Can someone please explain metabolism and dieting to me????

Question

Ok so I'm chubby... so I want to diet BUT I've read online that if you cut back your calories your body will go into starvation mode and slow down your metabolism... so then I also read that I should eat 6 times a day to speed up my metabolism... Does this work? I think that it will be too hard to manage eating 6 times a day and keeping track of my calorie intake. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW

Answer 1

It does work. When you dont eat your body starts storing the fat it has instead of burning it. Eating small healthy meals keeps your metabolism up, and metabolism is what helps burn the fat! They dont have to be big meals either. Just snack on some veggies or fruits.

Answer 2

It's true - you're body will go into starvation if it's not getting enough nutrients, and it will store what little it gets as fat. The problem is that when you start eating normally again the body will read this as just more stuff to store and keep - like it's anticipating that you'll go into starvation mode.
So what you need to do is trigger your metabolism to burn fat more efficienty instead of just storing it by increasing the frequency of your eating - if you eat 5 to 6 small meals HEALTHY a day (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, maybe snack, space them like 2-3 hours of each other) you'll put your body in a routine to burn.

Word to the wise: make sure that you have a balance of protein, veggies, complex carbs and fats (yes I said fats - but good fat)

Answer 3

Here is what you need to do, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off. Eat 6 small meals a day about every 4 hours. Here what that will do for you, your metabolism will increase (i.e. Loose weight) and you will have more engry. If you go on a diet and eat less, your metabolism will slow down and store to fat. That is why diets dont work. Only the size of your fist, carbs (examples:baked potato, pasta, oatmeal, beans, corn, melon, apples, fat free yogurt, whole wheat breads)in one and protien (examples:chicken breast, swordfish, shrimp, turkey breast) in the other. You can also eat vegetables and salads with any meal, they dont have none or little fat). 30min cardo exercise every day. Any of these(examples: walking, jogging, swimming,running, biking, ect), Monday cardo, tues upper body (arms: curls, tricep extensions,pull ups, front press)(abdominals: leg pull crunch, leg raises), (chest: bench press, butterfly, pullover)(shoulders: front press, arm pullover, cross county skier machine)(back:seated row, lat pull downs, back extension)(YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IN ONE DAY, mix it up) wed cardo, thurs lower body (legs: leg pull,leg press, squats, lounges) fri cardo, sat upper. Sunday eat anything you want and dont exercising, you do this on sunday so your body doesnt go into starvation mode. YOU NEED TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF. If you stilck with this you will have a great body. also drink aleast 8oz of water daily! Stay away from Mcdonals, Wendys, ect because there is nothing good for you on the menu's even the salads are bad (beaon bits, cheeze, dressing, ect) Good Luck :)

Answer 4

Metabolism is the process by which your body converts calories from food into energy. See article below. The Today Show had a very good segment on the subject.

Answer 5

how overweight are you? are you exercising.? if you do cut back your calories after 6-8 weeks your body will start to get used to this and your metabolism will slow down. what you have to do is fool it and try the six small meals a day (recommended by most trainers) also, your age has alot to do with it being slow and also you may need to have your thyroid tested. hope this helps.

Answer 6

The expert on this subject is Covert Bailey, I suggest you get his books - "Fit or Fat" and "Smart Exercise" are two of them. He has advanced degrees in physiology and he is the man with the answers! He believes in low fat foods, and building muscle so that your metabolism works efficiently. He says it way better than I could, so do what you can to get a hold of his info. or look him up on the Internet and see what you can find. He is the best in the field of diet, nutrition and exercise. Good luck!!