How to Boost Your Metabolism

Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) your body burns to maintain itself. Whether you are eating, drinking, sleeping, whatever, your body is constantly burning calories to keep you going.

As we get older, our metabolism slows down, which is not what we want to have happen. That means that we need to do certain things to keep it boosted so that our bodies are constantly burning calories and fat!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure to eat 5-6 meals per day, spacing them about 2.5-3 hours apart. This keeps your body fueled and energized and keeps you burning calories all day long. Make sure you are eating at least 1400 calories or more, or your body will start to feed off of your muscle instead of the fat on your body. Your body needs fuel for energy and every day life, so give it some!

2. Make sure to add interval training 3x per week. What is interval training? Interval training is short bursts of high intensity exercise followed by low intensity exercise. Here is an example using a treadmill:
   
   Warm up at speed of 3.0 for 2-3 minutes. Run/Walk at high intensity
   (around 5.0-6.0) for 30 seconds, followed by low intensity (3.5) for 60 seconds. Repeat this up to 6 times, then cool down at 3.0 for 5 minutes. This is a quick, fat burning, metabolism boosting workout!

3. Make sure to add strength training 3x per week. Strength training helps to build muscle, which replaces the fat and helps your body to burn calories more effectively. A good strength training workout will keep your body burning calories for hours after you have finished!

Tips & Warnings

• By following these tips, you will not only be a fat burning machine, but will live a longer, stronger, healthier life!

Resources

• Women's Diet and Fitness

[Delaplane]

on 4/17/2009 Great advice on how to increase your metabolism.

[acole]

on 7/29/2008 Great, great tips! I needed this, thanks!