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Readers cheer on Fittest Loser contestants

Keep “burning more than you earn” on a daily basis. I’m sure it was hard to get started and you probably didn’t see results right away, but they’re there. What your trainers are doing is increasing your metabolism.

Eating might seem counterproductive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you eat sensibly you can stimulate your metabolism, couple that with a hard workout and your net calories will be negative, resulting in weight loss.

Spiking your metabolism with small meals throughout the day will also burn calories because the meal will trigger more calories being burned than you will take in. You would be surprised how much fruit, vegetables, broth soups and the like you can eat throughout the day and still lose weight when compared to your “old” diet.

Caffeine is a stimulant that gets you going. I enjoy a cup before my workouts. I feel it sharpens my senses and allows me to have a better workout. Science also tells us that it mobilizes some fat stores to be used as energy.

If you’re going to eat carbohydrates like bagels, breads, cereals, eat them in the morning. Avoid them at night. A brisk 15-minute walk after dinner will help burn some of the food you just ate and send your metabolism up.

This is a slow process. All good things come with some kind of a fight. You will learn so much about yourself, and you will probably encourage someone else to make some difficult changes. If it were easy everyone would be in shape. It will always take hard work, but your body is what you have to travel in throughout your life. You have to take care of it.

Ÿ Contributed by Glen McGowean, a retired dietitian and triathlete. He will receive a $25 gift card from Jewel-Osco.

Do you have words of encouragement or a practical tip to offer our Fittest Losers? Email it to fittestloser@dailyherald.com. If your submission is selected for publication, you’ll receive a prize.

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