How to Burn Fat

As fast food and idle lifestyles become the norm, more and more people find themselves struggling with obesity and weight problems. Everyone knows about fat, where it comes from, and how to avoid it, but very few have managed to keep it in check. Anyone who’s tried to lose weight knows that diet and exercise are not as simple as they sound. Try these simple tricks to help you burn fat and lose weight the healthy way.

Spread out your meals

Instead of breakfast, lunch and dinner, eat five to six “micromeals” or light snacks throughout the day. This will keep your energy high enough to burn calories all day, even when you’re idle. It will also curb that heavy feeling you get after a large meal, which tends to make you slow and sluggish.

Lose the fat, keep the muscle

Have you noticed how some people look frail and formless after they lose weight? That’s because they lost muscle along with the fat. Your muscles wear out every time you exercise, and they need time to rebuild and repair torn tissues. Increase your muscle mass by eating protein-rich foods such as fish, lean meat, eggs, and legumes. The more muscle you have, the faster you can burn fat.

Go natural

As much as possible, stick to natural, organic foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts,  and fish. Processed food is loaded with preservatives which not only reduce their nutritional value, but also pack a mean dose of calories. Avoid fast food and anything canned or packaged. Try to eat out less – homemade food is cheaper and healthier, and cooking helps you burn even more calories.

Know your fats

You’ve probably heard that some fats are good, and some are bad. What you want to avoid are trans fats and saturated fats – those you find in meat, butter and margarine, and most fried foods. Both make you prone to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other dreaded diseases. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are considered good fats, and may be found in avocados and light vegetable oils.

Exercise

Dieting may help you lose weight, but keeping it off is another story. Sometimes you even end up gaining back more weight than you lost. When you cut down on food, your metabolism slows down. Your body starts to store energy instead of burning it, which will eventually form fat.  That is why crash diets never work.

Exercise keeps up your metabolism, so that your body burns the same amount of fat even as you take in less. You don’t have to work out everyday – that might actually be bad for you – but you do need regular, consistent exercise. Start with what you can manage, even if it’s just walking your dog.

Try Bodylastics

When you’re ready for more challenging stuff, you can invest in simple exercise tools such as Bodylastics. Bodylastics consists of four resistance bands that work like any gym equipment, from dumbbells to smith machines. The clips at the ends allow a whole range of exercise positions. If you’re serious about getting in shape but don’t have the time or money for a home gym, Bodylastics is perfect for you.