Speed Up Your Metabolism
So you have been working out but haven’t seen enough results? Perhaps what you need is a good metabolic boost. And you can do that by making a few simple changes in what and how you eat. Add that you to your workout routine and you’ll be slimming down in no time.
First, increase your protein. One study found that subjects who increased the percentage of protein-based calories in their diets burned 71 more calories a day than those on low-protein diets. Why is that? Protein takes more energy to metabolize than other food sources. So increase your metabolism with protein-packed snacks, like almonds, cheese, and focus your lunch and dinner around legumes, lean meats, tuna, or salmon.
Then, eat more often to keep your metabolism revved. Enjoy mini -meals throughout the day like a cup of yogurt with fresh fruit or almonds at 10:30 a.m., and a hard-boiled egg or hummus with vegetables around 3 p.m. But eat smaller portions and never super size.
Drink your green tea. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Those catechins, the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, are known to increase metabolism. So skip the Lipton and steep 1 teaspoon of loose green-tea leaves in hot water for 4 minutes and enjoy the slim waistline you’ll get from it
Get spicy. Numerous studies have shown that adding spices like chili powder and cayenne to your foods can increase your metabolism.
Use small bowls and spoons and drink tall. Not only will you serve yourself less food, you’ll eat less. Researchers have found that a set of graduate student subjects ate 59% more Chex Mix from large bowls than those who served themselves from smaller bowls. Also, our brains estimate height differently than width so we tend to pour more into a short, squat glass than a tall, narrow one, despite their same volume capacity.
