Power4Patriots
Review Researchers believe that each person has an internal
control mechanism in the brain that maintains their weight at a
constant level or set point. This weight regulating mechanism
controls both the appetite and the amount of fat stored. It is
believed that this mechanism operates in a manner similar to the way
a thermostat controls the temperature in your house. The higher the
set point, the greater the fat storage and overall body weight. If
body weight decreases (as in dieting), the setpoint recognizes the
change and triggers either an increase in the person's appetite or
makes the body conserve energy to maintain the "set"
weight. The body conserves energy by lowering the metabolic rate and
by improving the food (fat) storing mechanisms.
Thus,
when you diet, your weight-regulating mechanism sees your caloric
restriction as a form of starvation, and its natural survival
response is to improve energy storage as bodyfat, the very thing you
are trying to prevent! Even though prolonged caloric restriction may
temporarily lower weight and fat, the setpoint remains unchanged.
When your eating habits return to normal the fat is quickly regained
as the body strives to reach a comfortable fat level ( its set
point). The may explain the difficulty many people have with "keeping
the weight off" once they've lost it.
Research
suggests that our set point can be improved through lifelong
dedication to proper nutrition and sensible eating habits, combined
with regular physical activity. Specifically, a long-term diet high
in complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pasta and rice) seems to
have a positive effect on lowering the set point, while regular
continuous cardiovascular exercise also seems to lower the set point.
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