Metabolism can simply be described as the amount of energy the body uses to burn off food you have eaten -in short, it converts food into energy to burn. Your metabolism is constant, it never stops, only slowing down or speeding up according to signals you give through your food intake. While the actual metabolic process consists of thousands of chemical reactions, the process is actually quite simple and can be altered through adjustments in your diet.

An oft overlooked component to metabolism is that it thrives on foods rich in protein and carbohydrates. Many diet plans today are based on reduced level of carbohydrate intake and protein intake, however, this approach will only slow down your metabolism and make weight loss more difficult in the long run. Many people have struggled to build muscle while losing fat through these diets, and the main reason is the slow down in metabolic activity.

One significant challenge with low carb and low protein diet plans is how to get your metabolic rate to increase to burn off the calories needed for weight loss. Since your metabolism thrives on these ingredients to operate, starving your metabolism of them will actually cause a reduction in overall metabolic rate. A real challenge then arises as your body will fight harder to keep fat stored in order to survive.

Your metabolic rate will increase through the consumption of proteins and carbohydrates, giving more fuel to burn calories. To run most efficiently, though, it is important to stay away from carbohydrate loaded foods with processed and refined ingredients (for example, white bread is loaded with processed and refined ingredients). These components actually break down into sugars that will slow down your weight loss.

Not all protein is created equal - protein rich fish, nuts, and lean meat are great sources. Avoid fatty cuts of steak or hamburger to give your body the best possible protein available. Unprocessed or refined grains are a great carbohydrate source, such as whole grain breads and bars. These can also contain good amounts of fiber, which further enhances the metabolic process.

Additionally, there is another way to give yourself a great chance at a successful diet. Lean muscle development through light weight lifting will allow for another rise in your metabolic rate. It is well known that lean muscle works harder to burn more calories, meaning your metabolism will be running faster. Having lean muscle development work together with your simple diet changes will put you on the right track to sustained weight loss.

Most people go by the standard three meals a day approach, and simply cut back on the caloric intake at each meal. However, large numbers of calories are introduced at each meal, thus increasing the chances that the body will have to store some as fat as it can not burn off all the calories at one time.

Conversely, try eating smaller portions as many as six to eight times per day. While the overall number of calories is slightly reduced, you are tricking your body into thinking calories are plentiful and your metabolism will start to speed up. Lean muscle will work harder, your metabolism increases, and your weight will start to drop off at a sustainable rate.

At the beginning of any diet plan, it is normal to see a nice drop in weight almost instantly because of the high metabolic rate and suddenly reduced calories. The negative calorie balance will allow for some weight loss quite quickly. But, your body will adjust to the new levels and that initial pace will rapidly decline without other changes. Most dieters experience this plateau effect and will give up on their diets at this point. Sustained weight loss can be achieved through a nice combination of healthy eating of proteins and carbohydrates, lean muscle development, and an exercise plan.