6. Breathe Deeply

Your body cannot burn fat without oxygen. Shallow breathing leads to low levels of oxygen in your blood, and less efficient fat burning. In addition, shallow breathing elevates stress hormones, which cause your body to hold on to fat. Check out our Breathing Tutorial for more.

7. Think Thin

Have you’ve heard of the placebo effect? Basically, the idea is that if you are given a fake medicine, but you believe that it is real, it will have some of the effects of a real drug. Placebo weight loss drugs – which are nothing but salt pills – actually help people lose weight in medical studies. This is an unequivocal testament to the power of our minds over our bodies. Picture your body the way you want it to be, will it to change, and put the placebo effect to work!

8. Get Enough Sleep

Deep sleep leads to a healthier metabolism, which translates into more calories burned throughout your day. In addition, sleep is the time when your body recharges your biochemistry, including the chemicals you need to burn fat. Lack of sleep will interfere with all of your health and fitness goals.

9. Get Some Sun in the Morning

Natural sunlight in the morning tells the body that it’s time to get up and go. All sorts of biochemical changes take place in response to the sun in the morning, and just about all of these result in an increase in metabolism. It’s difficult to wake up fully without a little sunlight, and if you don’t wake up fully, you won’t burn as many calories during the normal business of your day. If you can’t get access to real sunlight in the morning, think about buying a sun square, Ott lamp, or another source of full spectrum light.

10. Eat Healthy Meats and Fish

Many meats and fish are rich in chemicals that have positive effects on metabolism. The Omega 3 fats in wild caught (not farm raised) salmon and the stimulatory ammino acids in pork can both help you burn more calories. Beef is rich in a chemical called L-Carnitine that helps your body convert fat into fuel. Some studies have shown that supplementing with L-Carnitine can aid efforts to lose weight. But getting it straight from the natural source is best. Find some steak or ground beef that is either, organic, or, best of all, grass fed. Cows are meant to eat grass, rather than the diet of soy, corn, and other processed grains that most cows are fed. Cows raised on grains are overweight and sickly (just like people who are raised on processed grains).  A healthy diet of grass leads to a healthier cow with healthier meat. Think about eating a serving (3-5oz, about the size of a deck of cards) of organic or grass fed beef each week. Meats are great for most people's metabolism in moderation. They only lead to weight gain and ill health when eaten in excess. For most people's metabolism, 3-6 servings of meat/fish per week is ideal. Your free ReEvolution Fitness Action Plan can help you figure out exactly how much meat is best for you.