Boost Your Metabolism

Boost Your Metabolism

Have you found that your once slightly snug jeans are now impossible to zip? Do you pore through fitness articles looking for the one cure-all exercise move or perfect diet? As you age, your metabolism slows down and it becomes harder to lose weight and stay in shape. One of the best benefits of physical fitness is that it will boost metabolism. Here are some fitness tips to help you whip your metabolism into shape:

• Aerobic exercise makes your heart to pump faster and kick starts your metabolism. If you are just beginning a fitness routine, try to factor in at least 30 minutes of cardio four to five times a week.
  
• Muscles burn more calories than fat. The more muscle you have, the greater your metabolic rate will be. Make time for a regular weight training session in your workout routine. Although aerobic exercise burns more calories than weight training, weight training has a longer lasting effect on your metabolism. You will continue to burn calories for a few extra hours after you do a weight work out.
  
• Eat more often. Studies show that people who eat five small meals a day as oppose to three large meals a day have a faster metabolism because it keeps their metabolism in high gear, helping them burn more calories overall. Keep low-calorie, high-protein snacks, such as almonds, cottage cheese and tofu, at hand.
  
• Do not rely on cutting calories alone to lose weight. When you cut calories your body becomes accustomed to operating with less energy. If you cut too many calories, your body will go into starvation mode and therefore conserves calories rather than burns them. A healthy lifestyle includes exercise, so if you want to lose weight you need to incorporate a regular fitness routine into your everyday life.