Clients will frequently ask me about metabolism. What is it? How does it work? Does it slow down with age? Can you speed it up? How does it affect weight loss?

Metabolism is the way your body converts the calories from the food you eat into the energy that your body needs to run your bodily processes. Metabolism refers to the creation of new cells, the repair of injuries, regulation of temperature and the performance of the multitude of activities your body performs daily, such as digestion.

Maintaining a properly functioning metabolism is critical to keep your body functioning properly and controlling your weight.

Metabolism is measured by taking a basal metabolic rate (BMR). This calculation relates how quickly your metabolism is functioning when you are in a resting state. Generally, the faster your metabolism works, the leaner you are; if your metabolism is slower, it is usually easier for you to gain weight.

After you ingest a meal (calories) your metabolism breaks down the food into the energy that your body needs to run properly. Your pancreas and thyroid also break down the food that can be further reduced into sugars, amino acids and fatty acids. These three types of energy are transported to all of the cells in your body, through your bloodstream. Any leftover energy is stored in your body, usually as fat.

It’s counter-intuitive, but to lose weight you want eat at least three meals a day, along with two to three snacks of fruits and vegetables. If not, your metabolism slows down and your body goes into “starvation mode.” Eating smaller meals, more frequently, can actually help you lose weight.

Another way to speed up metabolism is through exercise. It is recommended that you exercise for 30 minutes as often as four to five times a week. Remember that your metabolism may stay elevated for up to 12 hours after you exercise.

Hypnotherapy is beneficial for speeding up your metabolism and for losing weight. Not only can you use hypnosis for weight loss to support healthy eating and for exercise motivation, but you can also use self-hypnosis to speed up your metabolism – but that is a post for another day.

Your Hypnosis Health Info Hypnotic Suggestion for today:

I easily and healthfully increase my metabolism.