Learn to identify the telling signs you have a slow metabolism and what you can do to reset your body naturally.
Struggling with weight issues is a daily fight that many of us carry. Whether we have a few extra pounds that we want to get rid of, or we have those pesky feelings of being bloated or cravings that won’t go away, you can learn about clear pointing signs you have a slow metabolism.
Even though there is not a magical cure or answer on how to fix a slow metabolism, there are many ways in which we can help our system improve the way it processes our daily food intake.
In order to understand the effects of slow metabolism and find the way to “reset” it, it is important that we take a look at the actual causes. Signs you have a slow metabolism can be many and varied; this means that it does not only affect your weight, but your body may be showing other telling signs of this constant struggle.
Some of the most telling signs you have a slow metabolism include:
Zero Weight Loss
Struggling with the scale and not being able to see an improvement despite your efforts, your dietary restrictions and the changes in your exercise regime can be extremely disappointing, and a slow metabolism may be the cause.
Actual Wight Gain
Even when you keep up a healthy diet, or you go on an unhealthy restrictive path but you still gain weight. Your body goes into an “emergency mode” where it actually tries to store the little food intake it receives in order to function properly. This is one of the ways through which extreme dieting backfires.
Changes In Appearance
The same hormones that regulate the way your metabolism work, are the ones that keep your hair, nails and skin looking healthy. So pay close attention to dryness or dull skin, brittle nails and flaky hair.
Feeling Bloated
Changes in the amounts of food you take, as well as adding certain ingredients to your regime, can cause bloating and the sensation of fullness, a clearly indicator of a slow metabolism.
Certain Foods
The way your body reacts (bloating, lethargy, stomachache, etc.) are telling effects of slow metabolism. Notice how you feel after eating white flour, farmed beef (vs. grass-fed), soda (high fructose corn syrup), omega 6 fatty-acids (the ones contained in butter, pork byproducts, cookies, certain candies, etc.).
Medical Reasons
In addition to these natural causes, there are medical situations that may be causing these signs you have a slow metabolism, like too much cortisol in your system, high levels of insulin, thyroid problems, low estrogen/testosterone, taking certain medications.
So, how to fix a slow metabolism? As we stated above, there is not magical cure to solve the problem in a few hours. However, there are practical changes that can be added to your lifestyle that may help you reset it and give it the much-desired boost.
Being active is obviously at the top of the list. Muscle burns way more calories each day than fat does. Strength/weight training 2 to 3 times a week increases the way your body uses and burns the calories, thus boosting your metabolism.
Including regular cardiovascular excessive in your lifestyle (at least 150 minutes per week) and choosing high-intensity cardio sessions will speed up the process AND, most importantly, will keep your metabolism revved for hours at a time.
Finally, changes in your diet can also have a major impact in the way your metabolism works. Your body burns more calories by digesting protein than it does by digesting carbs, and the protein also provides the nutrients necessary for muscle gain.
Just remember that, while this is not a quick how to fix a slow metabolism guide, making these adjustments on your daily life can make a difference on how you feel and how you look.
Sources:
https://caliberstrong.com/slow-metabolism/
https://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-loss/slow-metabolism-medical-reasons/
https://www.prevention.com/food/5-foods-that-slow-your-metabolism/slide/4
