You decided that one of your main goals is to lose weight or burn fat for better fitness results. You’ve heard that the way to go by this is to boost your metabolism. Do you actually know what that really is? Metabolism is all of the chemical processes that occur in our body. To summarize, it involves when we are resting, as well as what happens when we eat, digest the food and move our body.
It is true that some people have faster or slower metabolism than others, which determines weight loss. Also, how fast you burn fat depends on many factors, such as how your body is “designed”, your eating lifestyle, hormones, physical activity and others. There is no magic formula to boost your metabolism, however, there are some scientific proven techniques that can help to improve your metabolism and make you more lean and healthy. Let’s dive into these strategies.
Boost your metabolism: Have a healthy relationship with food
This is the number one strategy to keep a healthy metabolism and get best results. I can’t stress enough the importance of eating healthy. As I mentioned before about clean eating, it all comes down to having a balance and making smart food choices. “Dieting” is the worst thing you could actually do to your body, starving yourself thinking that “less is more” is not doing you any good. Now, if you are overeating, then there are several things you can do to improve and eat healthier. This includes distributing your food differently and making switching up food choices to healthier options. Progress is key with small changes.
Here are some specific food guidelines to help boost your metabolism:
Have a regular eating schedule:
One of the most important tips is to try to eat always at the same times. This includes, not skipping any meals. If your regimen has 5 meals, then stick to that. As well, be careful with avoiding breakfast. The most important meal of the day is the one you start with. This will give you all the energy you need and thus, will help you have a regular appetite throughout the day.
Eat more protein foods:
Protein foods take longer to digest, and therefore require more energy from your body. This will help you burn more calories. Plus, another great benefit is that protein foods are more filling and are the main blocks for a lean mass (toned body).
Eat more greens and veggies:
Besides making you feel more full, veggies and greens in general have many antioxidants and fiber that help to burn fat faster than other types of foods. The fiber has a main role in helping your bowel movement and absorbing less fat. Some of the top foods in this group are spinach, and kale, for example.
Get those fermented foods!:
Probiotics and other fermented foods, like ACV are the new trend in getting more fit. Scientists have discovered that the bacteria in these foods are responsible for burning more fat, promoting a better digestion and healthy gut movement. All of this can boost your metabolism. One of my favorite examples is the yogurt.
Add more whole grains and seeds to your list!:
These tiny, yet nutrient-rich foods are another great ally to boost your metabolism. They contain a lot of fiber, which, as mentioned before, makes your bowels move better and burn more energy, plus reduce the amount of bad fat that is absorbed.
Teas and caffeine!
Even though certain controversy was created at first about the consumption of caffeine, studies show that there could be many health benefits related to drinking tea and coffee on a daily basis. Besides making you stay alert and focused, the caffeine in these drinks actually helps to burn fat. I highly recommend that you include green tea and its varieties. Green tea has tons of antioxidants, which can benefit your cardiovascular health, and of course, boost your metabolism.
A healthier version of coffee? Yes… I tried Krios Coffee Brilliance Blend and one of the things I like about it is how it makes me feel energized, without the negative side effects of caffeine. What makes this coffee different from other brands is that it’s infused with vitamins and adaptogens (natural superfood blends) that enhances your focus and memory. Other great benefits include:
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Immune system boosters
- No jitters no energy crash
This is a perfect option for your wellness and fitness goals
Drink a lot of water:
Your body needs about 2L approximately to work right. We have seen that people who drink water more often, control their appetite better and are less addicted to sugary drinks. If you drink more pure water on a regular basis, then you are more prone to control the amount of food you eat and cravings. Plus, staying hydrated is the key to keep your organs working to its best and burning more fat.
The more your water your intake, the more you control your cravings and become more satisfied. Another important fact is, that drinking a lot of water can help you release more toxins from your body. Also, having a better digestion is achieved by drinking enough amounts of water. This substance is involved in the main body functions, therefore, you cannot skip having water regularly if you want to get leaner and fit.
Get enough sleep
Researchers found out that one of the main reasons why people have hard time losing weight is by lacking sleep. Not sleeping enough hours a day not only makes you feel tired, but it also affects your body metabolism as a whole. Sleeping at least hours is key to recover from the day and reset your body’s energy machine. The sleeping cycle is directly related to hormones, blood circulation, mental activity and hunger levels.
Doctors link lack of sleep with increase in blood sugar levels, making people more prone to develop type 2 diabetes. Also, not sleeping enough could affect important hormone cycles. This condition increases the hunger hormone ghrelin and decrease the fullness hormone leptin. This is the main reason why people develop more cravings and look for unhealthy foods the next day. Aim for a better sleeping routine, to boost your metabolism.
Practice appropriate exercise
The new trends in workout include mixed routine. Because we want to maximize fitness results and wellness benefits, experts recommend doing different types of exercises. This depends on your condition, but typically, you should aim for resistance training (cardio) and weight lifting.
Cardio exercises, such as the famously known HIIT training (high intensity interval training) are great for burning fat. These exercises increase your metabolic rate, even when the workout has finished. Studies show that people who practice this new trending way of cardio lose up to more belly fat and waist inches.
Strength training is also needed, to build muscle mass and improve your flexibility. Lifting weights can help you retain muscle while also losing weight and burning fat. Apart from gaining more strength, being lean will help your body naturally boost your metabolism. The idea of strength training is to help you stay toned and not lose your curves or built.
In short,
Boosting your metabolism involves many factors. The most important things to keep in mind are: always aim for a balanced eating, stay hydrated, get enough sleep and don’t leave out exercise. There are no magical shortcuts to gain fitness results nor permanent weight loss, however, you can take small simple steps to achieve your desired results faster than going for fad unhealthy practices. It all comes back to taking care of your body in the proper way. Share this guide and let me know your experiences with your journey. Until then, stay healthy!
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