10 Simple Strategies to Effortlessly Accelerate the Fat Burning Power of Your Body – All Day Long. Part 2
In Part I of this two-part article, we discussed the importance of burning more calories than you take in. Getting on the right side of your body’s energy equation is one of the keys to dramatic and impressive weight loss.
While exercise and diet play important roles in this effort, there are also some simple, easy things you can do during the course of each day to automatically increase your metabolism and the rate at which you burn calories. They don’t require much time, planning or effort. But they give you an extra advantage – make that 10 extra advantages – to help you lose (and keep off) the weight.
Here are strategies six through 10:
Strategy #6: Take Cold Showers, or Alternate Hot and Cold Water
Regularly taking cold showers provides tremendous health benefits, and used to be a key component of physical culture and healing practices through the early 20th century. From a weight loss perspective, a cold shower forces your body to increase heat in reaction to the water’s effects on body temperature. This thermogenic effect naturally increases your body’s ability to burn fat.
If you’re not used to cold showers, you can transition gradually. For example, begin your shower at a comfortable temperature and slowly change over to colder water. Turn it to completely cold at the end and stand under the frigid water for 20 to 30 seconds. Build up your time under the cold water.
Another method I really like is to alternate hot and cold showers. This is great for recuperation from hard training, a stressful day, or when you are ill. Simply stand under the hot water – as hot as you can stand it – for two to three minutes. Then change to completely cold water and stand under for one to two minutes. Repeat several times. Very invigorating!
After you shower, towel off vigorously with a clean, fresh towel. This helps activate your lymph system and move more toxins out of your body.
Strategy #7: Get 15 to 20 Minutes of Sun Each Day
A number of studies have shown that sun exposure helps to normalize insulin and blood glucose levels. It also helps control appetite in many people. And it improves your mood.
If you live in a cold weather region, you may find it difficult to get out in the sun every day. In the winter, it seems like it’s dark when you leave for work in the morning, and dark by the time you leave the office in the evening. Do what you can to get outside, even if it’s a short walk on your lunch break. You may also wish to invest in a full spectrum lamp which offers the same benefits as sunlight.
Follow Technorati