Metabolism

I hear people say that as we get older our metabolism slows down and we start gaining weight, but I just don’t buy this belief. You would always hear menopause was the end of a trim waistline, and we might as well just throw in the towel. I have always thought there are other contributing factors to this belief; we slow down as we get older, we are not as active and even though our resting metabolism doesn’t change between the ages of 20 to 60, the way we live does.

We become moms, work an office job, sit at our desks, drive around all day – so how much are we really moving compared to our younger years? We need to learn to take responsibility of our actions. The good news is that once you realize this, we can make positive changes in our lives that will keep us looking and feeling younger. Here are my favorite tips to help you:

Move More and More Frequently
Walk, run, take the stairs, get up and do some jumping squats, walk the dog longer, just do something extra than what you have been regularly doing. Life has become so perfect for the lazy, we don’t ever have to leave our house, we can order in, shop online, have groceries delivered to us, it has made us much more sedentary. Do a HIT workout which has been shown to boost metabolism big time, mix it up, add some sprints to your run or a fast walk to your regular walk.

Lift heavy weights, Stretch and Yoga
Women are scared to lift heavy, we immediately think bulky muscles, but the truth is that we don’t have the testosterone to produce that type of muscle mass. Not only will it help increase muscle mass, keep our bones healthier and stronger but it will increase our metabolism. A trainer explained it to me this way: when you run, you stop burning calories immediately after the run. When you lift weights, you will keep burning calories for 24 hours after your workout. You increase muscle mass, and this improves metabolism.

Trick Your Body
Step out of your routine and what you are used to doing. If you walk, then maybe try jogging if you jog try running and sprints. Vary your movement every day, your body gets use to doing the same thing repeatedly. Surprise it!

Sleep, Protein and Drink More Water
Combining these three not only will make you feel better, but you will be healthier and burn calories throughout the day. Good quality sleep increases metabolism, you feel more energetic, and you make healthier food choices. Protein takes longer to digest so it keeps you feeling fuller longer. Choose healthy proteins and drink more water! It has been shown to increase metabolism and keep you hydrated throughout the day.