week, and a take gymnastics for an hour a week. HELp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

    1. Hi Marie,
      Being 12 is tough for any girl…and comparing yourself to everyone else is only going to result in your feeling sadder about how you look. You are unique, beautifully made by God, and there is no one like you!! You will still grow taller, leaner, and change a LOT in the next 8 years – so if you make friends with yourself now and decide your stomach is NOT an enemy, you will probably find it won’t be as important to change it after all. I am guessing that everyone else (not the girls at the dance studio) thinks you are beautiful!
      From one formerly ackward teen herself, here are some ideas to change: 1) Decide that your stomach isn’t so important and you can be beautiful no matter what a small group of girls thinks. 2) Take good care of eating lots of healthy foods (your mom or doctor or teacher can give you ideas). Don’t avoid eating, that only makes you sick and can lead to feeling sad or depressed about yourself. 3) Learn how to make food a tool to reach your most outward and innermost beauty! 4) Find other friends that like you just as you are. There will always be girls bigger and smaller than you – you are unique, no one like you!.

  12. Hey! 😛
    I tried using this techniques but they helped me a little is there some kind of balancing i can do with these tips to make it more effective?

  13. Don’t want to seem like I’m being nasty, but anyone who can find this thread and post on it also has the skills to search the web for healthy loss information (if they’ve managed to miss it until now). Why are so many people posting the same basic message of “I eat badly and don’t exercise, and don’t know what to do – please help!”? I know following a healthy diet and exercising is not easy to do – but it is easy to know what you should do.

  14. Hi,
    A useful tips for all of those people who have a “sweet tooth” like me, a little tip I used to fight of cravings was everytime I felt like having something sugary I’d either brush my teeth, have breath mint, use one of those fresh breath strips that melt on your tounge or chew calorie free gum. That way if you do cave in the sweet snack is going tot aste horrible and the chances of you enjoying it are less.
    Hope it helps some people.’

    Cheers

  15. Hi,
    A useful tips for all of those people who have a “sweet tooth” like me, a little tip I used to fight of cravings was everytime I felt like having something sugary I’d either brush my teeth, have breath mint, use one of those fresh breath strips that melt on your tounge or chew calorie free gum. That way if you do cave in the sweet snakc is going tot aste horrible and the chances of you enjoying it are less.
    Hope it helps some people.’

    Cheers

  16. Hi im 13 years old and im applying for high schools but as a ballet dancer i inevitably want to become a professional when i grow up, but to do that i have to be in a professional schooling program. The problem is, is that i have a skinny torso (abs, muscular legs,etc..) but i have these HUGE thighs that consist of large bones, bulky muscles and alot of fat, its like all my fat goes directly to my thighs, and people think that im fat BECAUSE of my thigs. I just need some help finding ways to get skinnier thighs, i work out alot, i do yoga and alot of other stuff but i just cant loose i dont eat alot either, i dont know whats wrong with me, and i have been dancing all my life so obviously the myth that all dancers have long lean muscles or “a ballerinas body” isnt true please help my auditions are all in january febuary and march

    1. It’s just your body type, there is nothing wrong with you. Trust me, I am also a dancer and gain all of my in my thighs. You just have to accept your body, I understand that it can be annoying when everyone around seems to have the same body types and yours is different. Don’t even worry about it; your in very good shape, your a dancer. You should not let that get in the way of your passion and what you want to become. Just make sure your eating healthy. You could work out all you want, if your diet is not in check you won’t see results. Add more protein to your diet, lean meats, fish, egg whites. Make sure your getting both fruit and veggies into your meals and whole grains. Your could try making your own smoothies for breakfast, snacking throughout they day(keeps your metabolism going.) Cut out foods that have high fructose corn syrup and enriched anything. Get plenty of sleep and try to set a time you go to bed every night so that your body can get adjusted to a schedule. These are all things that contribute to a healthy . Stay focused on your dream and good luck:)

