How to Boost Your Metabolism

The key to weight loss success is a healthy metabolism. If you are struggling to lose weight, the very things you have been doing to slim your waist may actually be helping to make you heavier. This article will tell you what to do to increase your metabolism and burn calories faster than ever before.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Music
• Healthy snacks
• Breakfast
• Walks
• Non alcoholic drinks
• Weights

1. 
    
   Breakfast

   Always eat breakfast. In a hectic world it is easy to skip breakfast in lieu of a cappuccino or coffee. This can actually slow your metabolism. Eating a healthy breakfast, such as oatmeal, can really help to get your metabolism off to a great start.

2. 
    
   Calories

   Never eat less than 1200 calories a day. If you consume less than this amount in a day, your body will go into starvation mode and begin hoarding calories turning sugar into fat. Your metabolism will slow way down. I believe this is one of the biggest reason why most diets fail.

3. 
    
   Healthy snacks

   Snack often. It may seem strange if you are used to restricting your diet to lose weight. Actually, if you choose healthy foods and snack on them every two to three hours, your metabolism will gain momentum and begin burning calories at a faster pace.

4. 
    
   Walk daily

   Walk daily for fifteen to thirty minutes. This is a great habit to get into. The exercise helps to boost your metabolism and keeps your body in good shape.

5. 
    
   Aerobic exercise

   Do some type of aerobic exercise every day. Do not overwhelm yourself by thinking you have to work out for one or two hours a day. Just get at least fifteen to thirty minutes of physical activity a day. Cleaning the house at a fast pace, dancing to your favorite CD, or playing with the kids are all great ways to get that aerobic exercise.

6. 
    
   Weight training

   Do weight training three times a week. This will build lean muscle mass that helps burn fat and in turn, increase your metabolism.

7. 
    
   Avoid alchohol

   Avoid alcohol. It increases your appetite and decreases your metabolism.

[BDPrather]

on 1/18/2009 Concise article about the steps toward increasing metabolism. I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for real answers. Rated 5*

[mosaicmom]

on 1/16/2009 A good article on boosting metabolism, wish I didn't have so much muscle and joint pain, exercise really hurts now.

[kellysgallery]

on 12/29/2008 ALL True. Thanks for the reminders!

[NakedWriter]

on 12/28/2008 great article. The older we get the more that metabolism slows! NW

[maryellen1001]

on 12/24/2008 Great advice. The breakfast tip is extrememly true!