Want to lessen that bloat? Turbocharge your fat-burning engine i.e. your metabolism to crush kilojoules all day!
Here’s a secret: slaving away inside your body – right this minute – is your very own personal trainer working tirelessly to help you burn kilojoules and shed fat. It’s called your metabolism, and it’s the sum of everything your body does. The more you burn the easier it is to drop those kilos.
So, if you’re wanting to up that burn, avoid doing the below like the plague.
1 Pesticides in produce
Organochlorides (chemicals in pesticides) can interfere with your body’s energy-burning process and make it harder to lose weight, according to a Canadian study. Researcher found that dieters who ate the most toxins experienced a greater-than-normal dip metabolism and had a harder time losing weight.
The fix: Splurging on organic versions – the ones grown with the lowest levels of pesticides.
2 Sitting too long
it takes only 20 minutes in any fixed position to inhibit your metabolism, according to ergonomics researcher Carrie Schmitz.
The fix: Move more and lose weight at work. Take hourly active breaks (at least two minutes long). Walk up and down the stairs or do squats in the bathroom cubicle.
3 Jet lag
Your internal clock directly controls the part of your cells that keep your metabolism chugging along. But when you disrupt your so-called circadian rhythm – by crossing time zones, for instance – your cells don’t function the way they should and your metabolism suffers, according to US researchers.
The fix: Sunlight is key in helping your brain and body adjust. If you travel east, avoid morning light by catch some rays in the afternoon; if you travel west, get as much light exposure as you can right before sunset.
4 Dehydration
All of your body’s cellular processes, including metabolism, depend on water. If you’re dehydrated, you could burn up to two percent fewer kilojoules, according to researchers.
The fix: use your phone. Yep, there’s an app for that. In fact, there are several. Try Waterlogged for iPhone or Water Your Body (for Android and iPhone).