Summary
Unfortunately, we have inherited the stress response, and our modern day high-stress lives allow us to add fat reserves all year round, particularly with the ready availability of carbohydrates in our diet. So stress management should actually play a very important role in any attempt to get excess fat reserves under control. Too often though, we ignore the stress side of the equation when it comes to thinking about fat loss solutions.
Another way to combat cortisol accumulation is to exercise. Strenuous exercise stimulates the production of testosterone, which opposes the effects of cortisol by blocking cortisol receptors. Testosterone also stimulates the production of muscle tissue. So the overall effect is to block fat storage and promote muscle building. In fact, excessive cortisol levels are known to promote the breakdown of muscle tissue, so cortisol and testosterone are direct competitors. When your behavior promotes the increase of one of these hormones, it reduces the level of the other.
Summary
Again, the take away message here is very clear: to increase your metabolism you need to reduce the stresses in your life. It also helps to perform strenuous exercise. Both of these actions reduce cortisol and therefore the fat storing behavior it promotes. Furthermore, the effect of exercising strenuously results in an increase in muscle mass which, as we will see later, also results in the increase of your metabolism.
All right, we have covered the basics of hormone influence as it relates to raising or lowering your metabolism.
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