How Weight Loss & Metabolism are Connected

Your ability to lose weight can be effected by a number of things, not least of which is your metabolism. Weight loss is governed in part by this process because it's the very act in which our bodies take the food we eat, convert it into energy, and then use this energy. If you eat more food than your body needs, your body will convert the excess energy into body fat, which obviously leads to weight gain.

So what determines how much energy your body needs to survive - or how "fast" your metabolism is? There are several factors and some are predetermined. Like many body processes, metabolism can slow down with age - it will begin a steady decline after 40. Gender is another predetermined factor - men burn calories faster than women do, even when sleeping.

Fortunately, there are weight loss tips you can use boost your metabolism and aid weight loss as a result:

Build muscle - the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate is. That means you burn more calories even when you're inactive. Every pound of muscle uses up six calories a day to sustain itself, while a pound of fat burns only two calories a day. If you increase muscle mass in your body, you'll increase your daily metabolic rate.
Aerobic exercise - although this exercise doesn't necessarily build big muscles, it does increase your heart and breathing rates, and often helps increase your metabolism for a period of time after you work out. The trick is to push yourself, since the more intense your workout is, the more your metabolic rate will increase. For example, take a high-intensity class at your gym, or add short jogging stints into your routine walks.
Drink water - if you're dehydrated, your metabolism - and weight loss - may slow down. One study showed that someone who drank eight or more glasses a day burned more calories than someone who drank four glasses a day. In part, this metabolism boost may be due to the fact that the body burns calories as it warms the water in the stomach.
Eat more frequently during the day - although it sounds odd, eating more frequently can increase weight loss. The trick is portion control. Having a low-calorie snack or meal every three to four hours makes your body work a little harder and burn more calories during the day.

If you're looking to boost your metabolism and weight loss ability, consult your physician. Your doctor can best advise you on how to go about your weight loss plan, and recommend a metabolism booster to increase your chances of success.