Here are five ways to naturally speed up your metabolism while also helping you form good habits for weight loss.
Your metabolism is the engine that can help control your weight. Everyone’s metabolism is different, but an efficient, hardworking metabolism can help to give you the results you want. Eating the right foods with consistent timing, paired with the right workout can boost your metabolism.
Here are five ways to to have a supercharged metabolism.
- Eat breakfast
- Eat throughout the day
- Add protein to your meals
- Spice up your food
- Rethink your workout
1. Eat Breakfast
This is the meal most people skip, but it’s the most important meal of the day. It jump-starts your metabolism. Many studies have shown that breakfast eaters tend to weigh less than breakfast skippers.
Remember to eat within 90 minutes of waking up. If you exercise in the morning, have something to eat before your workout like a banana. Then after your workout, have breakfast, as your post exercise meal.
2. Eat Throughout The Day
Like a campfire that needs fire wood to keep burning, your metabolism needs fuel to keep working. Eating every 3-4 hours can control your hunger, while making your metabolism work efficiently. The longer you wait to eat, the slower your metabolism becomes. The more consistent you are, the more likely you are to speed up your metabolism.
3. Add Protein to Your Meals
Your body takes longer to digest and break down protein, so it uses more energy after your meals. Protein timing throughout the day is also beneficial. Protein raises your metabolism by 20-30%. Also, protein helps with increasing muscle mass when you exercise, and increasing muscle mass can boost metabolism.
So make sure to add lean protein options during your meal times. Examples are:
- eggs or Greek yogurt for breakfast
- chicken, fish, beef or tofu during lunch and dinner
4. Spice Up Your Food
The hotter the food, the higher your metabolism. Why? Its due to capsaicin, a phytonutrient found in chili peppers that gives it their unique spicy kick. Capsaicin has been shown to help increase metabolism.
Although the effect is small, overtime, everything adds up. Try adding chili peppers to salsa, salads, or to your other favorite dishes.
5. Rethink Your Workout
Rather than spending hours on the treadmill, running like a hamster on a wheel, include strength training. This includes working with weights, using your own body weight, pilates, or any other exercise that works your muscles. Your muscles are a driving force that keeps your metabolism going.
For more individualized tips to speed up metabolism, explore my weight loss programs.
