ways to speed up metabolism

caspergirl7
caspergirl7 Posts: 590 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Unfortunately I have to sit 8 1/2 hrs a day at work which I've read can slow down your metabolism. Any suggestions on things I could do at work or in general to help speed it up??

Replies

  • hjackson1226
    hjackson1226 Posts: 124 Member
    bump...I would like to read this later when I get home
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    You can't speed up your metabolism except to build more muscle so your body burns more at rest.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Move on your breaks/lunch. Close your door (if you have one) and do some low impact aerobics, squats, lunges, etc. Take a walk outside, or up and down the stairs. Whatever type of movement you can manage. Getting your heart rate up 2-3 times during the day for even a short time will have more of an impact that you think. And get in a longer more intense workout several times a week.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Move more.
  • weatheredcheese
    weatheredcheese Posts: 112 Member
    Muscle increase motabilism, if you find yourself feeling slugish at work make the effort to get up from your desk and have a stretch and walk for a couple of minutes, I try and do this as often as possible, now have the running bug and thinking of popping out for a quick run at lunch say 10/15 minutes and then grabbing a quick shower(yes we are priviledged enough to have a shower at work, alot of the more fit guys cycle in to work)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,021 Member
    Get a pedal exerciser to put under your desk. You can get them at most big sporting goods stores for under $30.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • rabblerabble
    rabblerabble Posts: 471 Member
    My cubicle is on the fourth floor and I always take the stairs. I bring my own lunches but often on lunch breaks, will go down the stairs on the south side to the lobby, walk over to north stairs and head back up.

    If I need to talk to someone in the office, I try to walk over to see them rather than pick up the phone. Every little bit helps in the long run.

    Also I spread my food intake around so I eat a half dozen small healthy meals a day and drink lots of cold water through the day.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    You can't speed up your metabolism except to build more muscle so your body burns more at rest.

    This!

    Your body will burn a certain amount of calories at rest everyday if you do nothing. Increase your muscle mass to increase this.

    Sitting all day doesn't lower your metabolism really... it just means your TDEE isn't as high as it would be if you were moving a lot.
  • TerranFla1
    TerranFla1 Posts: 8
    Dr. Oz (Oprah's favorite Doc. says Green Coffee Bean extract and supplements work. try this link.
    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/green-coffee-bean-project

    I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to.
  • triggsta
    triggsta Posts: 140
    Get up and take 5 minute walks at the end of every hour. Run up and down stairs if you have them. Just find a way to not be sitting for your entire shift. You might even consider asking for a longer lunch (and stay after or before work longer, if your job and your boss allow for it) so that you can go out for a jog/walk/exercise session in the middle of your day. The idea above about the pedal thing is a really good one, as well.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    Dr. Oz (Oprah's favorite Doc. says Green Coffee Bean extract and supplements work. try this link.
    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/green-coffee-bean-project

    I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to.

    No, just no.

    Green coffee bean is just one of those pills that Dr. Oz is paid to promote. It doesn't actually do anything and is a complete waste of money.
  • peggysue218
    peggysue218 Posts: 126 Member
    I've heard that drinking more water increases metabolism (or at least helps your metabolism work more efficiently).
  • lydt5880
    lydt5880 Posts: 90 Member
    You can't speed up your metabolism except to build more muscle so your body burns more at rest.

    ^^This
    Plus Fat2Fit Radio website and Podcasts are amazing if you want more info - http://www.fat2fitradio.com/2013/02/fat-2-fit-episode-143-metabolic-adaptation/
  • caspergirl7
    caspergirl7 Posts: 590 Member
    thanks everyone. i am currently doing 3 days strength training 3 days cardio a week so that should help with increasing muscle mass. will try smaller/ more meals a day & maybe the pedal thing too as well as getting up as much as possible (on phones so not able to do that much but i know anything is better than nothing)
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    thanks everyone. i am currently doing 3 days strength training 3 days cardio a week so that should help with increasing muscle mass. will try smaller/ more meals a day & maybe the pedal thing too as well as getting up as much as possible (on phones so not able to do that much but i know anything is better than nothing)

    Meal frequency will not have an effect on metabolic rate all other things equal. I would structure your meal timing towards personal preference and gym performance.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9155494
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/meal-frequency-and-energy-balance-research-review.html


    Get up and move around more.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Unfortunately I have to sit 8 1/2 hrs a day at work which I've read can slow down your metabolism. Any suggestions on things I could do at work or in general to help speed it up??

