Copyright (c) 2008 SCL Health & Fitness

The nation is on a rapid slow-down, a financial crunch and our bodies are feeling the pinch as a result! Here are some metabolic mistakes to avoid in 2009!

Mistake #1 - Eating 3 or Fewer Meals Per Day - Eating few big meals presents a few problems to the body for weight loss including the desire for high-carbohydrate foods due to hunger and developing an over-eating pattern. Little and often balances blood sugar and reduces the need to snack. Eat little and often and you'll crave less of the bad stuff. Celebrities such as Cameron Diaz are famous for picking the eat little and often approach and with a body like hers it's easy to see why we should take the approach of avoiding big, energy zapping meals!

Mistake 2 # - Avoiding Protein - Skipping sources of protein in your diet such as lean chicken breast, turkey, fish and eggs can affect the speed of your metabolic rate due to less protein calories being burnt off by the body.

Mistake 3 # - Missing the Exercise Session - A super sure-fire way to put your body into a rapid metabolic decline is to sit back and do nothing. By slightly increasing your heart rate over a 30 minute period around three times a week will seriously enhance your chances of fighting the flab.

Mistake 4 # - Avoiding Your Greens - Your greens are your super-foods. In particular, Broccoli packs one hell of a punch to protect your metabolic rate. It's high in calcium and vitamin C which helps the absorb calcium. It's also packed with phytochemicals which will boost your immune system. A fat fighter if ever there was one.

Mistake 5 # - Going Mild Instead of Hot! - A sprinkle of chilli flakes on your meal, aMadras instead of a Korma, making your meals spicy with chilli peppers has been proven to increase metabolism and release more stress hormone into the body, which means you burn more calories! Now that's hot weight loss!

Mistake 6 # - Not Keeping Hydrated - Missing out on water is a mistake that's easily put right. By keeping the body hydrated, with at least a couple of litres per day will help you burn more fat cells. It's also an appetite suppressant that wipes out your body's toxins. Forget those detox drinks, you'll save a fortune by drinking plenty of water per day.