Happy 2012! Did you eat, drink, and be merry over the holiday season? If you did, I am sure you have heard the LATEST trends on the radio and TV, detailing how to shed those excess pounds. The fitness and diet industries capitalize on this time of year, knowing most people gorge themselves over the holidays and are ready to get fit and slim as of January 1^st.

So, each new year, new gimmicks, pills, and programs are unveiled, luring us into the quick fix of weight loss. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing, as long as you chose a safe program and your authentic motivation is to live a healthier lifestyle. However, the one component of weight loss that is not a trend, and that applies to everyone is metabolism.

If you have heard the word “metabolism” but aren’t exactly sure what it is and how it functions, I am hoping to give you an understanding in laymen’s terms. Our metabolism is a key factor in successful weight loss, because metabolism is what determines how our bodies convert what we eat and drink into energy. Everyone’s metabolism works the same but the rate of function is unique with each individual. (You’ve probably heard overweight people complain of “low metabolism” or naturally skinny people credit their “high metabolism”.)

The rate of function of anyone’s metabolism depends on hormone levels, exercise, food consumption, and genetic makeup. Also, body size, sex, and age play a role because larger people (especially males) will burn more calories even while resting. Our age makes a difference because the older we get, the more our muscle mass decreases, which means we will burn fewer calories.

Many people think that the less you eat, the more weight you lose, but in actuality, stopping to eat stops your metabolism from working – and when that happens, you stop burning calories and your body goes into starvation mode, using your muscle and tissue to survive. Think of your metabolism like a fire – and a fire can’t burn without wood or fuel. Your metabolism can’t function without food, which is your fuel. You also don’t want to overeat, because that will slow your metabolism down and not allow you to burn the proper amount of calories to stay at a balanced weight.

The good news for all of us who like to stay trim is that there ARE ways to speed up our metabolism!

Here are my TOP 10 SUGGESTIONS to “fire up” your metabolism:

• POWER BREAKFAST: Breakfast literally means you are “breaking a fast.” We sleep 6-8 hours (hopefully) and are not eating during those hours, so our metabolism shuts down. Eating breakfast sparks it back up and is a healthy way to start your day.
  
• EAT SMALL MEALS: Eat small meals throughout the day. Every 3 hours make sure you are fueling your body, which will rev up your metabolism and ward off hunger.
  
• CARDIO: Do several cardio workouts throughout the week!! Burn, burn, burn.
  
• RESISTANCE TRAINING: Weight lifting and resistance training is a key element, because your muscles are more metabolically active and will continue burning a few hours after your work out.
  
• VITAMINS: Calcium/vitamin D are key – get them in milk, yogurt, dairy products or with supplements if you chose.
  
• SLEEP: Make sure you get enough sleep each night because that is when the body repairs cells and rejuvenates, and growth will occur.
  
• OMEGA-3: Add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon or walnuts, or you can choose to take a supplement.
  
• VARIETY: Change your exercise routine often, so your metabolism doesn’t get complacent.
  
• PROTEIN: Eat protein throughout the day and especially after a workout.
  
• KEEP MOVING! Make sure you move your body whenever you can. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park far out in a parking lot, walk around and move after a meal.

If you get caught up in a new diet fad or fitness trend and it doesn’t work for you, focus on your metabolism and REV IT UP!! Good luck!

*Images provided by powderfuu