Lighten Up

As we age, several factors contribute to our metabolism slowing down. Here are a few ways to rev it back up!

1. Eat in the morning - Think of your body’s metabolism as a fire. You want to start it with a good long burning foundation first thing and feed it frequently with good burning fuel to keep it going steady and strong. Eating breakfast is a must for jump starting your fire in the morning. Without it, your body will likely slow down its fuel burning in an effort to save calories. Even if you just eat a banana or a cereal bar, try to eat something.
2. Eat enough - If you cut back on calories too drastically, your body will go into caveman mode and think you need to stockpile calories. You want to shoot for your recommended daily calorie intake (just click here) and try to distribute that evenly throughout the day. If you can, try to split it into 4-5 meals. At the very least, eat 3 times a day. That will keep your fire burning hot and steady.
3. Sleep enough - When your body gets enough sleep, which is usually close to 8 hours, it runs more efficiently. You will also have fewer late afternoon sweet cravings when you get enough rest.
4. Supplement caffeine - Caffeine can speed up your metabolism for several hours after ingesting it, so if you aren’t already drinking a morning cup of joe, you should really consider adding it to your routine.
5. Eat fiber - Fiber can help your body burn fat; so aim for at least 25 grams a day, or take a fiber supplement
6. Lift weights - The more muscle mass you have, the higher your resting metabolism will be, so any definition and tone you can add to any muscle in your body will help rev up your metabolism.
7. Add more protein to your diet - The protein will help your body build and repair muscle more quickly for those weight sessions you’ll be having. You can easily add more protein with a shake or supplement.

So again, think of fueling the fire throughout the day and make sure to work on building lean muscle. In a few weeks, you should really begin to feel more energized and start seeing results.