Boosting your metabolism is a key factor in achieving weight loss and maintaining overall health. Your metabolism determines how efficiently your body burns calories for energy, and small changes in your daily routine can make a significant difference. From adding certain foods into your diet to staying active, there are simple, science-backed strategies that can help rev up your metabolic rate.
Lea Dombrowski, a holistic health coach, recently shared three easy steps you should take if you want to boost your metabolism and lose weight sustainably. According to her, eating enough food, building muscle, and moving more are the ones she suggests. Read on to learn more.
1. Eat Enough Food
While you may think that eating less can lead to weight loss, the opposite may hold true for healthy fat loss! Eating enough food boosts your metabolism by ensuring your body has the energy it needs to function optimally. When you consume an adequate amount of calories, especially from nutrient-dense foods, your body avoids going into “starvation mode.”
Lea says, "The #1 culprit behind a sluggish metabolism? Not eating enough! Your body needs fuel to function properly. Eating enough for YOUR body is essential for weight loss and overall health."
2. Build Muscle
Did you know that each pound of muscle burns about 6-10 calories a day? Compared to fat, which burns only about 2-3 calories. This makes muscle a calorie-burning powerhouse.
"Strength training is a game-changer! Lifting heavy weights 3-5 times a week doesn’t just help you tone up—it revs up your metabolism too. Muscle burns more calories, even at rest," she notes.
3. Move More Daily
Activities like walking, taking the stairs, or stretching contribute to non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), which is the energy you can burn for everything that isn’t sleeping, eating, or formal exercise. Boosting NEAT can help your body and health in a positive way over time.
"A sedentary lifestyle slows everything down. Get up and move! Take more steps, choose the stairs, and make small movements throughout the day—they add up," she states.
