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KEYS TO A FAT-LOSS DIET As most doctors and nutritional experts will tell you, the concept of “calories in, calories out” is fundamental to any kind of weight loss. If you want to lose weight, you have to consume less energy than you are using. However, there are many other aspects to weight loss including hormone level, metabolism and proper micro-nutrient nutrition. All of these factors can affect the caloric expenditure of the body. In this article we will list some of the ways to increase the amount of energy the body uses daily and how to burn those calories through training. SUPPLEMENTS Hormones are chemical messengers that send signals between cell groups by way of the blood. The control center for hormones in mammals is the hypothalamus. The release of hormones is dependent on signals received from the central nervous system. Hormones are made up of proteins and serve as the regulator for many of the functions in our body such as metabolism, libido and strength. The excretion and absorption of hormones is vitally important for the human body. However, as we age, hormone levels drop off significantly. This is one of the reasons why older people have such a difficult time maintaining muscle mass and shedding fat. Therefore, it is important to supplement with hormone support products such as DHEA. Studies show that supplementation with DHEA and similar compounds can significantly improve hormone levels in the body. Metabolism is the sum total of the chemical reactions in the body. As a general rule, the more lean body mass a person has, the higher metabolism he or she will have. The BMR, or Basal Metabolic Rate, is a measurement of how many calories a person burns throughout the day if they are engaged in complete sedentary behavior (ex. sleeping.) The goal is to increase the BMR, so more calories are burned up while resting. In addition to hormone support, there are various ways to speed up one’s metabolism. Many fat loss products contain phytochemicals, non-nutritive plant chemicals found in vegetables, like green peppers, that have protective or disease preventive properties and have also been shown to increase the metabolic rate. Caffeine is one of the staples of fat loss supplements. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and sometimes causes a slight increase in heart rate. This causes more calories to be used up by the body. If you are sensitive to caffeine, look for a product with CLA, which has been shown to reduce body fat. CLA is conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties and reduce body fat in animals. Most CLA supplements are derived from sunflower and other vegetable oils. DIET Another key to increasing metabolism is to eat more often throughout the day. Consistent caloric intake will increase BMR. However, make sure that you are not overeating. If your BMR is 2000 calories a day, do not eat more than that if you want to lose weight. Split those calories up between four or five meals in a day. The other benefit to eating regularly is to keep blood sugar at consistent levels throughout the day, keeping energy levels at constant levels without “crashing.” Eating throughout the day will also help the body to receive the nutrients necessary to repair the body from the training you will be engaged in. Lastly, most people focus on macro-nutrients (fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and water), when dieting. Obviously, getting the right combination of these major nutrients is important. However, micro-nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, are often ignored by people looking to lose weight. Proper micro-nutrient nutrition is key in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Most people are not getting the essential vitamins and minerals, much less the 40 grams of fiber recommended by the USDA Food Pyramid. Taking a good multivitamin along with eating the right types of food (complex carbohydrates instead of sugar) is absolutely necessary in living a healthy lifestyle. See our list of everyday health supplements for some more ideas.  TRAINING As for cardiovascular training, when fat loss is concerned, it is best to stick with high intensity interval training (HIIT). Interval training would include walking at fast speeds on a treadmill (75% of your maximum heart rate) and then reducing the speed to a much slower rate. Alternate between intensities and you will see much better results than walking or running at a constant pace, according to recent studies out of East Tennessee University and Laval University. Also, try various forms cardio such as jumping rope, swimming, boxing or whatever best suits you. Remember, if you are bored with a routine– change it. This will increase the chances that you are engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise. A higher percentage of lean body mass is a must for increasing metabolism. This means that weight training is an essential part of any good weight loss program. Weight training stimulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and can burn many calories when done properly. Increased strength, muscular endurance, stress reduction and an overall reduction in blood pressure are also some benefits from weight training. Make sure the training is done properly and at somewhat of an intense level. High intensity + good diet = low fat. It could be a good investment to hire a personal trainer at your local gym to show you how to properly engage in certain exercises. Be sure to stretch thoroughly AFTER lifting and before you hit the cardio. Heated muscles are will exhibit more flexibility and will reduce the possibility of injury when stretch ing. Also, your force production in the muscles will decrease if you stretch too much before lifting. A quick warm up on the cardio machines followed by a small bout of stretching is enough to ensure a good weight training session. More thorough stretching and cardio should follow the weight training. Stick to these dieting and training principals and you’ll be on your way to losing that excess body fat and living a healthy, long life. Sean Covell, BestSupplementGuide.com Provillus