's MOTD Thurs May 24, 2007 - Metabolism

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's Daily Message ThursdayMay 24, 2007HOW'S YOUR METABOLISM?

Metabolism. What an unusual sounding word. I really can`t remember the first time I heard it. But for the last three-and-a-half decades, I`ve heard that word...a lot! I`ve heard from many people complaining about their own metabolisms.

Some of them think their metabolisms are extremely slow and some people feel like their metabolisms are just plain dead! So, here`s a simple question, what does that funny-sounding word, metabolism, really mean?

Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories. Pretty simple, huh? Since so many of you write to say your metabolisms are too slow, let`s find out why.

Your metabolism could be slow because, at meal time, your portions are so large that your metabolism gets overloaded. It can only handle so much food at a time, you know. So when you`re getting that "stuffed feeling," your metabolism feels it, too.

Your metabolism hates greasy and processed foods. It`s just more efficient than that and was created to burn off real foods!

Another way to slow down your metabolism is through inactivity. The movement of your body is what keeps your metabolism going. Every time you walk, lift your legs, swing your arms or dance around, your metabolism is doing it with you...and loving it!

So, when you get your heart rate going, you get your metabolism going and that way you`re helping two birds, with one stone.

If you`re eating lots of fried and processed foods and not getting enough exercise, what will happen? That`s right. You start putting on weight.

At first, it`s just five pounds, then 20...35 pounds and, before you know it, you're in the 200-300 pounds range. And when that happens, your metabolism grows weak and sluggish. And that leads to your body burning a lot fewer calories, hence the whole "My metabolism is so slow" issue.

That`s when a lot of people write me. They are the ones who ask me how they can rev up their metabolisms. And I tell them this:

Start to move more, even if it`s only for five minutes a day. Your metabolism will feel those five minutes of exercise! But don`t stop there, promise yourself to do a little bit more each day. Clean up your eating habits and give your metabolism foods that it knows how to burn up.

Some of the people I give this advice to pay attention. They start doing more physical activity and eating better. As they do, their metabolisms increase and the pounds start to go away.

Now I`m gonna tell you a little something you may not know. All of the organs in your body are connected to your brain. When you`re feeling sad or depressed, when you`re putting yourself down, when you`re living in a well of unhappiness, your metabolism knows it, too. And it starts to feel the same way your brain feels.

So having a positive attitude can actually help speed up your metabolism. So what are you going to do today to get your metabolism going strong?

Well, have three well-balanced meals and two healthy snacks of the cleanest, healthiest foods you can. Start adding a brisk walk to your daily routine, visit that gym or do some good work outs at home.

Get up every morning feeling good about yourself and your metabolism and you will feel good about yourself, too!

Okay, ready for some jumping jacks?

Love,