Everyone knows the easy and fast way to lose weight without work is to speed up your metabolism! This is very true but it’s time separate the truths from the myths. You may not realize it, but when you are bumming around on the couch; your body is working hard to burn calories. The key is to speed it up so it is burning the maximum number of calories!
Men tend to burn more calories than women, even while resting. And for most people, metabolism slows steadily after age 40. Although you can’t control your age, gender, or genetics, there are other ways to improve your metabolism.
Here are 10 easy ways to increase your metabolism.
1. Eat Breakfast, but it must be within an hour of waking up! Your metabolism has been in rest mode all night and breakfast is the best way to rev it up! Eat foods with high fibre and protein like whole grain, low fat milk, eggs and berries will give your metabolism the kick start it needs to start the day.
2. Eat Constantly, listen to your stomach, if its growling it needs fuel. Not providing your body with food is a surefire way to slow down its basic functions. Eating high-fiber, high-protein snacks like low-fat cheese, fiber crackers, fruits, veggies, or Greek yogurt. Starving your body will sabotage all of your dieting efforts.
3. Keep Hydrated – Yes it does sound like a broken record but it’s really important. You need to stay hydrated for your body to function correctly. Colder is better, Your body burns more calories in colder temperatures because it has to work harder to keep you warm—so by drinking cold water, you end up burning more than if you guzzled room-temp H20,” says Lisa Gain, Ph.D., evolutionary biologist and founder of snack-girl.com.
4. Relaxation & Destress Yourself – Stress raises the amount of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is a hormone that tells the body to hold onto fat in case of a stressful situation. Experiment with yoga or meditation or a few hours at Vixen® Nails & Spa are ways to lower stress levels and clear your mind.
5. Sleep – Don’t forget your Zzzz’s! – Getting a least seven to eight hours of sleep every night is crucial to a healthy metabolism. Anything less can adversely affect your body’s ability to burn calories. However, excess sleep may do the same thing. It’s best to keep a consistent bedtime and wake up close to the same time every morning.
6. Spicy Foods – Some studies suggest that eating spicy foods may boost your metabolism—so top your meals with chili peppers and Tabasco. Bonus: Spices are naturally fat-free, so there’s no need to stress about calorie counts.
7. Sunlight – Research shows that when a person spends long periods of time in a darkened, dull environment, it stimulates the same physiological functions in the body as gaining weight and sleep. The best daylight hours are between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., so make it a point to get up from your desk and take a brisk walk outside. Aside from soaking up rays, you’ll rev up your heart rate and benefit from the fresh air.
8. Vitamin C – Vitamin C and calcium are partners in crime when it comes to your metabolic rate. Calcium speeds up metabolism, while vitamin C helps the body absorb this mineral, creating an overall win-win situation.
9. Green Tea – Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants called catechins. And, in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking green tea combined with a total of three hours of moderate exercise a week reduced abdominal fat in subjects over a three-month period.
10. Get Omega 3’s – Omega-3s balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation, helping to regulate metabolism. They may also reduce resistance to the hormone leptin, which researchers have linked to how fast fat is burned. Fish such as tuna and salmon contain oil that increases leptin, which is a hormone responsible for controlling appetite.
Implement some of these strategies and speed up your metabolism today!