  17. hi,
    i’m 23 and am almost 175 lbs. I used to be really skinny when i was a kid. Then i developed the habbit of unhealthy snacking in the evening after lunch, when i was in high school. because of that i gained and developed the urge to snack. once i started university i lost lots of pounds. i got all skinny again and stayed that way for almost 2-3 years. then i stared eating alot of junk food again. and gained a whole lot of .
    after getting over (almost 40 lbs) i really wanted to loose , so joined aerobics. but didnt work out well. may be coz i wasnt determined enough. joined gym twice. it doesnt work out. i dont loose and then i loose interest. i really wanna loose but i just cant control myself with junk food now. i donno what to do. i try to be dedicated to it. just cnt control the craving. can you please give me some tips to stay on track, avoid craving, some healthy food options, etc.
    I really need some encouragement. please help me.

    1. Hi Karen,
      There are certain foods that have natural ability to increase your metabolism such as tomato, apples, peppers, just to name a few. If you want to shed some , take a vitamin supplement such as Vitamin B-12. This viatimin naurally increases your metabolism. Also, at any given time, keep yourself moving. That is key. I have found out after having two kids and blowing up to 200 lbs and dropping back down to 130-140 lbs, that loss is 90% of what you eat and 10% working out. If you have a sweet tooth like me don’t buy any junk food and if you do decide to eat something sweet make sure it is fruit and only fruit. You need to cut certain foods out of your diet, like sugar or anything that says high fructose corn syrup as the first five ingredients. Sugar is like poison for the body. I have learned that if you make a HUGE salad in the afternoon and snack on that throughout the day, you will shed at least 30 lb in two months. Eat a strict no sugar diet and move around n you will shed at least ten lbs a month for the first three months. E-mail me back if you need help with anything else.

    2. You could try making a list of healthy meals your going to eat every night of the week. Look online, have fun with it. Set a time and day that you’ll go shopping to get everything, try finding a friend or family member that will make a meal with you. Invite people over for dinner and tell them your making a great healthy meal, get them excited about it so that you can be too. Having someone to help you make these changes in your life can be helpful, you can also do it by yourself. You could try looking into Women’s Health magazine, there is a ton of information, meals and exercises that could help. Each month there is something new and different, it’s exciting looking forward to the new meals exercises that you could try. Try a new exercise class if your getting bored. I’m not sure where you live, however Zumba is a lot of fun, depends on the instructor; you get a good workout and it’s a lot of fun. There is Hot Hula Fitness, it’s new and mainly on the west coast, look it up and see if its in your area. You get an amazing full body workout with Hot Hula Fitness. If you like to dance Booiaka is also really fun, even if your not a dancer you’ll be able to pick up the choreography easy, also a lot of fun. Again it might not be in your area because, it is somewhat new. There is also Body Combat, boxing, heated yoga is great as well. Good luck:)

    3. ADKINS REALLY WORKS – NO SUGAR OR CARBS AND WALK.

      IT WORKS – LOST 60 POUNDS – KEEP LOSING AND IT HAS BEEN SINCE 2007

      JUST WALKING WORKS DON’T HAVE TO JOIN THE STINKY OVERPRICED GYM!!!!

      GOD BLESS – LISA

    4. Hey karen , the best thing is that dont go for loss entirely , go for fat loss and you will lose automatically , you can pick any activity but the diet is the most important thing do running on treadmills and you will be alright and be patient no one can loss in a flick !

  18. Hi,
    I’ve never done this before posting online and what not but I feel as if I am stuck and I need some help/ advice. When I started my loss journey I was 97kg I have managed in 9 weeks to shed 12 of these kilos by eating 4-5 smaller meals and including fresh fruit and veggies and drinking water etc and exercising 1-3 times a week. The problem is now that I feel I am stuck at 85 kilos as for the last few weeks I have stayed at that and I still have at least 20 kilos to go. I am worried that during Christmas and New Years celebrations all my hard work is going to be ruined and that I may revert back to my “old habits” which I have worked so hard to change
    I guess what I am asking if someone has some advice for me to survive the next few weeks without gaining too much and any tips I could use to maybe get myself out of this plateau period I seem to be stuck in. Any help would be greatly appriecated.

