It can be exhausting to count every calorie we eat, and still not lose weight! But what can we do?!
Yes, there are certain factors like age, gender, lifestyle, activity level, and so forth that have an impact on our metabolism.
But the fact is that no matter who we are, there are certain things we can do to boost our metabolism.
By boosting the metabolism, it just makes it a bit easier to shake off those kilograms and takes away a bit of the calorie-counting stress.
What Is Metabolism?
A very simple explanation for metabolism is the process of breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to produce energy for whatever activity you need to perform. The speed of your metabolism is influenced by the number of calories you consume and the number of calories you burn.
How can you increase your metabolism?
First things first, genetics plays a big role and there is not much we can do about that. Age also plays a big role, and the general rule is that the older you are, the slower your metabolism becomes. But furthermore, here are a few simple tricks that may help you get that much needed metabolic boost that you need:
Do weight/resistance training
It has been shown that building 2.5kg to 5kg of lean muscle mass will boost your resting metabolism by roughly 100 calories, each day. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym, just get yourself some light to medium weight dumbbells that you can even use while watching TV. Alternatively, you can do body-weight training exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, tricep dips, and planks.
The interval burn
The calories you burn during exercise is one thing, but being able to continue burning calories after exercise is even better! Try interval training by alternating 3 minutes of moderate exercise (running or cycling) with 30 seconds of full-out sprints. This means you will still be burning calories on the way home and even when you are already on the couch!
Get enough sleep
Neglecting a good night’s rest is a great way to slow down your metabolism. That is why it is important to make sure that you get enough, proper sleep. 7-8 hours of undisturbed sleep can do wonders for your weight-loss efforts, and also make you a much more pleasant person the next morning!
Eat often
Eating a meal or snack every 3-4 hours is a great way to keep your metabolism going. This will help you feed your muscle and starve your fat. It also helps prevents your body from going into “starvation mode” where it stores fat instead of using it for energy. BUT make sure that you are eating healthy meals and snacks. It will be of no benefit whatsoever if you are snacking on chips and chocolates.
Eat right
If you thought there was a catch with the previous point, you were right. It won’t do any good if you eat 7 pies a day. You need to make sure that you are eating healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks with plenty of protein and fibre. Try to stay away from carbohydrates, especially refined carbs. Follow the Manna Diet in the FREE e-book for a healthy diet, menu plan and recipes.