6 Surprising Reasons Why Your Metabolism Might Be Slow
Published March 26, 2023.
High metabolism helps with faster weight loss, while a slow metabolism can make it difficult to lose weight and keep it off. Lifestyle choices significantly impact your metabolism, and some signs of slow metabolism include headaches, ongoing fatigue, and unexplained weight gain. Here are six surprising reasons why your metabolism might be slow and how you can boost it for better health and weight management.
6 Reasons Why Your Metabolism Might Be Slow
- Lack of sleep
- Drinking sugary beverages
- Dehydration
- Stress
- Strict dieting
- Lack of strength training
1. Lack of Sleep
Does lack of sleep slow metabolism?
Yes, it does. Inadequate sleep or poor sleep quality can slow down your metabolism.
Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Prolonged sleep deprivation lowers your resting metabolic rate, resulting in weight gain. Sleep deprivation also causes an increase in ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and a decrease in leptin (the hormone that signals fullness), leading to weight gain, obesity, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
2. Drinking Sugary Beverages
Does sugar slow metabolism?
Yes, it does.
High consumption of sugar, especially from sweetened drinks and sugary sodas, is linked to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. These beverages cause your blood glucose levels to spike and then drop, triggering hunger. Sugary beverages slow down metabolism and cause faster weight gain.
3. Dehydration
Dehydration can slow down your body's metabolism. Drinking enough water can increase your metabolism and help you burn more calories. Drinking a few cups of water every hour can increase your metabolism. Also, note that alcohol slows down metabolism. When you drink alcohol, your liver prioritizes breaking down the alcohol over other metabolic processes, such as burning fat for energy. This means that any food you eat while drinking alcohol is more likely to be stored as fat rather than burned for energy.
» Learn how proper hydration can help you lose fat
4. Stress
How does stress affect metabolism?
Chronic stress can slow down your metabolism while increasing your appetite for unhealthy foods. When you are stressed, your body releases the hormone cortisol, which can slow down your metabolism and lead to an increase in body fat. Cortisol can cause an increase in belly fat, which in turn, is linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
5. Strict Dieting
Does eating less calories slow down your metabolism?
Yes, eating fewer calories than your body needs can slow down your metabolism.
When you reduce your calorie intake, your body adjusts to using fewer calories for energy, leading to a decrease in your metabolic rate. Even moderate calorie restriction can cause a reduction in metabolism, making it harder to lose weight over time. For healthy metabolism and weight management, it's important to find a healthy balance between your calorie intake and physical activities.
6. Lack of Strength Training
Is it hard to lose weight with slow metabolism?
A slow metabolism does make it hard to lose weight. But it is possible to overcome these limitations by doing activities that raise metabolism. Strength training can help you increase your resting metabolic rate. This is because strength training helps increase muscle mass, and having a higher amount of fat-free mass in your body increases the number of calories you burn at rest. Even minimal amounts of strength training can help boost metabolism and aid in weight loss efforts.
» Here's how many calories you can burn in a short workout
Boost Your Metabolism in Just 7 Minutes
If you're looking for a quick and effective way to boost your metabolism and burn calories, I highly recommend trying the 7-minute workout by TDC.
This workout alternates between 30 seconds of maximum effort exercise and a brief period of rest, making it a high-intensity workout that can help improve your stamina and support weight loss.
One of the key benefits of this workout is that it can be done at home, making it a convenient option for people with busy schedules. This high-intensity interval training routine can help boost your metabolism and keep your body burning calories even after you've finished the workout.
Regularly incorporating this workout into your routine can also help improve cardiovascular health, increase muscle strength and endurance, and improve overall fitness levels. By understanding the factors that slow down your metabolism and making adjustments to your lifestyle, you can take control of your weight management and improve your overall health.
