How to supercharge your metabolism

Fitness and metabolism, the two go hand in hand usually. You might have taken advantage of some fitness club offers recently but you're still struggling to lose weight. 

What exactly is your metabolism first of all? It’s a word that gets thrown about all the time but how many people really know what it is?

According to the mayoclinic.org the metabolism is ‘the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex biochemical process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function.’ So in a nutshell your metabolism is responsible for how your body burns and uses calories. 

Often when many people struggle with their weight or hit a weight loss plateau their metabolism is to blame. A common question I get asked is ‘How do I speed up my metabolism?’ The good news is that there are a number of different things you can do to SUPERCHARGE it.

Get moving! 

If you have googled ‘fitness centre near me’ you are probably spoilt for choice when it comes to gyms and ladies gyms in Abu Dhabi, Keep that inner fire burning by moving and exercising regularly! This is the best way to get your metabolism going! But why is this? Well, the more lean muscle you have, the more calories you burn all day. Your muscles require energy even when you are resting, it's when you rest they get the chance to grow and heal don’t forget!

Exercising regularly, be it at home, at a fitness centre near you, or a ladies gym Abu Dhabi, can help to prevent the natural metabolic slowdown in the human body that can start as early as your late twenties - scary huh! So really there’s no time like the present to get active! Mix up your workouts and get in a nice mixture of strength training and aerobic activity to burn calories, build muscle and keep your heart healthy. 

Try aerobic training!

When your heart rate is elevated to the 55%+ zone, provided it doesn’t enter into the realms of the 80% territory, what the body will essentially do is burn fat for energy as opposed to relying on the muscles to power it through the activity being performed.

This makes it a highly effective weight loss method and due to its accessibility in terms of how it can be performed, that makes for one seriously useful form of exercise. There are several other fantastic benefits to performing aerobic activity other than burning fat too, it’s genuinely fantastic for your every day fitness and keeping the heart and respiratory system fit and healthy. 

Most everyday activity could be described as aerobic in nature due to the fact that walking, lifting and generally plodding along through the stresses and strains of modern life is generally low impact and sustainable. It doesn’t matter if it's walking to a bus stop or walking the dog, performing regular aerobic exercise will seriously help with your ability to perform these activities and allow you to cruise through life in an effortless (well, close to effortless!) style.

You might be wondering how doing more physical activity is going to make doing other physical activity easier, as you’re possibly thinking “but won't I just be MORE tired?” but this couldn’t be further from the truth! In actual fact, you can train the respiratory system and heart like you can train any other muscle group, making them stronger and more effective! The old adage “use it or lose it” couldn’t be truer than it is here, and you’ll reap immediate health benefits if you schedule in some regular aerobic activity. Want to live longer? This will assist you! A healthy heart is going to last longer after all.

Never skip breakfast! 

Skipping breakfast is one of the worst things you can do for your metabolism. Your levels of cortisol are at your highest when you wake in the morning. Cortisol helps the body use sugar (glucose) and fat for energy so when you eat in the morning your body pretty much chucks the food straight into the furnace to burn! 

What’s more is that when you eat your morning meal, your body is ready and waiting to turn those calories into muscle ASAP. Use this wonderful little metabolic window to your full advantage by eating a healthy, protein rich breakfast such as oats and whey, scrambled eggs & whole-wheat bread. 

Not forgetting too that morning munchies that are slower to digest will leave you feeling fuller longer!

Drink, drink DRINK

Water that is not alcohol! Every chemical process in your body requires water so if there’s a lack of water then these processes will slow down, including your metabolism. Various studies have found time and time again that those who drink 8 to 12 eight-ounce glasses of water every single day had higher metabolic rates than those who didn’t drink enough. 

What’s more is that if you drink nice cold water your body may have to burn a few more calories heating the cold water to your core temperature. Making it a habit will have some lasting effects. Drink as much as you can to feel more alert and enjoy better metabolic function. 

Glorious green tea

One of nature’s natural elixirs, green tea really is glorious! If you haven’t been drinking it already then now is the time to start. A cup of green tea contains a beneficial plant compound called ECGC. ECGC is notorious for promoting fat burning. There have been many studies demonstrating the effectiveness of this beneficial compound as part of a weight loss structure.  

What’s more is that consuming two to four cups of green tea per day can burn an extra 50 calories, over the space of a year that translates into roughly 5lbs so it all adds up! Not bad for a cup of tea huh? Make sure your morning cuppa is green! These small but mighty tips when combined will supercharge your metabolic function and lead to drastic changes in your ability to shred through body fat and go through your everyday life with optimum energy and vitality levels.

Luckily, these changes are all really easy to make – it’s not rocket science, but it WILL all work.

Supercharge your metabolism today!