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If your metabolism isn't working at its full capacity, you can forget about shedding those extra pounds, but just how do you make it kick into action? There are lots of things in life that... |
If your metabolism isn’t working at its full capacity, you can forget about shedding those extra pounds, but just how do you make it kick into action? There are lots of things in life that can make your metabolism work at a less than ideal rate. The aging process slows the metabolism, explaining why most people gain weight as they get older and find it increasingly difficult to lose it. Other factors that can take a toll on your metabolism include stress, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, not getting enough sleep, certain medications and medical conditions like hypothyroidism that directly impact your metabolic rate.
What can you do to change your not so great metabolic picture? There are diet pills out there that claim to be able to turn your metabolism into a fat burning machine, but their impact is limited, and with extended use, they can actually end up slowing your metabolism down even further. The best way to get your metabolism moving is to get moving yourself. Exercise is the quickest way to a better metabolism, and the effects from exercise keep your metabolism burning at a higher rate than any other thing you can do for your body. However, while any exercise is a good thing, there are certain activities you can do that will give your metabolism an extra push along the way.
Hands down, the best exercise for boosting metabolism is strength training. The reason strength training is so great is that it increases muscle – which really gets the metabolism moving. Some experts have speculated that every pound of muscle translates to burning an extra 50 calories an hour, so you can see how increasing the pounds of muscle you have will mean a big increase in metabolism.
Some people, especially women, worry about relying on strength training too much when they’re trying to build their metabolism because they don’t want to look big and ripped, and the good news is you can get the benefits without the biceps. If you don’t a muscular build, use light weights and do many repetitions instead of fewer repetitions with heavier weights. Eating a diet that is lighter in protein will also discourage large muscle building.
As great as strength training is for kicking your metabolism into shape, when it is coupled with cardio exercise, the formula takes your metabolism through the roof. You don’t have to do long, endless cardio routines to get the benefits, however. In fact, all you may need is 10 minutes. Some diet and sports medicine research has shown that going as hard as you can at cardio for 10 minutes is the best metabolic boost – far better than two hours at an easy pace. If ten minutes at full tilt is too much for you, you can break it down into smaller segments – even one minute segments – and still reap the rewards.
When your metabolism needs a wake up call, look to your exercise plan to get it back into gear. With a manageable amount of physical activity, you can see big rewards on the scale.
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