Some people can eat as much as they want without gaining weight. Others seem to gain weight the minute they have one unhealthy treat. If you have a slow metabolism, it can be frustrating watching others with a fast metabolism, while you are struggling to maintain your weight. Whether your metabolism is slow because of a medical issue, a past history of yo-yo dieting or genetics, there is always hope for your body. You can boost your metabolism simply with the foods and the way that you eat every day.
Step 1
Snack often instead of eating the traditional three meals a day. "Good Housekeeping" magazine states that every time you eat, your metabolism has to get fired up to digest the food and use all of the nutrients. Therefore, if you eat often, you burn more calories than you would if you only ate a couple times per day. Make sure that you don't overeat because you are eating more often. Try small frequent meals every three hours or so.
Step 2
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. Many people make the mistake of skipping breakfast, having a light lunch and then overeating at dinner time. Skipping breakfast can also slow down your metabolism. "Good Housekeeping" states that if you eat a good-sized, healthy meal at breakfast time, your body will be able to use the calories during the day and you will be less likely to overeat later in the day. Don't overeat at night time because you aren't as active at night so you won't burn the calories off.
Step 3
Don't decrease your calories too much. According to Good Housekeeping, if you cut your calories too low, for example, 1,000 calories a day or less, your body begins to burn its own muscle tissue for fuel instead of fat. That actually slows your metabolism even more. While you do want to watch your calories, make sure that you eat between 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day to keep your metabolism revved up and lose weight at a steady pace.
Step 4
Add lean proteins to your diet more often. Lean proteins like chicken breast, fish, turkey breast, tofu and beans can speed up your metabolism, according to Good Housekeeping. Lean protein foods also help because they provide you with energy to exercise. Exercising can build muscle mass, which speeds your metabolism and burns more calories at rest, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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