How to Lose Weight and Kick Start Your Metabolism

The best way to lose weight and kick start your metabolism is to adopt a program that includes strategic, healthy eating, a variety of cardiovascular exercises and challenging strength training. Instead of only doing one of those things, which will eventually lead to weight loss results nonetheless, devoting yourself to all three areas will help you lose weight and rev up your metabolism in the safest and fastest manner.

Strategic, Healthy Eating

• Eating more fruits and vegetables is one way to avoid feeling like you are on a diet.

  Eating the right foods, like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is a good start to any weight loss plan. Eating the right food at the right time will help you see results sooner and will leave you energized and satisfied. Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day because it prevents overeating for the rest of the day. It can include a whole grain carbohydrate, a low fat protein, a low fat dairy and a fruit or vegetable. Throughout the day, try to eat small meals that include a lot of vegetables, a reduced amount of saturated fat and cholesterol, and little to no salt and sugar. Also avoid alcohol. If your daily caloric intake is below your daily caloric burn, you will lose weight.

Cardiovascular Exercise

• As long as your heart rate is elevated, you are burning calories.

  If you have never exercised before, start by working your way up to 30 consecutive minutes of moderate cardiovascular activity at a time. Once you can easily complete 30 minutes, start to play with intervals. Vary your intensity from low to medium to high throughout your 30 minute or longer workout or, if you have been exercising for some time, alternate between shorter low to high intensity workouts. Avoid only doing one type of cardiovascular exercise and instead opt to work out on the treadmill, the bike, the stairclimber and any other cardio machine. If you do not like machines, walking, running, biking, climbing and swimming are all great outdoor cardiovascular activities. Cardiovascular exercise burns calories and therefore makes it easier for you to create a calorie deficit throughout the day.

Strength Training

• Don't let a fear of bulking up keep you from weightlifting.

  Although building muscle seems counterproductive to losing weight, in fact, lean muscle is a fat burner and a metabolism booster. Because large muscle groups, like the legs, chest and back, will increase your metabolic rate faster than small muscle groups there, focus on these areas when you first start to strength train. Try to always work your muscles until they are fatigued and follow any tough lifting session with some lean protein such as eggs, chicken or a low-carb protein shake.

Extra Help

• Adding certain foods and drinks into your diet can help pick up your metabolism. Caffeine, which can be found in coffee and green tea, hot foods, like cayenne pepper and tabasco and ginger, which increases your body temperature, are helpful metabolism boosters.