Burning fat doesn’t always call for breaking a sweat. Your body continues to expend calories while you’re at rest, be it slumped on the sofa or passed out in bed. But did you know it’s possible to increase the rate at which your body can burn calories? By taking measures to raise your metabolism, you can speed up fat oxidation and expend more calories – without moving a muscle. Follow these tips to turn your body into a lean, mean, fat-burning machine.
Go to bed earlier
Your body’s sleep cycle directly influences your metabolism. Going to bed earlier will ensure you get more REM sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. The human brain is highly active during the REM stages of sleep, leading to higher calorie expenditure. You actually burn more calories during sleep than you do while watching TV or reading a magazine.
Poor sleep throws the body’s hunger hormones – ghrelin and leptin – out of sync. When you don’t get enough rest, your cortisol levels also increase, leading to heightened stress and potential weight gain. Even going to bed half an hour earlier each night can make all the difference, allowing your body to sleep deeply and burn more calories in the process.
Try intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting creates an anabolic environment in your body and promotes fat loss. Give it a try once or twice a week while you sleep. Simply close the kitchen early instead of snacking before bedtime and abstain from eating for at least 12 hours. Fasting will lower your insulin levels, increase human growth hormone and promote cellular repair. In doing so, you’ll speed up your metabolism, helping your body shed fat while sleeping.
Perform HIIT
Exercise is a great way of ensuring a good night’s sleep – and the more vigorous the better. To maximise your calorie burn, try an intense session of HIIT. Adrian James High Intensity Interval Training will push your body into the fat-burning zone, but its benefits don’t end there. HIIT has been proven to raise the metabolism, helping your body burn up to an additional 100 calories over the following 24 hours.
Take protein before bedtime
On the nights when you’re not fasting, try having a high-protein snack before bedtime. It may consist of chicken, turkey breast, tuna, cottage cheese or a protein shake. Whey protein has a strong thermogenic effect and requires more energy to digest than fats or carbohydrates. Try a scoop of Healthy Whey; its blend of easily digestible protein, fibre and essential minerals will fuel your body through the night without disrupting your sleep.
Naturally raise your metabolism
Certain supplements can also increase your metabolic rate, promote satiety and reduce fat absorption into your body. Choose a weight management product containing a natural formulation, such as Thermoblaze, to boost your energy levels and force your body to use stored fat for fuel. Just be sure not to take supplements right before bedtime or you’ll be counting sheep; three capsules spaced throughout the day is ideal.
Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, intermittent fasting and smart supplementation: focus on these four and your body will take care of the rest, burning more calories right through the night.
