We’ve all heard someone talk about how they can eat what they like and not put on weight because they are lucky they have a ‘fast or high metabolism’.
And while it certainly is true that we all have inherently different metabolic rates, this isn’t something that is set in stone. You can change your metabolism and it can have a major impact on your waistline so today we’re looking at ways to boost your metabolism and
So what is your metabolism?
Your metabolism is the amount of energy your body needs just to keep you alive. It’s the energy required to keep your heart beating, your lungs breathing, the fuel required for all the resting bodily functions.
And the thing is the amount of energy you need just to keep living, is much larger than the extra energy needed to climb a flight of stairs or go for a run. So boosting your metabolism can have a big impact on your weight loss success.
6 ways to boost your metabolism
1. Eat protein for breakfast
As we learned thanks to Tim Ferriss, your resting metabolism increases by 20% if you eat breakfast with at least 30% protein.
2. Drink ice water on an empty stomach
Another Tim Ferris tip is that drinking 500mL ice water immediately upon waking increases resting metabolism by 24-30%. Something I started but forgot about during my trip to the US. Definitely keen to get back into this!
3. Exercise Regularly
Moving our bodies causes our metabolism to be elevated after our workouts. And the good news is that shorter, more frequent exercise has a more beneficial impact on metabolism than longer, less frequent workouts.
4. Go for cross training.
Short periods of high intensity exercise such as interval training, sprints or weight lifting are more effective at increasing metabolism than long periods of low intensity exercise such as walking or running.
5. Improve your thyroid function
Your thyroid is the part of the body that regulates your metabolic rate. Support your thyroid function by including more seafood, nuts and seeds in your diet.
6. Don’t forget to have a cheat day
Depriving your body of fuel encourages your metabolism to slow down. Including one cheat day where you spike your calorie intake is a great way to reset your metabolism to a higher level.
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