Ever feel like your metabolism is stuck and never going to work for you again? I have good news…you can change that! Before we get on to our metabolism-pumping secrets, let’s remember that your metabolism is like a bonfire. It can be a little fire or a big fire, but there are some principles that come with keeping all fires burning…and your metabolism on a move! 

 

Bring on breakfast.   The building blocks of your metabolism are fuel, and the first fuel you get in the day is breakfast. Breakfast will jumpstart your day. So many of us think that if we skip breakfast, we will eat less food and calories, and that in turn will help us lose weight. If you use that logic, stop it now! You are robbing your body of its most important meal of the day. Skipping breakfast will make your body go on strike and hold onto all stores of fat, because it doesn’t know when it will get its next meal. A good breakfast option would include protein and fiber. Protein will give you energy, and fiber will keep you full and make that energy last all morning. Remember, if your metabolism is a bonfire, you’ve got to fuel it or it will fade out!  

 

Build muscle. If you want to move that metabolism, you need to do some muscle-building exercise. Putting a little muscle on your body will send your energy through the roof! Here’s the reason: muscle is always burning energy, always breathing, always needing nutrients, always consuming calories…even at rest! Fat on the other hand, just sits there making us more tired and pulling our metabolism down further. The most efficient way to build muscle is to start doing resistance training, also known as weightlifting. Aerobic exercise is good for working the heart muscle as well as the lung capacity, but an anaerobic exercise (weightlifting), is going to be what really builds muscle on your periphery. The benefits of building muscle are endless! It betters your posture, reduces the risk of falls and injury, helps prevent bone loss, improves insulin sensitivity, burns calories and changes your shape! How to get started? Begin with large soup cans or inexpensive 5 – 8 pound hand weights. Do strengthening exercises three times a week while you’re watching television. Begin by doing three sets of eight exercises, resting for one minute between each exercise. You’ll start to notice muscle develop, and in a short amount of time, you will increase the amount of weight you lift as your muscles grow stronger. Remember, muscle burns fat, so put all that protein to work and build some muscle! 

 

Water. Water keeps everything in your body running properly. Even with slight dehydration you may feel sluggish or unable to think properly. Forget about operating at your peak performance. Water has many functions inside your body: essential for digesting food, absorbing and utilizing nutrients, regulates blood pressure, helps prevent constipation, regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, carries nutrients and oxygen to every cell, moistens tissues such as those in the nose, eyes, and mouth, and lessens the burden on the liver and kidneys by flushing out toxins and wastes. Hydrating yourself well is an instant way to get a boost. When you start to feel the 3 pm afternoon slump, sip down a big glass of ice water. You’ll feel rejuvenated instantly. Your body is mostly water, so guzzle this metabolism-moving drink!  

 

Choose the Right Kind of Fuel and Fuel Often. Most of us know that heavily processed food (aka junk food) is not good for us, but here is one of the main reasons: junk food is not the preferred source of fuel your body desires to run on. It would be like giving your car the wrong kind of fuel, and then expecting it to perform for you. Your body will still be craving true fuel filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. If you keep giving your body junk food, pretty soon it won’t operate for you at all. Also remember that our bonfire needs to be fueled every few hours…with the RIGHT kind of fuel! Think about it: if you don’t fuel that fire at all, it will fade, but if you throw a bunch of fuel on it at once, you’ll snuff it out completely. The trick is to add a little bit at a time. And your body works this way, too. Fill up on heavy food, and you will feel sluggish for the rest of the day. Your metabolism can only handle so much “fuel” at one time. It will use some to energize your body, and then the rest will get stored…as fat. Instead, eat well, filling up on protein foods, veggies, and whatever else your doctor has included in your plan. Keep that fire burning and your metabolism on a mission to make you healthy! 

 

Remember, when it comes to metabolism, if you don’t fuel it, you’ll lose it!