6 Ways to Fire Up Your Metabolism

By Monica
Ciociola via beachbody newsletter
It can be discouraging when your results don't seem to match the efforts
you're putting into getting in shape. But instead of giving up on your fitness
program, or worse, diving into the Twinkies^® (trust me, you'll regret
it!), try making just a few easy changes to your diet and your lifestyle.
Sometimes the smallest things—like getting more protein in the morning or enough
rest at night—can lead to the biggest weight loss surprises.

1. Don't skip breakfast. Eating lean
   protein in the morning will help get your metabolism revved up for the day
   ahead. Protein from egg whites, for instance, will help stabilize your blood
   sugar, make you feel fuller, and keep you from overeating later in the
   day.
2. Resistance training. Working out
   with some form of resistance—resistance bands, weights, or a stability
   ball—helps build your muscles. And because one pound of muscle burns way more
   calories than a pound of fat does, the more muscle you have on your body, the
   higher your metabolic rate will be.
3. Interval
   training. Short 10-minute explosive cardio sessions
   followed by less intense cardio for the same amount of time will rev up your
   metabolism. For some of the best interval training workouts, check out INSANITY^® or TurboFire^®.
4. Get your beauty rest. Human growth
   hormone works directly on cells to increase your metabolic rate by 15 to 20
   percent and can only be produced during the hours of deep sleep. So make sure
   you get a good night's sleep!
5. The magic mix. At mealtime, try
   consuming lean proteins from chicken and white fish along with complex
   carbohydrates from fruits and veggies. This magical combination will speed up
   your metabolic rate as food is transformed into usable nutrients, and you'll
   build muscle and burn fat during the digestive process.
6. ¡Ay, caliente! Studies show that hot
   peppers, spices, green teas, and caffeine can give your metabolism a sudden
   surge by stimulating the release of stress hormones. If jalapeño and cayenne
   make you wince, turn to our all-natural Slimming
   Formula supplement, which contains green tea, for the same
   metabolism-boosting effect.