It seems everyone is trying to shed a little weight these days, whether it’s just a few pounds or trying to take an inch or two off your waistline. Fat burner pills, daily workouts, and even eating less have become mainstream. While these methods can be effective, there is one aspect of weight loss that many people overlook: your METABOLISM.
This is what determines how fast or slow your body digests food and what it does and does not save in the form of fat. Everyone’s metabolism is different. However, there are some ways to boost your metabolism so your body uses more calories.
Don’t forget breakfast
Many people are under the misconception that if they skip breakfast, they are consuming fewer calories and are better able to lose weight. When you do not eat breakfast, you have skipped an essential meal of the day. Breakfast revs up your metabolism and kick starts your body into burning calories. If you don’t eat breakfast, your metabolism doesn’t know to begin burning calories. Since the body doesn’t have food and doesn’t know when the next meal will be, it will hold off on burning any extra calories. Also, by not eating breakfast, you will likely end up overeating later in the day to make up for the calories you missed in the morning.
Eat enough
While depriving your body of calories is the popular strategy, it is often misunderstood. In truth, eating enough calories is essential to weight loss. If you don’t have enough to eat in the day, you body will go into its “survival” mode. Eating enough ensures the process is working. By eating five meals a day (yes, I said five), you can actually boost your metabolism and lose weight.
An article for Prevention.com writes, “Eat just enough so you’re not hungry—a 150-calorie snack midmorning and midafternoon between three meals (about 430 calories each) will keep your metabolism humming.” This also tricks your body into thinking it will always have enough food, so you burn more calories because your body thinks it doesn’t need to hold onto any extra.
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Hit the weights
Weightlifting is a great way to tone and strengthen muscles, and it also has a positive effect on your metabolism. Muscle requires a lot of calories to maintain. WebMD says, “Every pound of muscle uses about 6 calories a day just to sustain itself, while each pound of fat burns only 2 calories daily.” By simply having muscle, your body is forced to burn calories to maintain it. Consuming good calories like protein-rich foods and drinks, your body maintains its muscle much better and allows you to enjoy some tasty and satisfying meals.
HIIT Workouts
HIIT means “high-intensity interval training.” These workouts typically last about fifteen to thirty minutes and consist of doing an aerobic exercise such as cycling, running, or running stairs at intervals of a twenty-second sprint followed by ten seconds at a slower pace and repeating this for the full fifteen to thirty minutes. While these are tough, they have tremendous benefits. By pushing your body to the max, you are literally melting calories and getting great cardiovascular benefits. On top of that, because of the intensity of the workouts, long after you’ve finished your workout your body continues to burn calories. As a result, your metabolism is pushed to its peak in order to try to make up for the calories it just spent.
Drink Tea and Coffee
Having your morning cup o’ Joe is also a great way to boost your metabolism. An article published on Prevention.com writes, “Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant so your daily java jolts can rev your metabolism 5 to 8 percent or about 98 to 174 calories a day.” Enjoying a cup of coffee or green tea is not only tasty, but it’s also a great way to boost your body’s calorie burning mechanism.
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Shedding a couple pounds is a desire that many people have. Many methods help accomplish this goal but utilizing your body’s metabolism is one that is commonly missed. Your body’s natural calorie-burning mechanism can be used many different ways if you know how to manipulate it correctly. These five methods are ways to ensure you efficiently boost your metabolism for shedding those pesky pounds.
