Losing weight can be a real challenge. Understanding how the process works and how to work with your body to increase your metabolism – and in turn ramp up the amount of calories you’re burning – can help tremendously. Here are four simple ways you can increase your metabolism on a daily basis.
1. Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Sleep
Doctors recommend seven to eight hours of sleep a night in order to be at your healthiest. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, chances are your entire body is being affected, even your metabolism. One study found that women who sleep five hours or less each night are 32 percent more likely to gain weight.
2. Eat Six Small Meals a Day
Even though you may think that skipping meals will help you lose weight, the opposite is actually true. Eating several small meals each day helps keep your metabolism running strong and keeps you from overeating due to hunger after a skipped meal.
3. Eat More Protein
Not only does eating help boost your metabolism, but what you eat can also affect it. Studies show that eating protein causes an increase in your metabolic rate of up to 30 percent, whereas carbs only increase it up to 10 percent and fats up to 3 percent. Make the most of your meals by eating lots of protein, which also helps you stay fuller longer. One study found that when participants included protein as 30 percent of their diet, they ate 441 fewer calories per day on average.
4. Drink Ice-Cold Water And Lots of It!
Drinking lots of water helps keep you feeling full, and replacing sugary drinks with water helps prevent weight gain from extra calories that add up very quickly throughout the day. Drinking just one 16-ounce bottle of water has been shown to increase metabolism by up to 30 percent for around one hour. Even better, if you drink ice-cold water, your body has to use energy to bring it to room temperature.
As you continue on your weight-loss journey, it’s important to keep in mind that if you lose weight at a rapid pace or lose a significant amount of weight, even if it’s over a longer period of time, you may find you have loose, excess skin after reaching your goals. There’s no reason to be discouraged, though, because Dr. Wortham is an expert in post-weight-loss surgery to correct loose skin and sculpt the body to look the way you want.
For more information on surgery options after weight loss, call us today at the Cosmetic Surgical Arts Center in Lynnwood at 425-744-7771.