So what’s with metabolism? A faster metabolism may make weight management easier, because you may burn more calories even when at rest. While there are some factors surrounding metabolism that are impossible or difficult to change—age, heredity, hormones, certain medications, and medical conditions such as hypothyroidism—there are ways you can give yourself a boost.

Tone Up: You can boost your metabolism by building muscle mass through exercise and physical activity. The more muscle mass you have, the higher your caloric burn rate will be throughout the day. On the flip side, under-used muscles can fill up with fatty deposits and become less metabolically active. (Hello Cottage Cheese!)

Boost your exercise benefit: You already know that you burn calories when you exercise. But did you know that you may continue to benefit from your workout and burn calories for a few hours after you’ve packed away the gym shorts? You can try splitting your physical activity into two moderately paced half-hour sessions each day. For example, take a brisk walk or do some other aerobic exercise in the morning, then focus on strengthening your core muscles in the afternoon or evening. This split strategy may help keep your metabolism higher. 

Eat sensibly and eat well:  Going on “crash” or very low-calorie diets can slow down your metabolism. Your best bet is to watch portion sizes and eat a well-balanced diet . If you need help with creating a more healthy diet I suggest making an appointment with a registered dietitian for help getting started.

Don’t skip Meals:  Go for mini meals. They’re not for everyone, but eating five or six mini meals instead of three squares may help you keep your metabolism humming throughout the day. Consult you physician and or a dietitian before changing your eating habits. It is important that your calories and nutritional quality have to remain the same whether you’re eating three meals or six. But if you’re disciplined, this strategy may help you feel less hungry between meals, so you’re less likely to overeat.