SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S EITHER FEAST OR FAMINE
Does your metabolism work against you, even when you think you’re doing everything right?
You're not alone!
It’s time to take a good, hard look at how your metabolism really works...so I'm going to give you the top five metabolism myths so you can use your new knowledge to put your metabolism to work…
MYTH 1: YOUR METABOLISM WORKS FROM 9 TO 5
Difficult as it may be to believe, your body’s metabolism does not stop working when you do.
In fact, your metabolism works all day, every day. If it didn’t, you wouldn’t even have the energy to get out of bed, let alone hunt down those life goals. We're sure you've heard don't eat past a certain time in the evening, or it'll get stored as fat... MYTH. The time of day that you eat isn’t what makes you gain pounds. It’s what you eat. So if you think you can get away with eating that pizza or burger and shake without any consequences—just because you ate it at lunch and not late at night—think again! Keep your metabolism burning by eating smart all day long with several smaller meals, and have a healthy snack at night. Florida State University researchers found that when men consumed an evening snack that included 30 grams of protein, these men had a higher resting metabolic rate the next morning than when eating nothing. And with those stats, we're guessing it's pretty safe to say the women would have the same results. Why? Protein is the most thermogenic, meaning your body burns more calories to digest it, so try having a protein shake within an hour before going to bed, and then sleep well, knowing your metabolism is doing its thing even while you’re catching some Zzzzs.
MYTH 2: IT CAN’T BE CONTROLLED
You’ve probably met someone who seems to be able to eat anything they want without gaining weight.
You may have even dreamed of having such a metabolism.
Well, there’s good news! You may not have the metabolism that lets you do that just yet, but you can work toward it.
Help boost your metabolism by lifting weights, getting a good night of sleep, eating enough protein to power you through the day, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Want something more than water?
Here’s another smidgen of good news, a little caffeine in your daily intake will help you get rid of calories faster than going without. Just make sure your caffeine isn’t bathed in sugar and unnecessary calories ... yep, that means cutting out the milk and sugar.
MYTH 3: SKINNY FOLKS HAVE A HIGHER METABOLISM
Yes, a high metabolism can help you burn more calories than a low metabolism. But don’t let that fool you into thinking the skinniest people around have the highest metabolism.
Quite the contrary.
If the thinnest individuals had the highest metabolism, they would likely be dangerously underweight. As it is, when you are very thin, your metabolism will likely be lower, as there’s not much of you to burn away safely. However, you shouldn’t grab the ice cream carton in order to put on extra pounds to up your metabolism. Instead, you should focus on adding weight by way of muscle pounds the old-fashioned way, in the weight room.
MYTH 4: GETTING OLD MAKES YOUR METABOLISM GO BYE-BYE
OK, there is a bit of truth to this myth.
As you age, your metabolism will drop...some. Not enough to make a meaningful difference, but it does drop. Much of this decrease (again—it is almost negligible) is due to the typical muscle loss that accompanies aging. If you really want to curb your body’s age-related drop in metabolism, simply include resistance training in your exercise routine.
The heavier the better.
As you age, keep up the weight training and you’ll keep your metabolism strong and steady throughout all the stages of life. In the event it does drop a little, you’ll be in such good shape you won’t notice.
Just remember you need to be sure to refuel after your workouts. You won't see results or gain muscle mass if you are hitting the gym hard and not giving your body the nourishment and energy it needs for sustainable muscle growth.
My go-to post-workout meal is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie with 1 scoop whey protein powder, 2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter (no sugars added), and 1/2 of a banana. This smoothie is a great balance of macronutrients and electrolytes to replenish and restore.
MYTH 5: YOU CAN EAT YOUR WAY TO HIGHER METABOLISM
We all know too well how many weight loss fads come and go, and hey, like us, you've probably given them all a try! But the simple fact is when it comes to achieving and maintaining your most effective metabolism, a consistent and challenging exercise routine is key.
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