just thought I'd share with you all, an article I read in the Sunday papers - this is paraphrased from the Sunday Times (British Newspaper) and I found it interesting -

Seven Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism:

1. Stock up on soy milk - soy Protein slightly increases the metabolic rate - scientists have found that people who drink soy milk rather than standard milk have a higher weight loss result. It seems the supernutrients known as isoflavones give a helping hand by accelerating the breakdown of fat. Go for a brand with no added sugar.

2. Increase your Calcium intake - calcium has, in addition to building bones, also has some fat burning potential! Regular intakes of calcium stimulate the mechanism in fat cells that breaks down fat - aim for a pint a day - skimmed (no fat), semi-skimmed (half fat) and calcium rich soya versions provide as much calcium as whole milk - a yogurt or 30g chunk of cheese is equivalent to a third of a pint.

3. Never go for long periods without food - the very act of eating stimulates your metabolism into action because you use calories during the digestive process - skipping one meal can slow the metabolism by 15%!!!

4.Turn the heating down! - apparently we have all gone soft when by creating overheated microclimates, we move from heated housed to heated cars and offices - the result? Our metabolism becomes lazy! Turning the heating down a couple of degrees will naturally boost the metabolism as more calories are burn keeping you warm from the inside out!

5. Become a foot tapper! - People who are always foot tapping, raising themselves up and down on their heels when standing or twiddling with pens burn significantly more calories than the quiet types! Called NEAT - Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis - this continuous movement can burn off 200 calories a day!

6. Eat meat..... - or fish or chicken or lentils for that matter - you don't need to "do an Atkins" and dine on nothing else, but make sure you do include a good helping at every meal. This is because your body finds more protein tougher to digest than starch, sugar and fat. And the more difficult a food is to digest, the more calories your body uses up and the more your metabolism gathers pace.

7. Get a good night's sleep - according to sleep experts, getting at least 5 hours solid sleep helps balance the fat storing hormone insulin so that we hold on to less blubber - which has to be the best news of all - you slim when you snooze!

Hope this is interesting to you all - I know we know some of it already but the soy thing was news to me so maybe someone out there will be the same!

Oh and good news - I've crashed out the other side of my plateau - dropped 5lbs unexpectedly! Bizzarre, isn't it - but hey, I'm not complaining!

take care y'all xx

Bright,

First of all congratulations on busting through your plateau...I'm getting my period today and I hope those same 5lbs you lost I lose as well...

This article was very informative...I wasn't aware of soy but I do know there is something in milk that speeds up metabolism and it is a very good "balanced" drink as it has the right amount of protien vs. carbs...found that out from my Endocrinologist when I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance...

And come to think of it...when I slept all the damn time I was skinny...maybe that's the secret...LOL

Happy Hoidays Love!

Ooooh, oooooh!!! I would LOVE to sleep all the time!!! {hand waving frantically in the air} Please pick me for that study!!! lol

Thanks for the info, Bright, and congrats on your new plateau! Uh, I mean, breaking through your plateau!

Every time I finally lose a couple of more pounds I get all excited, and say, "Yeah!!! I'm on a new plateau!!!" lol Just trying to be realistic with myself, and helps me keep my sense of humor about it all... :guess