5 MORE WAYS TO BURN CALORIES

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR BODY A HARD-WORKING ECOSYSTEM THEN FOLLOW THIS PLAN TO IMPROVE THE SPEED OF YOUR METABOLISM BY FITNESS FIRST HEAD OF FITNESS, MICHAEL CUNICO

1 MOVE MORE

“Make simple changes, like taking the stairs – it all makes a difference. Moving every day in some capacity is proven to improve metabolic rate. Being conscious of this will go a long way in creating long term change. We often overestimate how much energy we burn during a one-hour workout versus being active doing everyday activities.”

2 HIT THE WEIGHTS

Building and maintaining lean muscle mass is one of the most effective ways to send our metabolism into overdrive. “Muscle is made up of metabolically active tissue; this means it requires energy to be built, used and maintained. Muscle burns a greater number of calories than fat, so spending time on the weights floor will not only help boost metabolism, but prepare us for future fat loss.”

3 HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT)

HIIT has been all the rage lately – and there’s a reason for its popularity. “High intensity training is super-efficient and keeps burning calories even after a workout. That state is known as ‘afterburn’. And as well as boosting your metabolism it makes you able to recover faster due to all that extra oxygen flowing through your muscles.”

4 BE A MORNING PERSON

“We each have our own biological rhythm which dictates our energy levels throughout the day, so training in the morning might not suit everyone.” But for many, a morning workout can set the focus for the entire day and help us make better food and activity choices, which keep our metabolism in check even after we’ve left the gym.

5 GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP

“Several studies suggest sleep deprivation can really slow our metabolic function.” You need around eight hours of sleep to maximise your metabolism at night, so if you’re not getting enough pillow time, set your alarm an hour earlier so you’re more likely to be tired at night.