How to Boost Your Metabolism

Sally Perkins explains how to boost your metabolism for optimal health and fitness.

Your metabolism is "the rate at which your body expends energy or burns calories", according to Harvard Health. As such, a healthy metabolism is essential for optimal health and fitness. The faster it runs, the more calories you burn, and the easier you lose and maintain weight. Although metabolism is influenced by many outside factors, including age, weight, muscle mass, and thyroid, you control its effectiveness. Here is how you can boost your metabolism with changes to your diet and exercise regime.

Eat enough, not too much or too little

If weight loss is your goal, you may be considering cutting calories and increasing exercise. However, when you restrict calories, your body takes in less energy than it burns, and your metabolism slows. This makes it harder for you to lose weight and keep it off. People tend to panic, start restricting more, and over-exercise to achieve weight loss in these situations. But this is ultimately unsustainable and can result in bingeing and weight gain.

The solution? Find a diet and workout plan that suits you, something you enjoy and can stick to, will increase your metabolism and help weight loss. Eat a balanced, protein-rich diet and avoid processed foods. When you eat enough of the right foods and exercise, you will feel better mentally and physically. You will, therefore, have the motivation and stamina needed to work out regularly, which in turn revs your metabolism.

Exercise the right way

A varied exercise routine is key to boosting metabolism and ensuring you do not get bored. Each week fit in a few high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions. Essentially, HIIT sessions are short bursts of intense exercise, which increase metabolism and burn fat long after the workout ends.

Do not skip the strength training, either. In a 2008 study, a group of women were placed on an 800-calorie diet with either strength training, cardio, or no exercise. Afterwards, the women who did strength training had maintained muscle mass and metabolism, unlike the others who saw declines in these areas. This is because lifting weights retains muscle, which is more "metabolically active" than fat. Building muscle boosts metabolism and burns more calories throughout the day, even when you are resting.

Finally, get enough sleep as it is essential for good health and a well-functioning metabolism. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and every morning you will wake up refreshed and re-invigorated to crush your health and exercise goals.

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

PERKINS, S. (2018) How to Boost Your Metabolism [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article301.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with years' experience across many different areas. She moved to freelance from a stressful corporate job and loved the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.


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Your metabolism is "the rate at which your body expends energy or burns calories", according to Harvard Health. As such, a healthy metabolism is essential for optimal health and fitness. The faster it runs, the more calories you burn, and the easier you lose and maintain weight. Although metabolism is influenced by many outside factors, including age, weight, muscle mass, and thyroid, you control its effectiveness. Here is how you can boost your metabolism with changes to your diet and exercise regime. Eat enough, not too much or too little If weight loss is your goal, you may be considering cutting calories and increasing exercise. However, when you restrict calories, your body takes in less energy than it burns, and your metabolism slows. This makes it harder for you to lose weight and keep it off. People tend to panic, start restricting more, and over-exercise to achieve weight loss in these situations. But this is ultimately unsustainable and can result in bingeing and weight gain. The solution? Find a diet and workout plan that suits you, something you enjoy and can stick to, will increase your metabolism and help weight loss. Eat a balanced, protein-rich diet and avoid processed foods. When you eat enough of the right foods and exercise, you will feel better mentally and physically. You will, therefore, have the motivation and stamina needed to work out regularly, which in turn revs your metabolism. Exercise the right way A varied exercise routine is key to boosting metabolism and ensuring you do not get bored. Each week fit in a few high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions. Essentially, HIIT sessions are short bursts of intense exercise, which increase metabolism and burn fat long after the workout ends. Do not skip the strength training, either. In a 2008 study, a group of women were placed on an 800-calorie diet with either strength training, cardio, or no exercise. Afterwards, the women who did strength training had maintained muscle mass and metabolism, unlike the others who saw declines in these areas. This is because lifting weights retains muscle, which is more "metabolically active" than fat. Building muscle boosts metabolism and burns more calories throughout the day, even when you are resting. Finally, get enough sleep as it is essential for good health and a well-functioning metabolism. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and every morning you will wake up refreshed and re-invigorated to crush your health and exercise goals. Page Reference If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is: PERKINS, S. (2018) How to Boost Your Metabolism [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article301.htm [Accessed About the Author Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with years' experience across many different areas. She moved to freelance from a stressful corporate job and loved the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.