The word “metabolism” conjures up many different opinions of what it really means in terms of health. The last several decades have been highlighted by new dietary theories about how to lose weight. Aside from the more radical vegetarian and vegan theories, some of the more notable theories include the low-fat diet, the no fat diet, and the low carbohydrate/Atkins type diet. Not to mention the quick weight loss fads such as the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, the juice diet, and the Beverly Hills diet.
Time has shown that each one of the fad diets had some positive effect for some people, but the results were not lasting; and worse yet, often, in the end, all the weight was gained back plus a bit more. Some people also had health issues arise from being on a fad diet for too long.
Diet pills, drinks, powders, and shakes come and go, as well. Unfortunately, some of these products have had devastating effects on individual’s health. Some people have suffered from permanent damage to their heart, liver, and kidneys. These products are often full of different kinds of stimulants designed to “raise your metabolism”. The problem is that they cause an unnatural increase in heartrate and blood pressure, disrupt proper hormone function, and often upset digestion and sleep cycles.
The truth is, in order to have and maintain a healthy metabolism, you have to work with your body’s natural processes. While it is true that every person has different genetics, lifestyle, and temperament, physiologically, everyone’s body works the same. By simply understanding and applying certain truths, everyone can learn to manage their metabolism and control their weight.
5 Myths about Your Metabolism
These 5 common misconceptions about your metabolism will keep you in a continuous battle to lose weight, or worse, cause you to give up all together. So let’s break them down.
1. Having a fast metabolism means you are healthy.
This is simply not true; in fact, the very opposite is true. I’m sure you know of someone who is super skinny despite the fact that they are eating all the time. It doesn’t seem to matter what they eat or how much they eat, they simply do not gain weight. While people struggling with weight issues may find this very enviable, this is not always so desirable for the super skinny person. A closer look at the person with the “high metabolism” reveals not only a lack of body fat, but also a lack of muscle. Also missing are the usually desirable curves in all the right places, as well as a general feeling of dissatisfaction.
What is happening physiologically is that although food is being regularly eaten, the body is not breaking down the food and utilizing the nutrients that are available in it. Food ends up passing through the body quickly and wholly undigested, leaving the individual unfulfilled and hungry again in just a couple of hours. This person is actually malnourished. Worse yet, very harmful by-products are being produced inside the body that damages cells and causes premature aging; they are called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGE).
2. Having a slow metabolism means that you will be fat and unhealthy.
A slow metabolism is often associated with someone who cannot lose weight no matter how little they eat. Since the beginning of time, when God created humans, we have lived through a series of periods of famine and bounty. The human race has survived due to having a very adaptable body.
During times of famine, food was scarce, and people were often under-nourished. Lack of food in the belly caused the body to become very conservative with everything that was eaten. Digestive efficiency increased to the point that any “extra” food eaten (food that was not required to sustain the body) was stored as fat.
This is what happens when meals are regularly skipped, or are too small to support the body’s needs. Instead, regularly eaten meals that have the correct balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to fuel the body will keep you out of “famine mode”.
In truth, a slower metabolism is healthier than a high metabolism because your body is more efficient at digesting and utilizing what food is eaten. Determining how much food is required to meet your body’s needs without storing excess fat must take into account your fitness level, as well as your activity level.
3. I can’t change my metabolism because it is genetically set.
Genes are like sub-codes that influence our body and help to determine who we are. Many are inherited from our parents and grandparents, or even from further back in our family. For all the genes that are present in our DNA, not all of them are active at one time. Some genes, like the ones that determine height, hair color, eye color, and facial features are dominant and always “turned on”. However, many genes have the ability to be turned on or off.
This is particularly evident in the study of disease on a genetic level. Scientists have identified certain genes in DNA that are thought to be responsible for everything from heart disease and different types of cancer to Alzheimer’s disease. What is not understood by science is what “turns on” certain genes or keeps others “turned off”, since not everyone who has the genes for disease develops it.
Based on the way our body has developed, it is safe to assume that each body has its own natural tendencies to create balance within itself. But people of all shapes and sizes, and genetic tendencies have survived alongside one another throughout the ages. What this indicates is that within each person is the ability to adapt to the current conditions of life. The key is to understand your individual genetic tendencies (to easily gain weight or to be too thin) and to work with your body to turn on the more desirable genes while suppressing the less desirable ones.
Many people with life-threatening diseases and conditions have been successfully restored to health, including maintaining a healthy weight, through simple changes in diet and lifestyle.
4. My lifestyle has nothing to do with my metabolism or my weight.
The human body was designed to be awake and active throughout the daylight hours. Well balanced regularly scheduled meals, and an adequate amount of sleep each night is virtually all that is needed to ensure enough energy to be productively busy day after day. Leading a life that is relatively carefree, with ample time to relax, enjoy time with friends and family, and participate in rewarding activities ensures a satisfying life without burn out.
Unfortunately, in today’s society we face situations every day that cause enough anxiety and stress, that adrenaline is released and our body believes that it needs to be in “survival mode” all the time. So fat burning stops because our body is utilizing the sugar in our blood.
Survival mode is activated during times of high stress. While fat is an excellent source of fuel for moderate sustained activity, it is not a good fuel for situations that your body considers to be life-threatening. When you find yourself in a situation in which adrenaline and quick action are called for, your body doesn’t have time to burn fat to provide the burst of energy that is needed to respond to the situation. Instead, your body burns sugar that is already present in your body. This process is something that has ensured the survival of the human race.
But you don’t have to be running for your life from a bear or tiger, or warring with a neighboring tribe for your body to think you are in a crisis. Life is much more complicated than it used to be, but stress is stress as far as your body is concerned. Without down time from stressful situations, your body will stay in sugar burning and just give up looking at your fat as a fuel source. The results of which will leave you craving quick sources of energy in the form of sugar and simple carbohydrates, and you will find that you are increasingly depressed, anxious, and exhausted.
5. I have to exercise a lot to speed up my metabolism.
There are certain things that we know about exercise. First, the more active that you are, the more fuel your body needs. This makes perfect sense. And, secondly, the more muscle mass that you have, the more fat that you will burn.
So ideally, any increase in your activity level will require more fuel for your body. This is the perfect opportunity to burn body fat. Science tells us that eating less calories than you need will cause your body to utilize stored fat, and result in weight loss. This is true most of the time.
This theory fails when the exercise is more stressful than enjoyable. In order to benefit from exercise, you must challenge your body enough to increase your body’s need to burn fat without stressing it so much that it must switch to burning sugar. Stress can come in the form of pushing your body too hard or mental pressure to attain a certain level of fitness, body shape, or overcoming the dread of the workout itself.
Ultimately, the best exercise is the one that you enjoy and can do consistently several times a week. By adjusting the amount and type of food you eat, along with increased activity level, you will lose weight while benefiting from increased energy, balanced hormones, and a better mood.
In short, a healthy metabolism is one in which fat burning is the primary source of fuel. Proper weight is achieved and maintained by eating regular meals of good quality food, getting adequate sleep, balancing food eaten with your activity level, and utilizing knowledge about your genetics and lifestyle to keep a healthy metabolism.
When you are feeling like your body is out of balance, these things can be restored by taking the time to reset how your body is functioning with a detox designed to promote fat burning and eliminate toxins that have built up in your body, promote relaxation, and includes gentle movements that restore flexibility and vibrancy. A good quality detox, like the Amazing 10 Day Detox offered by Your Total Health Experience, is a full body detox that nourishes your body while supporting fat burning; and can be done anytime to restore balance and reset metabolism.
