Think fast: how do you fire up your metabolism?

Is it endless runs on the treadmill, long days of pumping iron, or maybe some arcane dieting trick?

Here's the shocking truth: there's a way to increase your metabolism that might actually involve LESS of what you're doing now. Yes, less!

Let's blow your mind yet again...

There's a persistent myth out there that the more you work out, the higher your metabolism will be. And while being active (whether training, exercise, or general movement) definitely plays a key role, it's not quite as straightforward as that.

The crux of the matter is this: not all exercise is created equal, especially when it comes to boosting your metabolism.

"So, you're saying I could work out less and still ramp up my metabolism?"

Exactly that. Let's dive in.

The body adapts to the demands we put on it. If you're constantly doing a ton of cardio and endurance-style lifting, your body becomes very efficient—it HAS to in order to keep up with the demands you're placing on it.

In the process, it can become what we call "calorie-efficient." This means it uses FEWER calories to perform the same tasks—a fantastic adaptation if you're running marathons, but not so great if you're trying to increase your metabolism.

Now, let's switch gears and think about heavy lifting (focused on progressive overload) a few days a week, with plenty of recovery time and a decent step count.

This kind of routine encourages your body to adapt in a different way. Instead of becoming endurance-adapted (read: calorie-efficient), your body swings toward a muscle-building adaptation. This adaptation is less calorie-efficient, meaning it burns more calories, both during your workouts and at rest, leading to an increased daily energy expenditure.

In short, a FASTER metabolism from working out LESS.

BONUS: Walking around 8,000 to 12,000 steps per day is going to burn almost as many calories per mile as running, but WITHOUT the calorie-efficient adaptation that we don't want.

"But wait, I'm still not convinced. Doesn't working out less mean burning fewer calories from exercise?"

Here's the fun part...

While it's true that a single cardio or endurance session might burn more calories than a strength training session (but honestly not much more), the latter has two huge benefits:

1. The extra recovery and less stress on your body means improved hormonal regulation, contributing to less hunger and improved fat loss. So it's easier to maintain your nutrition routine and hit your goals.

2. You're building muscle, the most beneficial tissue on the body for health and longevity that we know. It even burns more calories at rest (about 9-10 per extra pound of muscle per day), so you're stoking your metabolism's fire long after you've put the barbell down.

"But what does this all mean for me?"

It means it's time for a rethink. It's not about more time on the treadmill or endless reps. It's about quality over quantity, about the right type of training and ample recovery.

Wouldn't you prefer MORE recovery, MORE time for other pursuits, MORE muscle mass, all for LESS time in the gym?

Sounds interesting, right?

When it comes to workouts and metabolism, sometimes less is indeed more.

P.S. If you want to learn more, I covered this in detail on Episode 84 of the podcast HERE titled Ep 84: Why Working Out LESS Burns More Calories and Boosts Your Metabolism and Fat Loss.