fitness, exercises Man using ropes to for an exercises, Image: Unsplash
If you love snacking, having a cheat day, or indulging yourself from time to time and fear how doing so will affect your body, it’s time to focus on exercises that will keep your metabolism moving fast.
Metabolism refers to the chemical process in our bodies that occur in order to keep us alive and functioning. Most commonly, when it comes to health and fitness, our bodies metabolize the food we eat and turn it into energy.
Although certain standard factors affect our metabolism - genes, sex, age, thyroid issues - we have a lot of control over how our bodies metabolize.
Eating healthier foods at appropriate times during the day and getting ample sleep are crucial ways to boost your metabolism, but the most crucial thing you can do is to stay active.
From increasing muscle mass to burning as many fat cells and calories as possible, here are the five most effective exercises to amp up your metabolism:
Many fitness professionals attest that planking is one of the most underrated exercises you can do. With just your body weight alone, you can contract several muscle groups, build endurance, exert energy, and tone.
Your abs are working hard, your arms and legs are supporting your weight, and your body will become exhausted much quicker than you might imagine. As such, your breathing will become heavier, your muscles will work harder, and your metabolism will surely increase.
Burpees are a great way to engage multiple muscle groups, use your body weight, and elements of cardio. They are the ideal balanced workout, and because you’re working so many parts of your body, burpees are far from easy.
To perform a burpee, start in a standing position, with your feet shoulder-width apart. Next, squat down with your hands on the floor in front of you, and thrust your legs back to a plank position.
You will then bring your feet back toward you in the previous position you were in, and then stand up again to start from the beginning.
To make the exercise more challenging, you can do a jump in between sets. Burpees are truly all-encompassing and one of the best ways to boost your metabolism.
Short bursts of cardio can do wonders for your body. While running is often considered one of the more challenging forms of cardiovascular exercise, it is by far and away one of the most effective ways to trim down quickly.
A series of sprints are especially rigorous as it requires your body to exert a large amount of energy very suddenly, half a short rest period, and then repeat the movement.
These types of intervals will push your body so hard, and you’ll definitely see the results if you stay consistent!
Breaking a sweat through cardio is one of the top ways you can ramp up your metabolism. Whether it be Zumba, running, spinning, swimming, walking, aerobics, or whatever else gets you going, engage in exercises that utilizes as many muscle groups as possible while exerting energy to truly feel the burn.
Not only are you burning calories, but high intensity cardio also has the ability to suppress your appetite post-workout.
Although they may seem simple, squats are one of the most valuable lifts or exercise you can do, as you’re really honing in on your quads and glutes and when you develop those muscles, you’re pruning a large amount of energy. Incorporating dumbbells or kettlebells into your squats will also be beneficial, as weight-lifting boosts your metabolism as well.
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