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LOVE & LIFE : WEIGHT LOSS<br />
BOOST YOUR<br />
METABOLISM<br />
STAND UP<br />
Inactivity of four or more<br />
hours causes an enzyme<br />
that metabolizes fat to<br />
almost shut down, according<br />
to a 2007 University of<br />
Missouri study. Throughout<br />
the day, leave your desk<br />
and walk around. Set an<br />
alarm on your phone, or use<br />
your watch or fitness band.<br />
EAT BREAKFAST<br />
A high-protein breakfast<br />
wakes up your liver and<br />
jump-starts your metabolism.<br />
When you skip<br />
breakfast, your body runs<br />
without fuel for many hours<br />
and will automatically store<br />
fat because it thinks it is in<br />
a deprived state.<br />
Why Black Women Carry More Weight<br />
The facts don’t lie: African-American women have higher rates of being overweight in<br />
the U.S. Along with cultural reasons, as we are more accepting of our fuller bodies,<br />
there is also hard data on why we are predisposed to extra pounds<br />
1WE HAVE A SLOWER<br />
METABOLISM<br />
A 1999 study in The<br />
American Journal of<br />
Clinical Nutrition found<br />
that Black women had a<br />
lower resting metabolism.<br />
However, all hope is not<br />
lost, because good eating<br />
habits and positive lifestyle<br />
shifts can speed up our<br />
metabolic rate. (See the<br />
“Boost Your Metabolism”<br />
sidebar, right.)<br />
2WE ARE MORE<br />
PRONE TO INSULIN<br />
RESISTANCE<br />
Even at a favorable weight,<br />
Black women are at a higher<br />
risk for insulin resistance.<br />
This can lead to excess fat<br />
storage, according to a<br />
2006 report from the<br />
Wake Forest University<br />
School of Medicine.<br />
Managing our diet and<br />
sugar intake can help<br />
counteract this problem.<br />
3WE CAN BE<br />
HEAVIER YET<br />
STILL BE HEALTHY<br />
Black women are<br />
more likely to still<br />
be fit while having<br />
a higher body mass<br />
index (BMI), according<br />
to a 2011 study by<br />
the Pennington Biomedical<br />
Research Center. Your<br />
numbers don’t dictate<br />
your health, but how you<br />
live does.<br />
EAT FREQUENTLY<br />
Having a nutritious bite at<br />
least every four hours<br />
keeps your energy levels<br />
up and fat burning.<br />
RESIST BEFORE-BED<br />
EATING<br />
Eat dinner at least two to<br />
three hours before you<br />
retire and try to consume<br />
your heavier meals earlier in<br />
the day. While you sleep at<br />
night, the fat-burning<br />
systems in the body slow,<br />
rest and repair.<br />
FROM TOP: JOSE LUIS PELAEZ, INC./GETTY IMAGES; RUSLANDASHINSKY/GETTY IMAGES.<br />
108 ESSENCE.COM FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong>
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