3 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Metabolism describes how your body converts the calories you consume into energy your body can use. Not surprisingly, the rate at which your body metabolizes foods and drinks plays a big role in losing weight and keeping it off.

Metabolism can vary from one person to another. The good news: You can take steps to ramp up your natural metabolism to support healthy weight goals.

Joseph Moleski, DO, and Margaurette Walsh, PA-C, help patients at STL Medical Weight Loss lose weight and keep it off with medical weight-loss regimens focused on optimizing your metabolism so your body eliminates fat more effectively. Here, learn three key ways to boost your metabolism and help keep fat at bay.

1. Make exercise part of your daily routine

Regular physical activity increases the amount of energy your body expends, ramping up your metabolism at the same time. Plus, physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, making it easier to shed extra pounds and elevate metabolism naturally. 

While any type of physical activity can help, strength-building activities can be especially effective, building muscle tissue that raises your metabolic rate even while you’re at rest. The more muscle tissue you build, the more efficient your body becomes at burning excess calories.

It’s not just structured exercise that helps, either. Adding extra activity to your daily routine is also important, especially if your work requires you to sit for long periods. Simple things like walking around during breaks or using the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator are good examples.

2. Focus on lean protein

When it comes to losing weight, most people think salads are the way to go. While lower-calorie foods can help decrease overall calorie intake, lean protein leads the way when it comes to boosting metabolism.

Lean protein helps in a couple of ways. First, it helps you feel full faster and stay full longer, so you snack less. Second, the protein itself requires more energy to digest, providing an immediate short-term boost in metabolism, too.

Protein also supports muscle tissue, making it an ideal companion to strength-training exercises. Focus on lean meats, beans and legumes, eggs, fish, and low-fat dairy, and avoid high-fat meats, processed meats, and fried foods.

3. Prioritize good sleep

This third point is one we can all support: Get plenty of quality sleep. Sleep is a time when your body repairs itself and regulates hormones that play roles in metabolism and hunger. 

Specifically, adequate sleep helps your body regulate levels of leptin and ghrelin, two hormones involved in your feelings of hunger and satiety. When you get the right amount of sleep, you don’t feel hungry as often, and you feel full longer after eating. 

Ideally, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and use these tips to ensure restful and uninterrupted sleep.

Weight management designed for you

Losing weight isn’t easy, but with our team on your side, you’ll be ready to achieve — and maintain — your goals while improving overall wellness. To learn more about our medical weight-loss therapies, call or book an appointment online with STL Medical Weight Loss at our locations in Chesterfield, Missouri, or Dallas, Texas, today.