You don’t need a full-on HIIT session, just a half-hour walk is enough to maintain healthy levels of muscle and metabolism Lawson assures us. Strength training is another stellar way to fire up your insides, but forget heavy weights, your own bodyweight will do. Try 10 push-ups, 15 squats, 10 burpees, a 30 second plank and 15 lunges and you’ll not only get your heart racing, you’ll be surprised at how much stronger you feel after just a few sessions. “Do this routine for 15 minutes every day for a quick and easy burst of activity,” says Lawson.
Out of the exercise arena, keep hydrated. Okay, so the kitchen tap isn’t quite as alluring without those water cooler moments with colleagues, but your metabolism slows down even if you’re mildly dehydrated. Keep a bottle of water on your desk just like you would at work and aim to refill it every hour.
Eating something every four hours is another good way to keep your metabolism ticking over so don’t beat yourself up about snacking, just keep some healthy options to hand. And don’t dramatically cut your calories – doing so could cause you to lose muscle which slows your metabolism so your body will actually burn fewer calories in the long run.
