Take a Personal Approach to Dieting

(NewsUSA) - With every new year, you vow to lose weight. And yet, if you're like most Americans, pounds creep on throughout the year.

Many people make unrealistic resolutions -; like giving up their favorite foods forever -; that they simply cannot keep. But even Americans who stick to their diets can struggle with weight loss. The reason? Different bodies respond differently to the same activities and foods.

"Weight management is a complex issue," explains Norah Lane, the founder of Dietcare, a diet based on an individual's metabolic rate. "Every human being has a unique metabolism, but struggling slimmers can find weight loss more difficult to achieve because their metabolic rate could be much slower."

Skipped meals, certain medications, stress, trauma, age and inactivity can all slow down your metabolism, or the rate in which your body converts food into energy. The slower your metabolism, the lower your daily caloric needs. The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn.

Creating a diet that boosts your metabolism can help you shed weight. "Metabolic rate diets can help shift even the most stubborn pounds," says Lane.

Here are some tips for Americans hoping to increase their bodies' metabolic rates:

- Strength-train. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so increasing your muscle mass can help you burn more calories throughout the day. The best way to increase muscle mass? Exercise! Walk 30 minutes a day, three times a week, or engage in low-impact, weight-bearing activities like swimming or yoga.

- Eat throughout the day. Skipping meals slows down your metabolism and can lead to late-night sugar binges. Eat small, protein-based snacks throughout the day to keep your digestive system running.

- Don't take pills that say they will increase your metabolism. They don't work, and some may cause health problems. If you want to lose weight, move more, eat sensibly and find a support group.

For more information, visit www.dietcare.com.

"Article By: NewsUSA"