Boost Metabolism Before
The Holidays Start!
The sure-fire way to avoid packing on the
pounds
this holiday season is to boost metabolism
before the holidays actually start.
How do you do this?
I'm going to give you a few simple ways.
Exercise!
I know, I know, you're too busy. Instead of exercising for
hours, make your workouts more efficient. Circuit training is a
very effective way to boost metabolism and can be accomplished in just 30
minutes.
In addition, when you're short on time, focus on compound exercises that
use more than one body part. An effective cardiovascular workout can boost
metabolism in just 20 to 30 minutes as well.
Pick an activity that you enjoy - walking, light jogging, dancing, step
class, etc. Get your heart rate up but not too high. You should be breathing
harder than normal but still be able to carry on a conversation.
Eat and Eat Often!
Sounds counter productive but trust me, it's true. To
boost metabolism you have to eat. You should be eating 3 healthy meals and 3
healthy snacks every day. Unfortunately, many of us tend to skip meals when
we are in a rush, and then grab a cookie or pretzel at the mall when our body
finally tells us that it has to have something!
Skipping meals is the worst thing you can do for your metabolism. It
causes your body to go into starvation mode slowing your metabolism to slow down
to a crawl and causing your body to store excess fat instead of burning it off
as fuel.
Supplements, such as meal replacement shakes, are a good option when you
are pressed for time. Just make sure you do some research and choose a good
quality one without excess sugar.
Relax!
You probably think you don't have time to relax, but just
think about this: Stress increases the level of cortisol in our bodies
and that has been found to increase the amount of fat deposited in
our belly region. Nobody needs that!
Try taking a Mind/Body class such as Yoga or Pilates. If you still
think you don't have time for that, at least plant yourself in a quiet room for
a few minutes and practice deep breathing exercises.
Simply breathe in deeply through your nose, allowing your belly to expand with
the inhale, then exhale slowly through your mouth, contracting your abs at the
end. Repeat this a few times, and you'll be amazed at how much calmer you
feel, and it will boost metabolism!
Sleep!
Results from a study by Columbia University in New York found
that those people who get by on less that four hours of sleep a night were 73
percent more likely to be obese than people who sleep seven to nine hours per
night. The study also showed that those who caught only six hours of sleep
were 23 percent more likely to be obese.
So whatever else happens during the day, plan on winding down about 30 minutes
before bedtime, and plan on going to bed early enough to get a solid eight
hours.
Plan, Plan, Plan!
Special occasions offer foods we don't normally indulge in.
The best way to keep from going overboard is to plan ahead. Never go to a
party hungry, eat a healthy snack beforehand. When you do hit the buffet,
choose only a few items for indulgence. Make these treats that you only get
during the holidays, like Grandma's famous chocolate pecan pie.
When you do pick what you want to indulge in, ENJOY IT, eat it slowly,
and savor every bite. Then fill your plate up with healthy stuff like
veggies, fruit, and grilled items to snack on for the rest of the party. If
alcohol is involved in your holiday party, avoid the high calorie drinks like
Egg Nog, and stick with wine.
This is a special time of year, and you should enjoy it. Following these simple
steps will help you boost metabolism while still spending quality time
with your friends and family and indulging in all that the season has to offer.
Happy Holidays!
Hut Allred-
Owner of New Wave Fitness