It just might help you drop those last few pounds.
By Cassie Shortsleeve, Men’s Health
If there were one secret to fast weight loss, you’d know it. (We’d have told you by now.)
But you likely do know that the ingredients of dropping weight are always similar. It takes a healthy diet paired with a solid exercise routine, and—according to former editor-in-chief of Men’s Health Dave Zinczenko, author of The Super Metabolism Diet, a diet book that promises to help you lose 14 pounds in 14 days—your body’s metabolism. Speed it up, and you can lose weight for good.
Of course, to understand how The Super Metabolism Diet works, you first have to learn a bit about metabolism in general. It’s determined by four key factors: age, genetics, diet, and activity level, Zinczenko says. And while you can’t magically shed years off your life or tweak your DNA, you can adjust your workout regime and clean up your diet.
With The Super Metabolism Diet, you aren’t doomed to a sad diet of wilted salads (one of many metabolism myths), a horrifically low-calorie diet (which can actually damage metabolism beyond repair), or a workout routine that leaves you drained and practically crawling to the office. Instead, the diet offers a framework for what Zinczenko refers to as an "enduring lifestyle," meaning you don’t have to say "no" to your body to see lasting changes.
Here's how the diet works, and how to work it into your busy schedule to amp up your metabolism and drop weight for good.
If there were one secret to fast weight loss, you’d know it. (We’d have told you by now.)
But you likely do know that the ingredients of dropping weight are always similar. It takes a healthy diet paired with a solid exercise routine, and—according to former editor-in-chief of Men’s Health Dave Zinczenko, author of The Super Metabolism Diet, a diet book that promises to help you lose 14 pounds in 14 days—your body’s metabolism. Speed it up, and you can lose weight for good.
Of course, to understand how The Super Metabolism Diet works, you first have to learn a bit about metabolism in general. It’s determined by four key factors: age, genetics, diet, and activity level, Zinczenko says. And while you can’t magically shed years off your life or tweak your DNA, you can adjust your workout regime and clean up your diet.
With The Super Metabolism Diet, you aren’t doomed to a sad diet of wilted salads (one of many metabolism myths), a horrifically low-calorie diet (which can actually damage metabolism beyond repair), or a workout routine that leaves you drained and practically crawling to the office. Instead, the diet offers a framework for what Zinczenko refers to as an "enduring lifestyle," meaning you don’t have to say "no" to your body to see lasting changes.
Here's how the diet works, and how to work it into your busy schedule to amp up your metabolism and drop weight for good.
How The Super Metabolism Diet Works
The Super Metabolism Diet calls for a focus on what Zinczenko refers to as "super proteins," which help you build energy-burning muscle and keep you fuller longer (foods such a eggs, yogurt, salmon and lean beef); "super carbs," which give your metabolism essential sugars to burn with just enough fiber to keep blood sugar levels in check (foods such as oatmeal, whole wheat, sprouted greens, and quinoa); and "super fats" (foods such as avocados, nut butters, coconut oil, and olive oil). Omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish, for example, improve fat metabolism by altering the expression of inflammatory genes.
The goal of all of the foods in this diet is to increase energy expenditure and provide essential calories, vitamins, and minerals, while also allowing you to relax and recharge when necessary.
Because your metabolism is the hero in this story, there are some dietary "supervillains" to avoid, such as high-fructose corn syrup (found in store-bought baked goods and sugary cereals), soda, and processed foods such as white bread, boxed mac and cheese, frozen dinners, and Oreos.
Replacing your go-to snack machine picks isn’t too hard, though, thanks to two weeks’ worth of meals in the book, such as freezer-friendly quiche muffins and a side of fresh berries for breakfast, avocado boats three ways for lunch, and coffee-rubbed steak with a side of sweet potatoes for dinner.
And because diet is only one part of the metabolism puzzle, The Super Metabolism Diet also provides suggestions for how to weave exercise into your life—suggestions such as taking the stairs and even fidgeting to incorporate more daily movement into your day-to-day schedule or workouts that add intensity to your day—and how to fight both lack of sleep and stress.
In short, to lose weight and boost metabolism, your diet doesn’t have to be painful, restrictive, or complicated—something that’s true for The Super Metabolism Diet’s plan. And let’s be honest, we could all use a reminder to take the stairs or fill up on more healthy omega-3s.
The goal of all of the foods in this diet is to increase energy expenditure and provide essential calories, vitamins, and minerals, while also allowing you to relax and recharge when necessary.
Because your metabolism is the hero in this story, there are some dietary "supervillains" to avoid, such as high-fructose corn syrup (found in store-bought baked goods and sugary cereals), soda, and processed foods such as white bread, boxed mac and cheese, frozen dinners, and Oreos.
Replacing your go-to snack machine picks isn’t too hard, though, thanks to two weeks’ worth of meals in the book, such as freezer-friendly quiche muffins and a side of fresh berries for breakfast, avocado boats three ways for lunch, and coffee-rubbed steak with a side of sweet potatoes for dinner.
And because diet is only one part of the metabolism puzzle, The Super Metabolism Diet also provides suggestions for how to weave exercise into your life—suggestions such as taking the stairs and even fidgeting to incorporate more daily movement into your day-to-day schedule or workouts that add intensity to your day—and how to fight both lack of sleep and stress.
In short, to lose weight and boost metabolism, your diet doesn’t have to be painful, restrictive, or complicated—something that’s true for The Super Metabolism Diet’s plan. And let’s be honest, we could all use a reminder to take the stairs or fill up on more healthy omega-3s.
