How to Increase Your Metabolism

- Make sure when you hop out of bed to eat a good breakfast EVERY SINGLE DAY! When you don’t, your body goes into starvation mode, so your metabolism slows to a crawl to conserve energy.Remember the heartier your first meal is, the better!

- Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system by increasing your heart rate and breathing. But avoid SODA! Cause you’re trying to stay in shape too right?!

- Pick protein for lunch. Cramming protein into every meal helps build and maintain lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat does.

- Brew up some green tea. The brew contains a plant compound called ECGC, which promotes fat burning. People who’ve consumed the equivalent of three to five cups a day for 12 weeks decreased their body weight by 4.6 percent!

- Calcium helps your body metabolize fat more efficiently by increasing the rate at which it gets rid of fat as waste. (Yes poopy waste!) Have an afternoon snack, like some fat free yogurt or a glass of milk.

- Grab some metal. Women lose iron during their period every month. That can throw a wrench into your metabolic machine, because iron helps carry oxygen to your muscles. If your levels run low, muscles don’t get enough O2, your energy tanks, and your metabolism sputters. Stock up on iron-fortified cereals, beans, and dark leafy greens like spinach, bok choy, and broccoli.

- When you work out mix things up with intervals. You’re always looking for a way to shorten your workout, right? Well, step up your intensity and you’ll burn the same number of calories or more in less time. Slowing things down increases the breakdown of muscle tissue — yeah, it sounds bad, but all that damage you’re incurring is actually a good thing. The repair process pumps up your metabolism for as long as 72 hours after your session. So take it slow!