How to Make Your Body Burn More Calories

Weight train

Weight training builds muscle and muscle is a huge factor in determining your metabolic rate.  In fact, studies have shown that regular weight training boosts basal metabolic rate by about 15%.  The reason for this is that muscle is “metabolically active”: it burns more calories than other body tissue even when you’re not moving.

o    Training with weights just 3 times a week for around 20 minutes is enough to build muscle.

Move more

While the average person burns around 30% of calories through daily activity, many sedentary people only burn around 15%.  Remaining aware of this fact – and in turn taking every opportunity to move can make a major difference in the amount of calories you burn.

    o    Examples:

    •    Tap your feet
        •    Swing your legs
        •    Drum your fingers
        •    Stand up and stretch
        •    Move your head from side to side
        •    Change position
        •    Wriggle and fidget
        •    Pace
        •    Use the upstairs bathroom
        •    Park in the furthest corner of the parking lot
        •    Stand up when you’re on the phone
        •    Clench and release your muscles

Get aerobic exercise