by UmiNoor

Created on: April 25, 2010   Last Updated: April 27, 2010

Many women would like to know the best ways to burn calories fast and effortlessly especially those who have been battling with their weight all their lives (me included).

The first step to burn calories fast and effortlessly is to build muscles. Yes, muscles. Yuck, I don't want to be bulky and muscular, some of you might say. But lean muscles are important in burning calories.

When women build up their muscles, they'll not look like Hulk Hogan or The Rock. They'll not become bulky and muscular like men. Women are not built like men. Women lack the testosterone that makes men bulky and muscular.

Do a little weight training twice a week for 30 minutes at a time and build up your muscles because muscles at rest require three times more energy than fat for tissue maintenance and rebuilding. This energy usage by your muscles will lead your body to burn calories fast and effortlessly.

Have you noticed how your husband or boyfriend who exercises for an hour loses more weight? On the other hand, when you exercise for the same amount of time, your weight loss cannot match theirs? You need to work harder to lose the same amount of weight.

It's in the way men and women are built. Men are endowed with more lean muscles. It's not fair. I know it's not fair.

A woman's body is never meant to be slim and thin. Our body is built to nurture and nourish the babies that we are to have. So to assist in this nurturing and nourishing, the body would hang on to our store of fats so that we will be able to survive carrying a baby for nine months and giving birth.

However, let's not blame nature. There are other things that can help you to burn calories fast and effortlessly. Other than building lean muscles, you can eat. Yes, eat. Don't go on a diet. Just watch what you eat and eat more frequently but in small servings.

Foods that are rich in vitamin C and protein are fat burning foods as they take longer to digest. The energy used by the digestive system to digest these foods will help to burn calories.

Stay away from foods like ice cream, cakes, and cookies that have no nutrients but are turned into fat by the body. And drink a lot of water. Cut down on soda and other sugary drinks. Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade are packed with calories and carbohydrates. Don't drink them unless you're going to be doing very vigorous exercises. And remember, build muscles and you'll be able to burn calories fast and effortlessly.

Learn more about this author, UmiNoor.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.