Revving up your metabolism...

Marcillene
Marcillene Posts: 484 Member
edited November 9 in Food and Nutrition
I've read about some people having a day every once in a while where they eat more calories and carbs to amp their metabolism back up...

Does anyone have any input or experience with this?

Replies

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    I've done this, but the term "revving up your metabolism" isn't really that correct. If it were slower than it should be, chemical reactions wouldn't take place fast enough in your body.

    I'm not actually 100% positive that it works, but the next couple of weeks after the 'binge', my weight decreased as normal but then I plateaued again. But this can't speak for everyone.

    It's your call
  • xcalygrl
    xcalygrl Posts: 1,897 Member
    This is normally called a refeed day.

    Here's a link to a search done here on MFP where refeed days are discussed: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/search?adv=&search=refeed&title=&author=&cat=all&tags=&discussion_d=1&comment_c=1&group_group=1&within=1+day&date=
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    This is known as a refeed. When you diet, there is some element of adaptation that occurs in the your metabolism dials down and becomes more efficient to compensate for the intake of less energy...basically an evolutionary survival response. A refeed supposedly compensates for this. IMO, the science isn't really very sound but some people swear by it.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    From my understanding - and I may very well be incorrect in how I've interpreted it - is that the refeed doesn't actually "rev up" your metabolism, rather it simply helps keep your metabolism from going to hell when on an extended low Calorie diet.
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    edited January 2015
    Is there really any way to increase your metabolism? I have read that muscle burns only 6-10 calories per pound (at rest), which isn't very significant, considering how difficult it is to put on muscle. So what's the solution? Is there any?
  • Sam_I_Am77
    Sam_I_Am77 Posts: 2,093 Member
    Exercise will help augment weight-loss which I guess you can say is increasing metabolism in a way. As far as nutrition is concerned, just try and "diet" on as many calories as possible. If you maintenance is 2000 calories then try dieting on 1900 calories first and see if you lose weight. The more of a deficit you maintain, the more negative consequence it will have upon your metabolism. There is a statistic that something like 80% of people that lose their target weight gain it back and this one big reason why. Carbs and Fat will be highly individualized between people and you will have to play around with quantities to determine their affect upon your physique.
  • Marcillene
    Marcillene Posts: 484 Member
    Thank you everyone, and thank you for the link.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    Is there really any way to increase your metabolism? I have read that muscle burns only 6-10 calories per pound (at rest), which isn't very significant, considering how difficult it is to put on muscle. So what's the solution? Is there any?

    The key there is "at rest." Most people don't rest all day. So, if you use the extra muscle you've built, you will burn more calories. Build more leg muscles, you burn more calories walking, running, dancing, climbing stairs, etc.

  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    evileen99 wrote: »
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    Is there really any way to increase your metabolism? I have read that muscle burns only 6-10 calories per pound (at rest), which isn't very significant, considering how difficult it is to put on muscle. So what's the solution? Is there any?

    The key there is "at rest." Most people don't rest all day. So, if you use the extra muscle you've built, you will burn more calories. Build more leg muscles, you burn more calories walking, running, dancing, climbing stairs, etc.
    This. I know there are some on this forum who have gained a certain amount of muscle, but their maintenance calories went up by a lot more than just 6 extra per pound.

  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    evileen99 wrote: »
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    Is there really any way to increase your metabolism? I have read that muscle burns only 6-10 calories per pound (at rest), which isn't very significant, considering how difficult it is to put on muscle. So what's the solution? Is there any?

    The key there is "at rest." Most people don't rest all day. So, if you use the extra muscle you've built, you will burn more calories. Build more leg muscles, you burn more calories walking, running, dancing, climbing stairs, etc.

    Yeah, that's why I said "at rest." I know that exercise increases your calorie expenditure, but that's not what I was talking about.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,224 Member
    My completely personal, subjective experience has been that when I plateau, a splurge day gets my weight moving down again. It seems counterintuative, but it's worked!
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    Not sure you can rev up your metabolism but in my own experience during the last year I have maintained the weight loss easily without much exercise (I have joint issues) although I have high calorie days. So I think that my metabolism has become more normal and my body doesn't immediately respond to overeating by piling on the weight. Never experienced this before always put the weight back on really fast. So maybe changing your calorie intake up and down can help regulate your metabolism. Or I could just be talking rubbish, I do that quite often. <wanders off to look for squirrels>
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited January 2015
    evileen99 wrote: »
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    Is there really any way to increase your metabolism? I have read that muscle burns only 6-10 calories per pound (at rest), which isn't very significant, considering how difficult it is to put on muscle. So what's the solution? Is there any?

    The key there is "at rest." Most people don't rest all day. So, if you use the extra muscle you've built, you will burn more calories. Build more leg muscles, you burn more calories walking, running, dancing, climbing stairs, etc.

    It's not that simple. The muscle you build has to be functional to the activity you're doign, and you have to work it by covering more distance, faster, etc.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    My metabolism has been really good since I started eating small meals every 2 hours.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I've found the best way to rev up the metabolism is the not be lazy method. WHen there is an option, park further away than you need to, take the stairs etc. It all adds up at the end of the day.
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