Signs of an increasing metabolism?

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After coming to a plateau early on in this journey, thanks to some other forums, I realized that I was consuming too few calories for my activity level. So I increased my caloric intake from 1250 up to 1650. I've only been at this new level for a couple of weeks, and I'm not actually losing more, but I'm noticing some changes. For instance, my body, mainly my legs, get hot and flushed a little while after I eat a meal now and I find my legs shaking a lot more at my desk after lunch.

I was wondering what are some of the signs that your metabolism is getting higher? I'm not asking for tips to increase my metabolism, I'm asking for symptoms that your metabolism IS increasing, other than weight loss. I'm just trying to figure out if I've added enough calories to kinda jumpstart my metabolism again.
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Replies

  • Cindym82
    Cindym82 Posts: 1,245 Member
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    usually not a good sign if ur shaking after eating
  • Claire594
    Claire594 Posts: 357 Member
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    Bump. I'd like to know this too.
  • NicoletheFaye
    NicoletheFaye Posts: 19 Member
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    usually not a good sign if ur shaking after eating

    It's not uncontrollable shaking, more like fidgeting of which I am only semi-conscious. When I was younger, I remember a woman from my church whose leg would shake all the time in this way and she said it was because she had a high metabolism. I'm just curious to know if anybody knew one way or the other.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
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    return of 'useless movement'- such as fiddling, rocking, bopping along to music in traffic etc.
    hair begins to stop falling out/thinning and becomes thicker and more oily
    recovery from workouts is faster and more efficient
    bowl movement frequency returns to normal
    sweating begins again
    increased quality in sleep
    decreased need for excessive *over ten hours* of sleep
    increased appetite
  • NicoletheFaye
    NicoletheFaye Posts: 19 Member
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    return of 'useless movement'- such as fiddling, rocking, bopping along to music in traffic etc.
    hair begins to stop falling out/thinning and becomes thicker and more oily
    recovery from workouts is faster and more efficient
    bowl movement frequency returns to normal
    sweating begins again
    increased quality in sleep
    decreased need for excessive *over ten hours* of sleep
    increased appetite

    Thank you so much for the information! That's a great list! Might I ask for your sources or is this from personal experience? I want to become better educated on this topic.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
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    Thank you so much for the information! That's a great list! Might I ask for your sources or is this from personal experience? I want to become better educated on this topic.

    You're gonna love this ;)
    http://jn.nutrition.org/content/135/6/1347.full

    Follow their list of symptoms that started when inducing mild starvation- add them back and you'll get improvement symptoms.

    Also- yep some personal experience in there too. Anecdotal doesn't float a source so figured the journal of nutrition will have to do lol
  • NicoletheFaye
    NicoletheFaye Posts: 19 Member
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    Thank you so much for the information! That's a great list! Might I ask for your sources or is this from personal experience? I want to become better educated on this topic.

    You're gonna love this ;)
    http://jn.nutrition.org/content/135/6/1347.full

    Follow their list of symptoms that started when inducing mild starvation- add them back and you'll get improvement symptoms.

    Also- yep some personal experience in there too. Anecdotal doesn't float a source so figured the journal of nutrition will have to do lol

    Thank you once again! More than anything, I like to know that I'm not crazy and I value others' experiences highly. But I'm also a bit of an avid learner and this whole starvation mode / eat more thing seems so counterintuitive. I'd like to read up to cut down on my frustration.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,121 Member
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    Congratulations for wanting to learn more about the actual science.


    The dieting industry has been selling us B.S. for decades.

    You do need to eat more to lose and stay healthy. Being thin is meaningless if you have no quality of life: i.e., sleep all the time, are depressed, have poor skin and hair, and get ill frequently.
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    Thanks for that link, Gemiwing! I've heard description of that experiment and didn't understand who would possibly participate in something so extreme and (frankly) dangerous. It's good to see the context in which the experiment was conducted, and the reasons that people would voluntarily let themselves be subjected to such treatment.
  • MusicLady718
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    return of 'useless movement'- such as fiddling, rocking, bopping along to music in traffic etc.
    hair begins to stop falling out/thinning and becomes thicker and more oily
    recovery from workouts is faster and more efficient
    bowl movement frequency returns to normal
    sweating begins again
    increased quality in sleep
    decreased need for excessive *over ten hours* of sleep
    increased appetite

    Thanks! I was wondering about that!
  • NicoletheFaye
    NicoletheFaye Posts: 19 Member
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    Thank you, cmriverside! The way I see it, and I'm sure quite a lot of people on here feel the same way, I can't stick with something that isn't sustainable. I want a lifestyle change, not a quick fix.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
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    Thanks for that link, Gemiwing! I've heard description of that experiment and didn't understand who would possibly participate in something so extreme and (frankly) dangerous. It's good to see the context in which the experiment was conducted, and the reasons that people would voluntarily let themselves be subjected to such treatment.

    Another great MFP inspiration (31prvrbs) had this link up on her blog. It's absolutely amazing what they did and why they did it. I have massive respect for them and for their sacrifice. The data we have from their service is invaluable and has saved me, personally.
  • motherofgrace
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    bump :)
  • annalee_1
    annalee_1 Posts: 236 Member
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    Bump
  • pauljsolie
    pauljsolie Posts: 1,024 Member
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    late night bump
  • dgjewels49
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    bump
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
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    bump for later use
  • cjpg
    cjpg Posts: 433 Member
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    return of 'useless movement'- such as fiddling, rocking, bopping along to music in traffic etc.
    hair begins to stop falling out/thinning and becomes thicker and more oily
    recovery from workouts is faster and more efficient
    bowl movement frequency returns to normal
    sweating begins again
    increased quality in sleep
    decreased need for excessive *over ten hours* of sleep
    increased appetite

    I've recently kickstarted my metabolism into overdrive accidentally!
    The last three weeks I wasn't losing any weight. Long story short, currently I'm eating more and exercising less and my metabolism is going crazy. I noticed a few of these things but have been so baffled about them. Especially the following:

    return of 'useless movement'- such as fiddling, rocking, bopping along to music in traffic etc.
    I keep fidgeting and am finding it very difficult to sit still. Waiting for the bus is killing me!

    sweating begins again
    last night it was a pretty standard warm to cool night, but I was sweating like crazy. I went to bed to relax and it just wouldn't stop for a solid hour... i was so confused but this explains a lot.

    increased appetite
    i have to be careful on this one. Trying to get as close to my calories here, but instead of the normal 3 meals a day I find myself having 5 smaller meals and am craving carbs this week intensely. So i've decided to listen to my body and increase my output if i go over by too much.

    There are so many other indicators, but these definitely are the big ones.
  • lizzys
    lizzys Posts: 841 Member
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    do you have more energy, can you eat more and stay the same, dose your exercise make you feel real good,sweating yes shaking no i don't think so
  • scottc561
    scottc561 Posts: 329 Member
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    I just read the article on the study. During the starvation phase they ate 1560 calories per day. I would have guessed they would have ate alot less to starve. There are tons of people on here that eat alot less then that.