    It's not so much that sitting all day slows your metabolism (BMR)...it's that when you sit all day, you're not moving and therefore don't burn as many calories as someone who, say works in retail or otherwise has a job standing up and moving around. Essentially, your TDEE is lower than someone who is more active.

    There isn't a whole lot you can do about this other than make efforts to move more. Park further away from the entrance to your office/grocery store...wherever. Make yourself walk more. Take the stairs...take the long way to the bathroom, etc. Just have to move more. Also, make it a point to get out and exercise. As a desk jockey myself, I make it a point to not only perform my workouts, but just get out and walk for 30-45 minutes everyday. It allows me to clear my head and has the added bonus of burning a few more calories.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Unfortunately I have to sit 8 1/2 hrs a day at work which I've read can slow down your metabolism. Any suggestions on things I could do at work or in general to help speed it up??

    It's not so much that sitting all day slows your metabolism (BMR)...it's that when you sit all day, you're not moving and therefore don't burn as many calories as someone who, say works in retail or otherwise has a job standing up and moving around. Essentially, your TDEE is lower than someone who is more active.

    There isn't a whole lot you can do about this other than make efforts to move more. Park further away from the entrance to your office/grocery store...wherever. Make yourself walk more. Take the stairs...take the long way to the bathroom, etc. Just have to move more. Also, make it a point to get out and exercise. As a desk jockey myself, I make it a point to not only perform my workouts, but just get out and walk for 30-45 minutes everyday. It allows me to clear my head and has the added bonus of burning a few more calories.

    ^ All of this.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    You can't speed up your metabolism except to build more muscle so your body burns more at rest.

    This!

    Your body will burn a certain amount of calories at rest everyday if you do nothing. Increase your muscle mass to increase this.

    Sitting all day doesn't lower your metabolism really... it just means your TDEE isn't as high as it would be if you were moving a lot.

    When you exericse your metabolism is higher than when you sit. So, if you sit all day your metabolism is lower than if you get up and move for even short periods throughout the day.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    This....
    Get up and move around more.

    and this....
    It's not so much that sitting all day slows your metabolism (BMR)...it's that when you sit all day, you're not moving and therefore don't burn as many calories as someone who, say works in retail or otherwise has a job standing up and moving around. Essentially, your TDEE is lower than someone who is more active.

    There isn't a whole lot you can do about this other than make efforts to move more. Park further away from the entrance to your office/grocery store...wherever. Make yourself walk more. Take the stairs...take the long way to the bathroom, etc. Just have to move more. Also, make it a point to get out and exercise. As a desk jockey myself, I make it a point to not only perform my workouts, but just get out and walk for 30-45 minutes everyday. It allows me to clear my head and has the added bonus of burning a few more calories.

    is incredibly good advice.

    Listen to it.
  • doc800
    doc800 Posts: 148
    I am not sure about the speeding up of the metabolism with this but maybe/maybe not. If you have an office that's not uptight you could replace your chair with a big work out ball. That forces your core to be engaged for balance, plus it is better for your back than a chair
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    thanks everyone. i am currently doing 3 days strength training 3 days cardio a week so that should help with increasing muscle mass. will try smaller/ more meals a day & maybe the pedal thing too as well as getting up as much as possible (on phones so not able to do that much but i know anything is better than nothing)

    Eating more often throughout the day will not increase your metabolism.

    Also, unless you are eating at a surplus of calories you will not build muscle outside of small newbie gains.
  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 Member
    Unfortunately I have to sit 8 1/2 hrs a day at work which I've read can slow down your metabolism. Any suggestions on things I could do at work or in general to help speed it up??

    I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day too, luckily there are 16 other hours in the day for me to train my *kitten* off.
  • caspergirl7
    caspergirl7 Posts: 590 Member
    Unfortunately I have to sit 8 1/2 hrs a day at work which I've read can slow down your metabolism. Any suggestions on things I could do at work or in general to help speed it up??

    I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day too, luckily there are 16 other hours in the day for me to train my *kitten* off.

    already doing that : )

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