5 Simple Steps To...Increase Your Metabolism

5 Simple Steps To...Increase Your Metabolism

Everyone and their mother wants that elusive toned, ripped physique.  You see these types of people everyday.  The ones that make you wonder, "How in the hell did you get a body like that?"  Well, just about everyone of those people have a high metabolism.  This helps them burn more calories throughout the day and achieve that chiseled, tone look.  Truth is, if they're not taking supplements, then they're probably following these 5 simple steps.  

Step 1-Eat Breakfast

Every time you sleep, your body goes hours without any food(fuel).  When you wake, your body is craving fuel.  By eating within 30 minutes of waking up, it makes your body start working to break down your food intake.  Conversely, if you don't eat breakfast, your body thinks you are starving it.  Your body will actually go into starvation mode and begin to store fat instead of burning it.  Breakfast helps kick start your metabolism.  There's a reason why they call it the most important meal of the day.  Don't skip it.

Step 2-Eat More

No, not necessarily more food, but more often throughout the day.  Instead of eating 2/3 big meals a day, space your meals and eat 5/6 small portion meals.  We already said that your body has to expend energy to break down food.  So, if you eat small portions throughout the day, this will put your body into a constant state of breaking down food and burning calories.  

Step 3-Get Off The Treadmill

Substitute your regular, slow-paced cardio routine with interval training.  Interval training is short bursts of intense exercise followed by a minimal rest time.  The problem with regular cardio is that your body stops burning calories as soon as you stop.  Your heart rate doesn't get high enough while doing this type of cardio.  With interval training, your heart rate gets so high that after you get done, your body continues to burn calories for hours on end.  Sample interval training routine would be 5 rounds, 30 seconds each of running in place, mountain climbers, burpees, rest.  This short, but intense 10 minute workout will burn more calories than 45 minutes on the treadmill.  

Step 4-Pick Up Those Weights

Resistance training is a great way to increase your metabolism.  You can us weights or bands.  Any kind of resistance training is good.  The resistance helps build muscle, obviously.  What may not be so obvious is that muscle burns more calories than fat.  You only need to resistance train twice a week to build muscle so pick up those weights and start burning more calories.

Step 5-Drink Cold Water

When you drink ice cold water, your body has to expend energy to warm it up.  So, instead of drinking those sugar filled carbonated drinks and fruit juices, supplement your fluid intake with good old fashioned ice cold water.  

Incorporate these simple little tricks into your everyday routine and begin to increase your metabolism immediately.  Now these steps are not going to make you a chiseled god overnight.  There is no easy way to get back in shape.  It takes a lot of hard work and sweat, but if you follow these simple steps you will see results sooner rather than later.

Stay active.  Stay healthy.