3 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism Naturally

When it comes to weight loss, weight gain, and weight maintenance, your metabolism is everything. It absolutely runs the show behind the curtains and is ultimately responsible for your successes… and your failures. Your metabolism is your body’s way of surviving when life gets tough.

Think back in the day when cavemen had to live off of what they could catch. Some days, there probably wasn’t any food to eat so their bodies (and metabolisms) adapted in order to store fat for later use of energy.

Same thing happens when you go way too long without eating or wake up and immediately skip your breakfast. This is why it is ALWAYS recommended to NEVER skip a meal. Make sense?

Once your metabolism slows, the number on the scale goes up quicker than you can say “PIZZA!” So you start gaining weight by eating the same amounts of food you always have. You are left, standing there, shaking your head and wondering “What the hell is going on?”

I will share with you a few of my best tips to boosting your metabolism naturally and safely.

Step One: Find out what’s causing your slow metabolism. While this may sound like a “duh” tip, it is the root of getting your body and metabolism back on track. Remember, your metabolism controls errrrrrrrrrrrrryyythaaaangggg.

Some common causes of slow metabolism are:

• Not eating enough food or calories per day.
• Hormones and aging.
• Junk food/processed food.
• Poor digestion.
• Stress.
• Lack of sleep or rest.
• Eating too much food or calories per day.
• Some medications and health conditions.

Now, I know this may seem like a lot of things, but my advice to you would be trial & error to figure out what is the root of your slow metabolism. Go down the list and make a check mark next to what pertains to you and cross out what doesn’t. Do your research and sure enough, you will find your answers. If you are on certain meds or have health issues, ask your doctor speficially in regards to them affecting your metabolism.

Step Two: Repair your metabolism. Now that you have discovered what’s been causing your slow metabolism all along, you can finally get to work on repairing things. Please know that this will not happen overnight but it takes TIME to see the benefits from.

• If you aren’t eating enough, figure out how many calories you need per day and start eating more and more often. Do not skip any meals.
• If aging or hormones are your issue, please know there’s not much that you can do-about aging anyway. We all age and that is a simple fact of life. But even with age, we can raise our metabolism-it just takes a little longer. As far as hormones go, you should eat the right foods to support hormone production. Talk to your doctor about hormone therapy and replacement. Also be sure to have your blood drawn regularly to ensure your hormone levels are normal and functioning correctly.
• If junk food is your issue, STOP. Yes, I get it-easier said than done. But its time to ditch the processed foods and eat cleaner and healthier. Processed foods contain an array of chemicals that get stuck in your gut. This contributes to the slowing down of your digestive system.
• If your issue is poor digestion, talk to your doctor about running some tests and checking to ensure your gastrointestinal tract is as healthy as can be. Sometimes, there are certain health issues that can really do a number on your digestion and the way your body reacts to foods.
• If stress is the issue, try to control your stress levels by practicing yoga or taking a few minutes per day to yourself to relax. Try the art of meditation by sitting in a dim, quiet room and letting go of your thoughts. Positive affirmations are also helpful to me as I like to repeat them over and over out loud to myself. My favorite one is telling myself to let go of any worry that I cannot control. If your stress is serious, talk to a counselor or therapist.
• If you are not sleeping, talk to your doctor about ways to get you into a better, peaceful routine. This may mean shutting off electronics an hour before bedtime or dimming the lights. You could also try taking a warm bath with lavender essential oil to soothe your mind. Make sure to also check your stress and anxiety levels as this is the most common reason for insomnia. Finally, you might need a medical alternative or solution to help you sleep such as in the form of a natural herb (melatonin) or a sleeping pill.
• If you are finding yourself eating way too much throughout the day, try to back off a bit. Keep track of the calories that you consume by using a food diary such as MyFitnessPal. Find the right amount of calories that your body needs in order to lose weight, if that is your goal. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume in any given day.
• Lastly, if you are on any medications or have any serious health issues, please talk to your doctor about how this may affect your metabolism. They will be able to guide you in the best direction to help you raise your metabolism.

Step Three: Be patient & keep going! Just as I mentioned above, things will not change overnight. Recovery is a long process and damaging your metabolism happens gradually over time, so getting it back to a healthy state will happen over a longer period of time as well. Don’t give up because you do not see results in one, two, or even three months. Trust the process and treat your body well.

The best way to raise your metabolism is to exercise regularly and to eat clean & often. If you have zero clue on where to start, feel free to check out my FIT FOT LIFE: 12 Week Home Workout Bundle Clean Eating Plan. My plan is not only built to raise your metabolism for weightloss, but it also helps to ease you into a steady routine for a lifestyle change!