We’ve all heard the excuse from people who are carrying around a little extra weight: it’s my metabolism!
But can this be true? Can difficulty losing weight really be due to a slower-than-average metabolism? And are there legit ways to get a faster metabolism?
Yes! Here are some medically-proven tips to speed up your metabolism:
Doing regular aerobic workouts will burn more calories in the short term, and doing regular weight training will help you build the muscles you need to boost your metabolism in the long run. This is because muscles burn more calories than fat — one pound of muscle burns 35 calories per day, while one pound of fat only burns 2 calories per day.
A small percentage of us with slower-than-normal metabolisms have thyroid problems, which can also be hereditary. If you’re just not able to regulate your metabolism, ask your doctor if your thyroid might be an issue.
Heredity plays a big role in how fast or slow your body makes and uses energy, so be reasonable. Don’t expect to be able to make big changes.
Eating red peppers with a high-protein snack, rather than one that’s loaded with carbs, will give your metabolism a boost. In fact, eating at all will kick your metabolism up a bit for a little while. The effects of the red peppers, or any spicy food, are relatively brief, about half an hour or so.
Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a chemical that can rev up your metabolism much the same way red peppers do.
Eating five small meals a day, rather than two or three big meals, will boost your metabolism. Waiting hours between large meals actually slows your metabolism down… and your body will want to hold onto every calorie.
It’s very easy to re-gain weight you lose once you stop watching what you eat. That’s because your body will naturally slow down once you lose weight. So if you have lost weight, make sure to maintain your healthy eating habits, or your metabolism will yo-yo along with your weight!
As we age, our metabolisms tend to slow down a little, so be prepared to slow down about 5% every decade after the age of forty.
Have you ever wondered why it’s so easy to lose weight at first, but after those first few weeks or months, you stop dropping the weight so fast? It’s because heavier people have faster metabolisms. So it’s a better idea to maintain a healthy, moderate weight, with a slower, fitter resting heart rate, rather than gain weight and take it off, up and down all the time.
Yes, you can do things to make your metabolism run faster, and use it to maintain a healthy weight. I love the idea that spicy foods are helping boost my metabolism, even if it is only for half an hour!
Do you have any secrets to share about how you’ve boosted your metabolism? Or any metabolism myths to dispel? Please share! We need to know what works, and what doesn’t!
Photo Credit: flickr.com
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