7 Tips To Boost Your Metabolism

7 Tips To Boost Your Metabolism

Boosting Metabolism

1. Boost your calories one day a week. You'll need to reduce your intake of calories over the week in order to lose weight, but if your calorie intake is too low for too long you will slow down your metabolic rate and your body will hold on to that weight, fighting against all your hard work! To keep your metabolism running as high as possible, even as you diet, you must increase your calorie intake (by about a third, at least to start with) one day. This will boost your metabolism, thereby enabling you to burn more fat all through the week.
2. Work with your body's rhythms. Your body has a natural cycle of hormones and overall energy levels, and by working with it rather than against it you can help your body to metabolise fat better. Don't take in too many carbohydrates in the evenings when your metabolism slows down naturally. If you eat carbohydrates at night then they're much less likely to be converted into energy, and will therefore end up as fat.
3. Drink more water. We've all heard the 'eight glasses a day' figure, but staying hydrated really is essential to keep a fast fat burning metabolism.
4. Avoid simple carbs. The carbohydrates contained in foods such as sweets, doughnuts, white bread, and other highly refined products causes your insulin level to spike. When insulin levels surge your body stores fat instead of burning it for energy. Stick to unrefined, complex carbohydrates to prevent this.
5. Make it intense. Aerobic exercise is great for burning calories, but to boost your metabolism you need to add some intensity. This doesn't have to mean running up a hill with a tractor tyre tied to your back! Take a long walk and add several short 'speed walking' bursts. If on the treadmill at the gym increase the incline for a minute in every five. Whatever it takes to make your heart beat faster and make it a bit harder to breathe: if you can continue a conversation then it's not intense enough! These short bursts of higher intensity stimulate your metabolism and ensure that your body keeps burning the fat even after you've stopped exercising.
6. Pump some iron. Did you know that muscle is eight times as metabolically active as fat? The more lean muscle mass on your body, the higher your metabolic rate, and the more fat you'll burn. Don't worry about looking like a bodybuilder, it's actually incredibly difficult to build that much muscle. But twenty minutes of weights a couple of times a week will increase your muscle mass and help to keep that fat burning off.
7. Get enough rest. You may think that running around 24/7 will make you thin, but your body needs rest to function properly and your metabolism is no exception. Getting enough sleep - the exact amount varies from person to person, but aim for 7-9 hours - is essential for boosting metabolism.