    Ta
    Sammich

    1. Hey I have been doing lots of reading on loss and all that sort of thing and the biggest thing I have learnt is that muscle weighs more than fat. This means that your point at which you dont seem to be losing any more is completely normal because it just means your body is building the same amount of muscle as it is burning fat. Dont give up hope you will start losing more again but just try your best not to let it slip over Christmas. One thing you can do if you slip and feel like you have eaten too much bad food is more short bursts of resistance training, doing short bursts of strenuous exercise like this motivates your metabolism more and burns fat but does not build as much muscle as long as you do many short bursts of it, its just like with the meals you do lots of a little. Hope it helps 🙂

      1. Hey Fiona,
        What you said isnt really true. What the body is undergoing now is a loss plateau where your metabolic rate slows down as your body goes on “hunger mode”. What you can do is to eat foods that speed up the metabolic rate or to eat varying calories of food so that your body wont be at a standstill. Hope this helps too!

      2. You should ALSO, remember that it is Calories IN vs Calories OUT. With each you reach you have to change your calorie intake to fit that . Something I have heard as a starting point to go by is what ever your , times it by 10.0. For instance if you are 180 and would like to get down to 150, try eating around 1500 calories a day. However, this differes depending on the amount of calories you eat in a day, and how fast you would like to lose your . It’s good to just try and incororate being active in your lifestyle for instance instead of riding the elevator, walk the stairs (you could even walk the stairs in your building at work or home on lunch if you have them). Try to park farther away from buildings, ALWAYS sit straight and flex your muscles though out the day! When your in the kitchen, try grabbing the counter and doing leg lifts (lean forward slightly, raise and bend your knee, and kick backward contracting your back thigh and butt). There are manythings you can do, to burn slightly more calories though out the day with out putting your self out or stressing over it. I hope this helps I also agree with 90% of the information given on here some great advice and most of which I followed to lose 70 pounds in less than a year! I got up to 215 after having a child and got down to 145. I do know, if you don’t keep it up find a good and maintain by calulating how many calories in and out to stay at the right , YOU WILL GAIN it back! (I’m workin on 15 that I gained back!)

        Anyway, hope this helps someone out there! Good luck all!

        -F

  19. Hello, I`m Anna.
    I am 13 years old, 14 in February. When I was little i was always so skinny. But when we moved when I was 6 I started to gain . Quickly at that! I am 5`6″ and I weigh 176 lbs.
    I`ve tried many excersises and dieting to lose some . It hasn`t worked obviously. I don’t know if it’s because of my depression, or if its just my body. I really need a way to lose some of this ! I am a straight A student in school and I never get in trouble. When I lived in my old house I was always sick because I was allergic to mainly my house! Mold, mildew, dust, dust mites, and animals. We didn’t own any animals but do now. Being I was always sick, I never ate. My mom and sister literally had to shove food down my throat so I wouldn’t die from not eating. Depression came in when I was about 11 when I understood what happened to my father. He was murdered before I was born. I now live with only my mother. She is so hard on me. I put on most of my the past few years. I am called ugly at school, except for two people. My best friend in the entire world, and my boyfriend of 4 months. My mother is not supportive of me at all and basically she is a word I cannot say! I need a way to get rid of my tummy and muffin tops. I play softball, soccer, and basketball. I feel like everyone stares at my legs because I have such big thighs. But, I know that they are only big because I am a catcher in softball. Therefore I have lots of muscle.
    Does anyone know a good way to boost my metabolism and get this pudge and these muffin tops off? All suggestions would be much appreciated before my life gets any more off track!

    Thank You!

