Surprising Signs You Have a Slow Metabolism

Do you have a Slow Metabolism?

Here are the top (surprising) signs you might be suffering from a sluggish metabolism:

• Big energy crashes
• Fatigue
• Weight gain or inability to lose weight
• Belly fat
• Digestive issues like constipation, gas, bloating 
• High cravings, specifically for carbs & sugar
• Poor appetite or hunger
• Low strength & endurance

You see, your metabolism is affected by your lifestyle but also your hormones. Your lifestyle impacts your hormones, so that’s the best place to start!

Some Areas of your Lifestyle that impacts Metabolism:

Nutrition: portions, timing, type of foods

Movement

Exercise 

Muscle mass

Sleep and rest

But also your internal physiology (your health from a cellular level) also greatly impacts your metabolic health!

Unfortunately many people, specifically women, are struggling with poor metabolic health and don’t even realize it.

What really IS our Metabolism?

It’s tempting to think of your metabolism as an internal speedometer … or maybe like a hamster running on a wheel. The faster it goes, the faster you burn calories and fat.

But in reality, it’s a complex biochemical process that your body uses to convert what you eat and drink into energy. The majority of the calories your body burns (up to 70%) happens at rest…just being YOU to maintain all the processes of the body, also known as your BMR (basal metabolic rate).

Your metabolism is also the complex mechanisms in your body’s ability to utilize that food/energy and HOW it affects your other hormones and cellular systems. It is not just about “calories” but about the physiology that is happening constantly.

Your metabolism is influenced by:

• Genetics
• Size (height/weight)
• Age.
• Gender
• Health History
• Cellular Health
• Non-Exercise Physical Activity
• Thermic Effect of Food (energy to digest food)
• Structured Exercise
• Body Composition 

When I work with clients, the first places we start addressing to boost their metabolism is:

1. Their overall physical activity: This includes standing more, taking more steps, recreational movement and exercise!
2. Eating enough: many women are chronically dieting and telling their body to hold on to fat!
3. Proper balance of macronutrients: many are under-eating protein, which is necessary for lean body mass. Lean body mass drives our metabolism!

Surprising Facts about Metabolism

Which of these false Metabolism Myths have you fallen for?!

• Eating 6x small meals a day increases metabolism
• Hot spicy food, drinking cold water, green tea and supplements actually work long term
• Some people are born with a faster or slower metabolism

What about the Facts??

• Your body burns the same amount of calories digesting your food with 3 or 6 meals/day
• Spicy food and other foods may slightly increase your metabolism short term, but it won’t have a long term effect on improving metabolism
• Your genetics play a role in your metabolism, but your LIFESTYLE factors also make a huge difference!

Some other FACTS about your Metabolism:

1. Your overall physical activity plays a larger role in your metabolism than exercise!
2. The more muscle you have, the faster your resting metabolism rate. Muscle burns calories AT REST.
3. Your hormones affect your metabolism, specifically your thyroid. Without optimal thyroid health, your metabolism will suffer.
4. Estrogen levels affect Metabolic Rate. Did you know that low estrogen can actually lead to insulin resistance? That’s because estrogen makes you more insulin sensitive, thus supporting a healthy metabolism and fat burning. This is why many women in their 40s or 50s start to gain weight when menopause hits; It is linked to low estrogen!
5. Optimal Vitamin D levels can improve Metabolism. It acts as a hormone in the body and needed for different processes like mood regulation & gut health. Studies have shown supplementation and those with optimal levels of Vit D had a better functioning metabolism!
6. Gut Health affects Metabolism. Our gut is where many of your hormones are synthesized and your nutrients absorbed. Studies have linked a healthy gut microbiome to better health overall. If you’re suffering from digestive issues but also things like brain fog, pain, and low energy, these could be signs that your metabolism is impaired.

If you’re wanting to learn more about how to positively influence your metabolism, then check out my other articles here by clicking here.

Want to know how I can help YOU?!

With my holistic approach, I take your WHOLE health into consideration. When I work with a client, I look at their health with a root cause approach, aiming to connect the dots between physiology, lifestyle and your wellness, so you can stop wondering “why”.

From there, I provide a comprehensive plan (with accountability coaching!) and community support, to ensure progress and sustainable results!

Interested in getting started together?

Contact me here!