Did you know that the average American gains 7-10lbs between Thanksgiving and New Years? That's approximately 35,000 excess calories all in a matter of weeks! This holiday weight can usually be attributed to plentiful holiday treats, family gatherings, busy schedules and and eating on the run. Although, using discretion about what you eat is always advised, maximizing your metabolism is another great way to help fight off the inevitable excess calories.
Your metabolism is a process of chemical reactions that your body uses in order to utilize the fuel in your body (ie: calories and fat). Your metabolism is functioning all the time, even while you rest. The higher your metabolism the less weight you gain and the more weight you loose. Here are several ways for you to get your metabolism working for you.
Exercise:
Exercise is the single most effective thing that you can do to increase your metabolic rate. When you are engaged in physical activity such as washing your car, walking, taking the stairs, or exercise, your body revs up its metabolic rate. This increase in metabolic rate can last hours even after the activity is over. Although even simple activities such as unloading the dishwasher or gardening can have a positive impact on your metabolism, for maximum benefit it is recommended that you engage in at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity 5 days per week. Studies show that interval training during exercise even further increases your metabolic potential by up to 30%. For example, for a 30 minute exercise session, do a warm up for 3 minutes, then push yourself to the maximum for 1 minute, then go easy for one minute. Repeat this throughout your workout. This type of training will give you the best results. Adding in weight training routine to your workout will also increase your metabolism as well. Every pound of muscle burns an extra 50 calories.
Eat!
Depriving your body of adequate caloric intake actually has a negative effect on your metabolism. When you don't take in enough calories, your body goes in to starvation mode. This means that it slows your metabolism way down to conserve energy. To avoid this affect, eat regular, balanced meals. Also, eating smaller, more frequent meals helps to avoid peaks/troughs in your blood sugar, which triggers overeating as well. Try eating 6 "mini" meals, rather than 3 large ones.
Sleep Well
The average adult needs between 7-10 hours of sleep per day. Studies show that if you don't meet your body's sleep requirements, it can actually alter the hormone levels that control your metabolism and appetite. Thus, getting enough sleep will help you maintain a healthy metabolic rate.
Green Tea
Green tea contains a polyphenos called EGCG, which one study showed that has been shown in studies to increase the body's metabolism. Try swapping out your daily cup of coffee for green tea.
Your metabolism is a process of chemical reactions that your body uses in order to utilize the fuel in your body (ie: calories and fat). Your metabolism is functioning all the time, even while you rest. The higher your metabolism the less weight you gain and the more weight you loose. Here are several ways for you to get your metabolism working for you.
Exercise:
Exercise is the single most effective thing that you can do to increase your metabolic rate. When you are engaged in physical activity such as washing your car, walking, taking the stairs, or exercise, your body revs up its metabolic rate. This increase in metabolic rate can last hours even after the activity is over. Although even simple activities such as unloading the dishwasher or gardening can have a positive impact on your metabolism, for maximum benefit it is recommended that you engage in at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity 5 days per week. Studies show that interval training during exercise even further increases your metabolic potential by up to 30%. For example, for a 30 minute exercise session, do a warm up for 3 minutes, then push yourself to the maximum for 1 minute, then go easy for one minute. Repeat this throughout your workout. This type of training will give you the best results. Adding in weight training routine to your workout will also increase your metabolism as well. Every pound of muscle burns an extra 50 calories.
Eat!
Depriving your body of adequate caloric intake actually has a negative effect on your metabolism. When you don't take in enough calories, your body goes in to starvation mode. This means that it slows your metabolism way down to conserve energy. To avoid this affect, eat regular, balanced meals. Also, eating smaller, more frequent meals helps to avoid peaks/troughs in your blood sugar, which triggers overeating as well. Try eating 6 "mini" meals, rather than 3 large ones.
Sleep Well
The average adult needs between 7-10 hours of sleep per day. Studies show that if you don't meet your body's sleep requirements, it can actually alter the hormone levels that control your metabolism and appetite. Thus, getting enough sleep will help you maintain a healthy metabolic rate.
Green Tea
Green tea contains a polyphenos called EGCG, which one study showed that has been shown in studies to increase the body's metabolism. Try swapping out your daily cup of coffee for green tea.