Exercise and Metabolism

Exercising regularly is a fantastic way to support metabolic function and digestion. Do you notice the natural mood and energy lift you get after exercising? That means your metabolism is kicking in and your hormones are coming into balance. Both women and men need to keep their endorphins pumping and hormones humming to stay happy and healthy. Exercising also increases your resting metabolic rate, which greatly supports weight control, heart health, and more. Physical movement stimulates digestion, releasing water retention and bloating and well as pumping your lymph supporting immune function.

Let’s look at different kinds of exercise.

1. Aerobic exercise utilizes oxygen to meet energy needs. Examples include running, swimming, walking, and biking. This type of exercise can help lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, improves immunity, burns fat, supports a healthy weight, reduces the risk of diabetes, and strengthens the lungs and heart.
2. Anaerobic exercise (no oxygen used) triggers lactate formation in muscles. It builds strength, speed, and power to increase muscle mass. This type of muscle development supports high-intensity, short-duration exercise like sprinting and heavy weight lifting. It will help increase your basal metabolic rate so that you burn more calories when at rest as well as when you are working out!

The difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise is intensity, length of muscle contraction, and how energy is made within the muscles as you move. If an activity lasts more than two minutes, it’s said to have an aerobic metabolic effect, instead of anaerobic. So, as you can see, aerobic exercises are those that are sustained for long periods, like distance running, whereas short, intense bursts of exertion are considered anaerobic.

If you’re looking to increase your metabolism, try these exercises:

1. Lift Heavy Weights - Muscle burns more calories than fat. If you build muscle, you’ll automatically burn more calories, even in a resting state. Max out your muscles by lifting the heaviest weights you can handle for the highest number of repetitions, until you reach muscle fatigue.
2. Workout in Intervals - Sprint for one minute as fast as you can, then walk for two minutes. Repeat for 10 minutes and you’ll boost your metabolism.
3. Include Cardio - Get your heart pumping by running, swimming, or doing some other form of cardiovascular exercise you love for at least 30 minutes, 3-5 days a week.

Exercise can greatly boost your metabolism, but remember, the biggest factor that dictates weight and health is food. Abs are made in the kitchen, and no amount of exercise will counterbalance an unhealthy diet.

Want to get even healthier? Want help figuring out how to fit exercise into your daily routine? Curious about how health coaching can help you make your own healthy changes? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Visit www.noshoesnutrition.com and sign up for a FREE consultation.  I work with people from all over the world individually or in groups so don’t let anything hold you back!