8 ways to kickstart your metabolism and lose weight fast

Your metabolism is the process designed to keep you alive. It speeds up when it thinks you need the energy, and slows down when it thinks you’re inactive. By knowing what it wants, when it wants it, you can begin the process of tricking it into performing better.

We have found some awesome ways to kickstart your metabolism, however it should be clear that none of these are a substitute for great diet and exercise.

Drink coffee 

As a stimulant, coffee will speed up your metabolism – at least in the short term. According to Authority Nutrition, caffeine can increase the metabolic rate by up to eleven per cent.

Drink more water

The most obvious tip is also one of the easiest to overlook, however as water forms 50-65% of our body weight, it should come as no surprise that drinking is vital to our metabolism.

Get enough sleep

Researchers have found that not getting enough sleep seriously slows down your metabolism. Try to have at least 8 hours a night and avoid caffeine before bed.

Green tea

This popular beverage is known for its high antioxidant content and new evidence shows the active ingredient catechin may speed up metabolism. It’s also calorie free!

Spice it up

Adding ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper to your meals will give them a fiery kick but also help boost your metabolism.

Add fat burning foods to your diet 

Certain foods like tuna, eggs, grapefruit, celery, lean chicken, oats, brown rice and chilli peppers spike the metabolism, trigger hormones that release fat, and eliminate toxins that make it hard for your body to shed unwanted kilos.

Eat eggs

Protein one of the most common suggestions for curbing an appetite, in turn helping your metabolism. A University of Missouri study found that those who ate a high-protein breakfast ultimately chose to eat less through the remainder of the day, reducing the overall calorie count.

Dark chocolate

Eating a little cocoa-rich chocolate before a meal can help reduce your cravings for sugar and salt, meaning you could wind up consuming fewer calories.

And just for good measure, here are 5 common myths about your metabolism:

Metabolism myth #1: Never skip breakfast

Many people believe that they must eat breakfast to kickstart their metabolism but in fact if you don’t have time, it is OK. According to a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition dieters who ate breakfast lost no more weight than the breakfast skippers.

Metabolism myth #2: Six small meals throughout the day will improve your metabolism

Actually, you can increase your weight by eating six meals a day, instead of decreasing. Simply eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with a small snack, combined with exercise.

Metabolism myth #3: Your metabolism is genetic and can’t be changed

Although metabolism does have a genetic component, you can change your metabolic rate by increasing your exercise regime and by changing your diet.

Metabolism myth #4: You can’t stop your metabolism slowing as you get older

While your metabolism starts to slow as you age due to muscle and tissue loss, as well as hormonal and neurological changes, it can be changed.

Metabolism myth #5: Thin people have fast metabolisms and fat people have slow metabolisms

While some people do have faster metabolisms than others, it’s to do with lean muscle mass and not overall weight. If you complain you have a slow metabolism, look at your diet and how much exercise you are doing. This could be the cause.