Whether you are looking to burn fat or gain lean muscle follow these tips to naturally boost your metabolism. Stay consistent and you will start to see the results in as little as 2 weeks.
Eat enough of the right foods- Focus on eating whole, nutrient dense food. Make sure you are eating lean protein, plenty of veggies and fruits. Steer clear of processed foods that offer no nutrients, they are bad for your waistline and metabolism.
Eat your breakfast- Start off your day right and eat a well rounded breakfast: eggs scrambled with your favorite veggies on a piece of sprouted grain toast and some fresh berries. This sets you up for a successful day. Also, down one glass of ice cold water before your first bite.
Eat throughout the day- Make sure you have 3 meals and at least two snacks planned for the day. Eating at regular intervals, every 3-4 hours, keeps your metabolism burning and will ensure that your body doesn’t break down that hard earned muscle for energy.
Lift weights- Lifting weights helps to build lean muscle. Lean muscle takes more energy to maintain than fat, and for every pound of lean muscle you build your body will rev up your metabolism to maintain that muscle. Challenge yourself beyond those 3 and 5 pounds and watch your body change!
Add HIIT to your workouts- High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is adding short bursts of high intensity moves, like sprints or jump squats to your low intensity steady state workouts, like weight lifting. This gets your heart rate up and then forces your body to recover many times during your workout. The benefits continue even after your workout is over, you burn more fat and calories for up to 24 hours.
Stay hydrated- At a minimum you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces. For example a 150 pound woman should at least drink 75 ounces daily. Add don’t forget to drink extra during your workouts!
Angelena is a mom, healthy living blogger at On Fire Fitness Healthy Living (www.OnFireFitnesspt.com), an NASM Certified Personal trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Her goal is to inspire others to take the steps to living a healthy lifestyle. Visit Angelena on Facebook and Twitter.