If you're determined to lose weight and keep it off, you know it's going to take time. However, there is one healthy way to speed up your weight loss: By naturally kicking your metabolism into high gear. With these tips you can speed up the weight loss process without compromising your long-term goals.
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This post was originally published on September 12, 2013.
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Start your day off right by always eating breakfast.
This gives your metabolism a kick start first thing in the morning. Obviously, this doesn't mean a jelly donut. The way we eat is often the opposite of what is best for our body. We start the day with refined carbohydrates that cause a crash by mid-morning. Then we eat protein late in the evening right before we go to bed.
Don't be afraid to experiment.
Eat some protein for breakfast with a healthy fat and a complex carbohydrate. Have a slice of turkey and avocado on some whole grain bread. Oatmeal with a little fruit is also good. These foods won't spike your sugar level so you won't crash in an hour or two. They digest slowly so you'll feel full longer.
Drink lots of cold water.
Staying hydrated provides a host of health benefits. Drinking cold water means your body burns a few calories heating it to your body temperature. Make sure you get your 8 to 12 glasses of water every day. It will help you feel full and keep your metabolism going strong.
Spice up your life with some hot chili peppers.
Eating a tablespoon of chopped red peppers can boost your metabolism up to 23 percent. Sprinkle a few on your salad or into a homemade salsa.
Eat your veggies.
Especially dark green leafy vegetables such as bok choy and spinach. These help increase your iron intake which is extra important during your monthly periods.
Don't forget about Omega-3 fatty acids.
Fish oil capsules combined with exercise help to get your fat burning enzymes working harder. Eating fish like salmon and tuna that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids help do the same thing.
Exercise is so important.
Exercise is necessary to boost your metabolism and keep it going strong. Instead of long, steady cardio workouts use some interval training techniques. Do short cycles of intense training such as jogging quickly on a treadmill for two minutes and then slowing down to walk for one minute. The intense bouts of intense exercise will send your metabolism into overdrive.
And sleep is even more important!
Another important factor is to get your eight hours of sleep every night. When you don't get enough sleep your levels of leptin and ghrelin, which regulate your hunger and energy are thrown out of balance. So don't skimp on sleep.
Avoid trying to increase your metabolism with coffee or other caffeinated drinks.
Though this may give you a temporary boost; you'll crash in an hour. This does nothing to increase your metabolism long term and causes other health problems.
