Powerful Metabolism-Boosting Workouts

May 1 2014

Powerful Metabolism-Boosting Workouts

The word metabolism originated from the Greek language, meaning “change” — and that’s exactly what it’s responsible for in our bodies. Metabolism is somewhat of a blanket term that’s used to describe the collective chemical changes that occur within the cell structures of living organisms. Humans, dogs, cats and every other living organism on the planet exhibits metabolic properties, some of which are more active than others.

Some of the many functions in the human body that are directly attributed to metabolism include:

• Breathing
• Body temperature regulation
• Weight gain/loss
• Muscle development
• Digestion
• Muscle contraction
• Blood circulation
• Neurological function
• Heart rate

Generally, a high metabolism promotes healthy bodily functions — including muscle recovery and development. If your physical fitness goal is to build muscle, you should focus on metabolism-boosting workouts. Certain types of workouts naturally promote higher metabolism levels.

Squat Jumps

The squat jump exercise is exactly what it sounds like: you squat down by bending your knees until your thighs are almost parallel to the ground, at which point you jump into the air while extending your legs and arms straight into the air. Perform a series of squat jumps for 5-10 minutes and you’ll feel the burn in your calves and core.

Standing Military Shoulder Press With Dumbbells

As your body builds more muscle mass, your resting metabolic rate rises (which is good, FYI). An incredibly easy yet beneficial muscle-building workout to boost that’s guaranteed to boost your metabolism is the standing military shoulder press.

Take two medium-weight dumbbells, hold one in each hand while standing, and extend your arms all the way above your head. Hold this position for a second and then lower them back down until they are parallel with your shoulders. Continue doing this until you’ve performed 3 sets consisting of at least 10 reps each.

Cardio

The truth is that any form of cardiovascular exercise will boost the body’s metabolism levels when performed correctly. Don’t assume that you must perform high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts to maintain a high metabolism. Incorporating some cardio into your regimen is a great way to mix up your regular workouts while promoting a healthy cardiovascular system.

Try running or jogging every other day to boost your metabolism. Unlike HIIT workouts, your body doesn’t need to a 48-hour window to rest and recover between cardio workouts, meaning you can go running on your normal “rest” days.