Losing weight is hard enough, and when you add in a slow metabolism, it can seem downright impossible to shed those extra pounds youre carrying around. Ive been there, and I know the struggle all too well.
I used to think there was nothing I could do about my slow metabolism. I thought I was doomed to a life of eating healthy and exercising but never changing my weight. It was beyond frustrating. But then I found that with a few small changes, it actually is possible to speed up your metabolism.
Even if you think youre eating super healthy, there are a few tricks you should add into your daily routine. Here are 10 effective ways to boost your metabolism and shed your extra weight:
1. Make sure youre eating enough
You might want to think twice before you cut your calories too much as a way to lose weight. When you dont eat enough, your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto every bit of food you eat, and turns it into fat. If you want to boost your metabolism, make sure youre eating the right amount of calories for your weight and height.
2. Get enough protein
Make sure your diet is full of protein. Chicken, fish and other meats are all high in protein, but there are also non-meat options like beans, eggs, yogurt and other dairy products. Adding whey protein powder to your morning smoothie will also do the trick (and add tons of yummy flavor).
3. Eat breakfast
Think of eating breakfast as giving your metabolism a wake up call. Breakfast really is the most important meal, and itll kickstart your metabolism so its working throughout your entire day. Just make sure to ditch the PopTarts and eat whole grains, protein, fruit and other healthy foods.
4. Drink a lot of water
Drinking cold water throughout the day boosts metabolism and weight loss, and its so important to stay hydrated. If youre like me and MUST have your daily soda, make sure youre drinking way more water than soda.
5. Do some HIIT workouts
High intensity interval training is the best way to get your metabolism running. Exercise at your normal pace for one minute, then go as fast as you can for 30 seconds, go back to your normal pace and repeat the process over and over for about 30 minutes. Its a short workout, but youll get so much out of it.
6. Dont be afraid of the weights
Weight training is awesome for boosting your metabolism. If you dont feel comfortable using the weight sets at the gym, grab a friend and do it together or do weight training from home. Itll keep those calories burning long after your workout is over.
7. Keep healthy snacks handy
Instead of eating three big meals every day, eat six small ones. Eating small, healthy meals throughout the day will keep your metabolism working all day long.
8. Spend some time standing
Its not super healthy to sit all day long, so if you can, spend some time on your feet. If you work, try to get a standing desk. If you stay home with your kids, you probably already spend a lot of time running around, but try taking more walks. Even being a little more active than usual can make a huge impact on your weight and metabolism.
9. Go to bed at a decent time
Its so hard for your metabolism to keep up if you dont get enough sleep. You should get at least eight hours every night, so snuggle up and get to sleep a little earlier tonight. Your body will thank you.
10. Add some fish to your meal
Omega-3 fatty acids really boost your metabolism, so add some fish like salmon into your diet. Fish oil supplements are also an awesome way to get these essential fatty acids into your body.
When you make these small changes to your lifestyle, youll start to see a big difference. Now is the time to start working toward a happy, healthy life.
I used to think there was nothing I could do about my slow metabolism. I thought I was doomed to a life of eating healthy and exercising but never changing my weight. It was beyond frustrating. But then I found that with a few small changes, it actually is possible to speed up your metabolism.
Even if you think youre eating super healthy, there are a few tricks you should add into your daily routine. Here are 10 effective ways to boost your metabolism and shed your extra weight:
1. Make sure youre eating enough
You might want to think twice before you cut your calories too much as a way to lose weight. When you dont eat enough, your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto every bit of food you eat, and turns it into fat. If you want to boost your metabolism, make sure youre eating the right amount of calories for your weight and height.
2. Get enough protein
Make sure your diet is full of protein. Chicken, fish and other meats are all high in protein, but there are also non-meat options like beans, eggs, yogurt and other dairy products. Adding whey protein powder to your morning smoothie will also do the trick (and add tons of yummy flavor).
3. Eat breakfast
Think of eating breakfast as giving your metabolism a wake up call. Breakfast really is the most important meal, and itll kickstart your metabolism so its working throughout your entire day. Just make sure to ditch the PopTarts and eat whole grains, protein, fruit and other healthy foods.
4. Drink a lot of water
Drinking cold water throughout the day boosts metabolism and weight loss, and its so important to stay hydrated. If youre like me and MUST have your daily soda, make sure youre drinking way more water than soda.
5. Do some HIIT workouts
High intensity interval training is the best way to get your metabolism running. Exercise at your normal pace for one minute, then go as fast as you can for 30 seconds, go back to your normal pace and repeat the process over and over for about 30 minutes. Its a short workout, but youll get so much out of it.
6. Dont be afraid of the weights
Weight training is awesome for boosting your metabolism. If you dont feel comfortable using the weight sets at the gym, grab a friend and do it together or do weight training from home. Itll keep those calories burning long after your workout is over.
7. Keep healthy snacks handy
Instead of eating three big meals every day, eat six small ones. Eating small, healthy meals throughout the day will keep your metabolism working all day long.
8. Spend some time standing
Its not super healthy to sit all day long, so if you can, spend some time on your feet. If you work, try to get a standing desk. If you stay home with your kids, you probably already spend a lot of time running around, but try taking more walks. Even being a little more active than usual can make a huge impact on your weight and metabolism.
9. Go to bed at a decent time
Its so hard for your metabolism to keep up if you dont get enough sleep. You should get at least eight hours every night, so snuggle up and get to sleep a little earlier tonight. Your body will thank you.
10. Add some fish to your meal
Omega-3 fatty acids really boost your metabolism, so add some fish like salmon into your diet. Fish oil supplements are also an awesome way to get these essential fatty acids into your body.
When you make these small changes to your lifestyle, youll start to see a big difference. Now is the time to start working toward a happy, healthy life.
