Your metabolism's dirty little secret

Boosting your metabolism is big business.

From supplements and foods to exercise and even meditation, everybody is pushing the idea that they can help you boost your metabolism.

You will see claims like Boosts Metabolism by 78% or 115%, and while this sounds promising, have you ever stopped to think about what this would actually look like?

An elevated metabolic rate is a physiological phenomenon. It does happen, but it also has clear and definite symptoms.

Take exercise as an example.

Whether you are running or performing an intense weight training workout, your metabolic rate is elevated during the time you are exercising. Because of this, you display all the CLASSIC SYMPTOMS of an elevated metabolic rate:

You are tired and sweating. Your heart rate is elevated as is your breathing rate. You are experiencing an increased level of thirst.

These are the classic symptoms of an elevated metabolic rate.

The drug Clenbuterol is often used by bodybuilders and fitness models because of its ability to increase metabolic rate.

The symptoms of Clebuterol use include:

Fatigue, increased sweating, elevated heart rate and breathing rate, increased thirst and even palpitations and arrhythmias.

Hyperthyroidism is a medical condition that is associated with an elevated metabolic rate. Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

Fatigue, weakness, irritability, sweating, increased sweating and an increased heart rate.

All of these things share an elevated metabolic rate, and its associated symptoms.

Since most of us have not taken Clenbuterol or suffer from hyperthyroidism, the best example of an increased metabolic rate is exercise.

The next time you are in the gym, set the treadmill at a speed of 5 miles per hour and walk on it for 10-20 minutes.

Once you are done, stop and take note of how you feel.

To increase your metabolic rate by a LARGE amount all day long, this is how you would have to feel ALL DAY LONG.

Obviously a teaspoon of cinnamon or a cup of green tea is simply not going to have this effect.

The bottom line is that a truly elevated metabolism leaves you sweaty, fatigued and thirsty for the entire day. And as evidenced by medical conditions with elevated metabolisms can lead to some serious health problems.

Very small but prolonged increases in metabolism are beneficial, such as the effect of increasing your muscle mass, but this is nowhere near the 50%-100% increase in metabolism you read about in fitness magazines.

To lose weight, concentrate on eating less, not necessarily burning more. Use your diet to lose body fat and your workouts to maintain or even increase the size of your muscles. Things like green tea and cinnamon may have health benefits, but they are probably not going to help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism.

BP