The food you eat is usually converted into energy. The process involved is complex and is referred to as metabolism. This process, which basically involves a series of chemical reactions in the body, proceeds at a variable rate which then determines how much energy one uses both at rest and during physical activity. To have a form of control over this rate, the concept of metabolic training arises. As such, one can easily boost how the body uses energy. This article focuses on how to train your metabolism and improve metabolic flexibility and overall fitness.
What is metabolic flexibility?
Based on the demands of the body, it can shift between using carbohydrates and fats as energy sources. This ability is what is referred to as metabolic flexibility. It underlies the overall fitness of an individual and is usually related to:
● Low body weight
● Increased sensitivity to insulin
● Enhanced performance
Metabolic training and flexibility
Metabolic training has been shown to improve metabolic flexibility and therefore overall fitness and health of an individual. With metabolic training, one goes through a series of high intensity exercises that give the body's metabolic system work to do. Such exercises may include:
● High intensity interval training
● Circuit training
Other ways on how to train metabolism include staying hydrated, having optimal sleep and having enough protein in your diet. When this happens, the body gradually adapts to switching between carbohydrates and fats as sources of energy more efficiently and which comprises metabolic flexibility.
The role of strength training in metabolic training and flexibility
Strength training is a necessary entity in metabolic training. With strength training, one tends to build lean muscle mass. The importance of lean muscle mass is that it burns more and more calories compared to fat tissue. Muscles are metabolically active tissues hence the burning of more calories. Strength training activities that one could consider include:
● Bodyweight exercises
● Lifting weights
● Resistance band workouts
The role of balancing nutrient intake
Since metabolic flexibility is about the switch between carbohydrates and fats, it makes sense that one balances the intake of these two nutrients. Too much of either component usually impairs flexibility. On the other hand, consuming less carbohydrates will definitely bring reduced performance during training since one will not have energy which bears on how to train your metabolism. The key is therefore to balance intake of these two components.
How rest and recovery comes in
After intense training, the body needs rest so as to recover and adapt to the metabolic training going on in the body. This is essential for metabolic flexibility. In addition to Adapting to metabolic training, recovery has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, another aspect of metabolic flexibility. Active recovery days and proper sleep are what comprises proper rest and recovery.
Metabolic training is the highway to metabolic flexibility which is crucial for overall fitness and health of an individual. It leads to improved weight management, high athletic performance and increased insulin sensitivity among other benefits. Having proper skills on how to train your metabolism will therefore improve your health and training.