No, just because you’re thinner doesn’t mean you burn food faster. Today I’m tackling 4 popular myths about your metabolism!
We’ve all seen it before: ‘eat these foods to “boost” your metabolism’!
What the heck does that even mean?!
How come my taller and thinner friend can eat whatever she wants and I can’t? She must have a faster metabolism…..
Not necessarily.
Hey everyone. How we doin’? Hope your Monday is alright so far!
*I was inspired by THIS article for the myths.*
Think of it this way: every time you swallow a bite of sandwich or slurp a smoothie (’cause it’s still summer to me), your body works hard to process the nutrients you’ve eaten. Long after the dishes are cleared and the food is digested, the nutrients you’ve taken in become the building blocks and fuel needed by your body. Your body gets the energy it needs from food through a process called metabolism.
Still, what the heck is that?
It’s basically the chemical reactions that take place in the body’s cells. Metabolism converts the fuel in the food we eat into the energy needed to power everything we do, from moving to thinking to growing. But with all of the fad diets and special “tricks” to speed up one’s metabolism (hot sauce?), the facts often get blurred with fiction. To help clear up the confusion, I’m busting 4 myths related to your metabolism.
Myth #1: Thinner individuals have a higher metabolism.
Some thinner people appear to eat whatever they want with no added weight gain. (Sigh), they must have a faster metabolism than the average person, right? Not exactly. Metabolism actually has quite a bit to do with body size, but not in the way many think. Since there is physically less of them to burn while at rest, slimmer folks have slower resting metabolisms As a result, larger people usually burn more calories at rest, or have a higher metabolism, than their thinner counterparts.
Now don’t go running off to Federal Donuts just yet. It’s not just any additional weight that boosts metabolism. Muscle, in particular, has a huge effect on the amount of overall calories someone burns throughout the day. More muscle usually means faster metabolism. Don’t be afraid to lift those weights, people!
Truth: While body size does factor in, body composition has a far greater effect on metabolism.
Myth #2: Skipping a meal slows down your metabolism.
Anyone looking to drop a few pounds should be eating frequent meals and snacks throughout the day right? It turns out that how frequently someone eats has little to do with the speed of their metabolism. Eating every four hours is more common for those trying to establish better portion and choice control. The most important factors to consider are the quantity and quality of the food we eat. Whether you eat 2,000 calories of rice in one sitting or spread it out throughout the day, it still has a similar effect.
Truth: Quality and quantity of foods have greater effect on metabolism than how often you eat.
Myth #3: Everything eaten late at night turns to fat.
“Avoid eating late at night” is one of the most popular pieces of nutrition advice on the planet. While we might think our bodies have an internal clock set to store anything eaten after 8 p.m. as fat, it’s not that simple. Many aspects including various hormones, food quality, and food content influence how our bodies store fuel. Instead of focusing on the time of eating, more attention should be placed on what and how much we’re eating. In fact, having a meal late at night isn’t any worse than eating at any other point during the day. As long as the meal consists of healthy foods!
Save that bucket of ice cream for a break up….
Truth: If you’re eating the right types of calories and food for your body, eating later at night shouldn’t affect your weight.
Myth #4: You have no control over your metabolism.
When faced with unwanted weight, it’s easy to put the blame on your metabolism. However, it turns out that you have more control over your metabolism than you think. Besides body composition and strength training affecting your metabolism, there are other things you can do every day to keep your body at its most optimal:
- Sleep more. Sleep-deprived individuals have a decreased ability to manage blood sugar levels and also may find themselves hungrier for not-so-healthy foods.
- Gulp down some water. Ditch the sugary energy drinks (unless you had surgery and need to replace electrolytes). Hydrating with water also plays a key role in helping to regulate whole-body metabolism.
- Get enough protein. Food choices (especially protein intake) have a HUGE impact on metabolism. It’s more common for those taking in normal levels of protein to have a higher energy expenditure at rest. Why? Protein builds muscle, right? More muscle, faster metabolism. Booyah.
Truth: Simple food modifications and exercise habits can make a big difference in your metabolic rate (or how fast your burn calories) at rest.
If you are considering making ANY drastic changes to your lifestyle, be sure to consult with your doctor first. After all, he’s the one with the degree on his wall.
Did some of those myths have you fooled?
Me too.
But hey, that’s what Mondays on A Dancer’s Live-It are for!
Have a great day everyone and BE WELL.❤