If you’re reading this I assume that you are, putting it politely, overweight. You may even be a good deal more than just overweight. If so, I expect you have often wondered why some people seem to be able to eat masses and masses of food and consume a load of drink, and yet they don’t put on any weight at all. Yet, if you are anything like me you only have to look at a cream bun over a five acre field and you immediately put on half a stone. Life really isn’t fair is it? There are all sorts of theories to account for this phenomenon, some of which are plain stupid, but the most realistic puts it down to metabolism, or the metabolic rate. According to Wikapedia ; Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories. Catabolism breaks down organic matter, for example to harvest energy in cellular respiration. Anabolism, on the other hand, uses energy to construct components of cells such as proteins and nucleic acids. The speed of metabolism, the metabolic rate, also influences how much food an organism will require.’ So, what it boils down to is, that converting calories from food into energy, that fuels the body, is metabolism. Any calories that have not been converted into energy by the body are laid down as fat. Unfortunately for some of us the rate at which food is converted into energy is very different.

It follows therefore, that some bodies are much more efficient at this process than others, and this is the reason that the more efficient ones do not put on any weight, even when they eat lots and lots of food. Fortunately, for the slow metabolisers, there is something that can be done to improve the situation. There are three easy steps to boost metabolism. 1) Always eat breakfast. I know you have heard this many times before but it remains a very good practice. You should not skip breakfast, if you are trying to lose weight. Your metabolism is kick-started by having some breakfast. It also gives you the energy you need to start the days activities off, without having to resort to some sort of junk food half way through the morning. 2) Its better to eat less but more often. The body’s metabolism slows down after about three hours without eating because it thinks that food is becoming scarce. If you can work it out, it will be better to go for six small meals a day rather than three larger ones. However this should not be treated as a licence to consume junk food as snacks. You should be looking more towards lean meat, green vegetables and complex carbohydrates. 3) Most important! Try to keep on the move and increase your activity rate. Don’t slouch around in front of the television so much. Try to use your own two feet instead of the car as often as possible. Get a bicycle and make use of it. Have a look at those skinny people who eat lots. They must burn off the calories somehow.

Most likely its because they are much more active than the rest of us. Comparing now with, say twenty-five years ago, there is a clear correlation between the rising level of obesity and the ever rising level of use of the car. Remember, getting your activity level and your metabolic rate up will be half the battle.