Daily Health Workouts

The Weight-Loss Secret You’ve Never Heard

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Speed up your metabolism

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A high metabolism is key to losing weight and keeping it off.

Ever wondered why the person next to you can eat chocolate all day and not put on weight, but you just have to look at a piece of mud cake and you'll put on a kilo? It's all down to metabolism. We've all heard the word a million times, but what does it mean? And how can we make sure ours is working for us, not against us?

Find your BMR

Knowing your BMR is important if you want to keep your weight in check. You need to know how many kilojoules you can eat a day to maintain your weight. Work out your BMR with our BMR calculator here.

Or use using the following equation example:

Women 65 + (9.6 x weight in kilograms) + (1.8 x height in centimetres) (4.7 x age in years) then multiply result by 4.2
Men 66 + (13.7 x weight in kilograms) + (5 x height in centimetres) - (6.8 x age in years) then multiply result by 4.2
Your BMR can be affected by a variety of factors, including hormonal problems and muscle mass.
When our hormones are out of whack, our metabolism can change dramatically. An underactive thyroid can cause your metabolism to be sluggish and could potentially lead to weight gain. If you suspect your thyroid may be underactive, seek professional treatment.
"Increased muscle mass results in an increased metabolic rate," Berry says. "By increasing our lean muscle mass we're forcing our body to use more energy. We use more energy to move muscles than fat."
The types of food you eat can also alter your metabolism. Overeating when you are stressed slows your metabolism. Proteins raise your BMR by 30 per cent, while carbohydrates raise it by just six per cent, and fats a mere four per cent.
If you haven't been blessed with a metabolism that runs at the speed of light, there is something you can do. Get moving. "By doing weight training you're increasing your metabolic rate. The key to a raised BMR is a good amount of muscle mass. When we loss muscle mass, our BMR drops," Berry says. "Weight training speeds up your metabolism for a longer period of time than going for a run does. To sustain muscle mass, have a balance of cardio and weight training."

Read our fact sheet on metabolism.