    Anna

    1. Hi Anna !
      First thing i want to tell you is ” DON’T LOOSE HOPE”! you are just 13 years old and you have got the entire future ahead. From the description of your problem i wasn’t clear about certain things but still my advice is here:
      1. Since you mentioned that you were sick and did not have even have the basic diet properly, consult a doctor about the lack of appetite. As proper nutrition is very much essential for having a healthy body.
      2. If you are not sick now and if you are able to eat properly, then eat highly nutrient diet. You know these days junk foods are only costly whereas naturally available high nutrient food are always cheap so that everyone can afford it have healthy life style
      3. Having healthy food and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day should be part of your daily activity ! (like brushing your teeth) . If you don’t have any medical problem then do exercise regularly and balance it with healthy food. Firstly ,YOU should have the CONFIDENCE that you will be able to reduce your ! You have to set a realist goal and should be DETERMINED and FOCUSED on reducing your to the set goal.
      4. wake up early everyday and when you wake up say to yourself ” i will eat healthy food throughout the day and will do my daily exercise routine and will be happy throughout the day” ! say to yourself ” everything will be alright and everything happens for a reason” every time whenever you feel depressed. You will really feel the difference and believe me it works!
      5. Have a habit of drinking water a LOT. drink as much water as possible.
      6. Follow the tips given in this website for increasing metabolism
      7. Regarding your loss if you follow the above meticulously you are sure to reduce ! once you lose you have to continue to practice it for the rest of your future to keep you healthy and confident throughout.
      8. Hey Anna, as a general word of advice, don’t bother about what other say… only what you think about yourself matters. Be true to yourself and do the right things (whichever you feel is right for that particular situation) every time possible… Those people who pass negative comments actually are so low and feel so inferior that they find happiness by finding fault in others. So don’t give a damn consideration to negative comments and accept only positive comments.
      Love yourself , if you don’t love yourself how can you expect others to love you. feel special about you and always look at things in a positive way. like, even if your mom behaves in a harsh way with you don’t just see it as such, see one step higher, imagine the situation of your mom in what depressing condition she is, taking care of her children being single. even if she is doing something which really hurts you accept it and think its for your good…. your life will really change dear! I have experienced this change.
      Lastly have faith in GOD! its He who has designed your life this way so surely there is something good waiting for you. (if you are undergoing so much worries in this young age, that means He wants you to learn the true lessons of life)

      ALL THE BEST DEAR!

      1. What great advice this is, except for omitting the curse word, i wouldn’t change a thing. I,would also say keep gratitude paramount in your life, always look for what you have not what you don’t, God always provides when we trust Him!

    2. Anna,
      I know exactly how you feel, when I was younger I was a lot curvier than most of the other girls in my class and I felt so humiliated, but now I am fourteen and a half years old and I have had a growth spurt and begun to slim down. Most of the skinny girls are now not so skinny anymore either. The same thing will probably happen to you, but even if it doesn’t you shouldn’t worry about what others think if they only want to be mean, even if you do become skinny and “beautiful” they will just find another way of making you feel bad about yourself.
      Right now you should just concentrate on maintaining a regular bedtime, eating a balanced diet and fitting in some insidental fitness.
      Good Luck!

      1. Mary,
        I have already went through my growth spurt. I wont grow anymore and if I do it will be maybe an inch. Being about 5’7″ now i wont get much taller at all. I have been doing insanity and it helps quite a bit if you keep doing it. I have a new discovery that I can’t eat fruit. Im allergic to it. I know its not the only healthy thing to eat but its what i have always eaten. I have dance tryouts in one month and im trying to lose some so that i wont be the biggest girl on the team. Its not like im exactly huge but i do hate being one of the bigger girls in school.Being allergic to 90% of the fruits there are its harder now than it has ever been to eat healthy. And i honestly think im slightly allergic to lettuce. And i love salad. Im not sure how ill be able to keep up with healthy eating if i cant really eat anything healthy. I have reduced sugary drinks to about one or two a week. Im trying so hard to be able to get good sleep. But i have thoughts running through my mind wondering if the next day will be as hard or harder than that day. The only person that keeps my hopes up is my boyfriend. He tells my i can do anything i want and that im absolutely beautiful. Which does help keeping my self esteem up. Maybe by february 20th i will be slimmer than i am now. Not to mention dancing will be a nice birthday present because i get to dance on my birthday Feb 22nd.
        I can only do my absolute best with things and i hope i can be what i want to be though i know i can. I do plan on being in the Airforce after college. I know then i will be as fit as ever. Thanks alot(:

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