I have a slow metabolism

usmcmp

Not really. I thought I did for several years because I ate "healthy" and exercised. I didn't understand that I was eating more than I should have been. I also didn't understand how far off I really was recording my food intake. I had my Resting Metabolic Rate tested before I started trying to lose weight and it was much higher than I thought.

Here is a great example of a woman who learned the same thing I did.
http://youtu.be/KA9AdlhB18o

More than 100 DLW (doubly-labeled water) studies, published in the world's leading medical journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), International Journal of Obesity Research, etc., have consistently found exactly the same thing the researchers in this documentary found. Literally thousands of thin and overweight people have been tested using this ingenious method. Not only does the DLW testing enable researchers to accurately determine a person's metabolic rate, it allows them to calculate how many calories they actually consumed during the test (usually a 7- to 14-day period). Invariably, virtually ALL of the 100s of published DLW and related studies over the past 20+ years conclusively prove three things:

1) Overweight people don't have slow/defective metabolisms -- they usually have much faster metabolisms,

2) They burn far fewer calories in physical activity than they think do.

3) They don't know how much they are actually eating (in terms of total caloric intake) and underreport all the food and/or quantities they consume when tracking it via food diaries, questionnaires, or from recall.

The narrator notes elsewhere in the documentary that studies show the average person typically underreport their intake about 50%. That means that if they really ate 3,000 calories per day like this woman did, they would record/report they ate only about 1,500 calories per day (and believe it like this woman did). A 100-calorie per day mistake every day for a year equals a 10-lb weight gain.

The DLW testing, and other methods of metabolic testing and research over the past several decades has shed light on several myths about why people are overweight and "believe" they can't lose it.

Video Source: BBC Documentary 10 Things You Need to Know About Losing Weight.

Cranquistador

IN

SugaryLynx

Love, as always ♡♡

_TastySnoBalls_

:flowerforyou:

firstsip

In to offer the qualifier of: "But I have _____ hormonal issue."

You're an outlier. Exceptions to a rule are just that; an exception. It's also not AS common as people think (As so many insist they have a certain disorder only to have a nice clean bill of health, even after extensive testing. Often, it really is just underestimating how much you eat).

GiveMeCoffee

Love this post! :flowerforyou:

Cliffslosinit

I am a special snowflake....

LishieFruit89

Tagging to watch video later

Thanks =]

usmcmp

In to offer the qualifier of: "But I have _____ hormonal issue."

You're an outlier. Exceptions to a rule are just that; an exception. It's also not AS common as people think (As so many insist they have a certain disorder only to have a nice clean bill of health, even after extensive testing. Often, it really is just underestimating how much you eat).

Very true. I was diagnosed with PCOS by TWO doctors who only listened to me tell them I couldn't lose weight even though I dieted (my diet was mainly fast food at that time). They did zero testing. Once I finally went through testing for thyroid and PCOS it was determined I was very healthy with no issues at all. I was just obese because I ate too much.

3dogsrunning

I saw this a little while ago and thought it was very interesting.

In to follow further discussion.

The_Enginerd

In

MoreBean13

Yup.

jonnythan

Saw thread title, and started channeling my rage the way Ryu channels his energy for the Hadoken.

Then I saw who posted it, and that rage was replaced with disappointment, and then the disappoint was replaced with righteous fire.

Good post.

CallMeCupcakeDammit

This is exactly what I thought. Then I had my metabolism tested, expecting to see a ridiculously low number, and my RMR came back over 1600. The nutritionist said my metabolism was actually higher than average for someone with my stats. It came down to inconsistent logging. Shocker!

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

:drinker:

SezxyStef

In to watch videos later...and to remind myself to watch secret eaters...

and for the ensuing debate from those who are going to insist they are the exceptions.

Otterluv

Yep! When my scale stops moving even though my supposed deficit has me at xxx weightloss rate, I know I've gotten sloppy. Either my burn rates are too high or my logging has gotten sloppy.

This is a good thing, because I know that as long as my thyroid meds are where they need to be (and they are), then I am in control. I like being in control.

Blokeypoo

Agree, in 30yrs nursing very few pts have a medical cause for being overweight be it medication, metabolism, hormones etc.

Even my transplant patients on immunosuppression and high dose steroids don't often gain THAT much weight and it settles with time.

Sadly I have a formerly underweight now overweight brother who insists his sleep apnoea and other issues are nothing to do with weight and would not improve if he lost it, my experience of such patients is quite the opposite.....

usmcmp

Needs a bump.

