Header Graphic
Health and Fitness Articles Links
 

Incredible 7 Steps To Improving Your Metabolism And Loosing Weight

After a tiring day at work how do you like to relax?

A) With a book and some snacks lazing around in bed

B) Watching Television with a beer bottle in hand

C) I am dead to the world and all I do is go to sleep

D) The life just begins after 9-5 office hours.

If you have selected option A, B or C then in all probability you are struggling with weight issues and suffer from slow metabolic rate. Improving your metabolism makes you energetic and fit.

Before dwelling on the ways and means of improving your metabolism, let us understand what this term actually means. Metabolism refers to the release of useful energy after the food has been digested by our body. Faster the metabolic rate, more is the energy released and faster our body able to burn these calories helping us to maintain our weight.

So if you are obese and feel sluggish all throughout the day following these simple steps can go a long way in improving your metabolism and making you healthy:

  • Best way to improve your metabolism and also to cleanse your digestive systems is to eat healthy balanced diet rich in fibre and anti-oxidant fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables take less time to digest and provide necessary roughage which helps in improving your metabolism.Also consume minimum 2-3 litres of water everyday as it will help to keep your body hydrated besides flushing out harmful toxins.

Replaces your daily intake of colas and caffeine with this amazing zero calorie drink that will also fill up your stomach and also assist in weight loss.

  • If you are serious about improving your metabolism then the key point to be kept in mind is you should never miss your breakfast. Rules for improving metabolism insists, eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a common man and dinner like a pauper. Instead of eating one heavy meal, divide your food into 3 main meals and 2 snacks at regular interval.

Also remember that you have a low fat, low carbohydrate, protein rich diet that will improve your metabolic rate drastically. Results show that skipping meals can actually slow your metabolic process leading to weight gain. So step number two to improve your metabolism includes eating 4-5 balanced meals throughout the day with a heavy breakfast.

  • Rule number three, remember that not all fats are bad, You need to clearly understand that fat forms an essential part of a balanced diet and skipping them altogether will hamper your metabolic rate. So make a clear distinction between the good and the bad fats. Trans fats are to be totally avoided, instead include natural fats that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which helps in improving your metabolism. So say no to chips and burgers but say yes to walnuts, flex seeds , olive oil and yummy all natural peanut butter which will surely help you to improve your metabolic rate. Say yes to healthy fats
  • Regular exercising or any activity that helps you in increasing your heartbeat will surely assist you in improving your metabolism. The best way to increase your metabolism is to do ant cardio activity five to six times a week for 30 minutes. The best time for work outs are early morning on empty stomach that speeds up your metabolic process or late in the evening going for a walk post dinner that will help you burn more calories while you are sleeping. Select an activity of your own choice, be it sports, aerobics, walking or swimming or choose a combination of two that will aid in weight loss without making you feel bored.
  • Include a session of weight training along with your daily cardio workouts. Contrary to popular belief that weight trainings are needed by only body builder, a 20 minute weight session will help you in toning up your body and add to your lean muscles thereby improving your metabolic rate.
  • If you have a hectic professional life which leaves little time for gym daily then you should certainly try HIIT of high intensity interval training. This short duration high intensity workout needs to be done 3 times a week for about 45 minutes and will give you metabolism a much needed jolt.  In this 45 minutes workout you need to alternate between high speed and low speed cardio workouts which will tremendously improve your metabolic rate and will let you see and enjoy instant results.
  • Beside hectic workouts your body also needs proper rest. Research suggests that a person who enjoys 8 hours of sleep is more likely to loose weight then persons who sleep less than 5 hours a day. Therefore proper rest is also essential in improving your metabolic rate. Remember you should not over exert your body. In case you pull out some muscle during workout then take a rest for a day before resuming your cardio activity.

If you want to improve your metabolic rate keep in mind that fatty high calorie food is your biggest enemy, laziness is the best buddy of fat food and will do nothing to improve your weight loss effort. Pull up your socks, get a diet plan from an expert nutritionist, start with cardio workout and notice tremendous improvement in your energy levels.