The first step in weight loss is to be honest with yourself.

Very true! When I stop losing weight it's because I stopped weighing food or started snacking and not logging (those small handfuls of almonds add up fast as do the two french fries from each kid and a bite of their hamburger).

elyelyse

And this is why, even though I've been fighting the same few pounds for months, I haven't come to the forums to complain about my slow metabolism or genetics (which, truly are not working in my favor lol, but I can't blame that) or how it's not fair how "naturally skinny" people can eat so much. Instead, I got more precise weighing my food, log fewer exercise calories...and take responsibility that yes, that handful of pistachios and granola that I ate when I woke up in the middle of the night and forgot to log is on me...not my metabolism.
(The damn scale still has still barely budged, but I can feel myself moving in the right direction...and my *kitten* looks great!)

ScientificExplorerGirl

Bump.
Great post!
I need to watch the video.

JewelsinBigD

I have had my metabolism tested - it is slower than normal but not by a lot and that is AFTER 2 years of working out at the gym 5-9 hours a week. God only knows how bad it was before I started working out. There is variation in metabolism - and some people are more famine resistant than others. You talk about a small variation in intake- 100 calories a day adding up to 10 pounds- what if your metabolism was 5 or 10% below normal- what would that look like over time? Mine is now 5% below normal - I have no idea how much lower than normal it was before I started my gym-rat phase. I am losing slowly- but knowing that it was going to be slower is good information- I know it will happen if I keep going- there are just days like today I have to keep reminding myself..

usmcmp

I have had my metabolism tested - it is slower than normal but not by a lot and that is AFTER 2 years of working out at the gym 5-9 hours a week. God only knows how bad it was before I started working out. There is variation in metabolism - and some people are more famine resistant than others. You talk about a small variation in intake- 100 calories a day adding up to 10 pounds- what if your metabolism was 5 or 10% below normal- what would that look like over time? Mine is now 5% below normal - I have no idea how much lower than normal it was before I started my gym-rat phase. I am losing slowly- but knowing that it was going to be slower is good information- I know it will happen if I keep going- there are just days like today I have to keep reminding myself..

Having it tested and KNOWING it is slower is the key. Most people just assume their metabolism is slow because they are overweight.

elyelyse

Where does one go to have themselves tested? Not because I think I'm slow and want validation...but because having a more scientifically based number could be helpful.

usmcmp

Where does one go to have themselves tested? Not because I think I'm slow and want validation...but because having a more scientifically based number could be helpful.

I had mine done on the military base I was stationed at. There's a medical center near me that does it. Maybe your GP could help you find one?

mustgetmuscles1

First I was like


But then I was like

Holly_Roman_Empire

INteresting.

frangrann

wow interesting

MoreBean13

Where does one go to have themselves tested? Not because I think I'm slow and want validation...but because having a more scientifically based number could be helpful.

I had mine done on the military base I was stationed at. There's a medical center near me that does it. Maybe your GP could help you find one?

A lot of universities have sports science labs where they offer services like RMR testing, VO2max testing, Bodpod/dexa/hydrostatic scans to the public for a (usually pretty reasonable) fee. I would call around and/or look at the websites for nearby universities- particularly those with hefty athletic programs.

ninerbuff

Had this conversation with a consult last night. Let her know it's not a "slow metabolism" that's the issue, but rather over consumption and lack of physical activity (she sits at a desk all day).
She signed up with a 20 pack and starts tomorrow. Bet her slow metabolism speeds up now.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

DamePiglet

I have had my metabolism tested - it is slower than normal but not by a lot and that is AFTER 2 years of working out at the gym 5-9 hours a week. God only knows how bad it was before I started working out. There is variation in metabolism - and some people are more famine resistant than others. You talk about a small variation in intake- 100 calories a day adding up to 10 pounds- what if your metabolism was 5 or 10% below normal- what would that look like over time? Mine is now 5% below normal - I have no idea how much lower than normal it was before I started my gym-rat phase. I am losing slowly- but knowing that it was going to be slower is good information- I know it will happen if I keep going- there are just days like today I have to keep reminding myself..

I would think a 5-10% difference is well within the range of test error.

The thyroid endocrine system is designed to alter metabolism naturally. It varies with temperature after long-term exposure. People who live in a cold climate have a higher basal metabolic rate so to generate for off-setting heat to warm their bodies. The opposite for those dwelling in a warm climate.

can I blame weight gain on my hot climate?


(just kidding)