Great metabolism myths. There seem to be a lot of misconceptions about our metabolisms and how they work. I frequently hear people blaming slow metabolisms on their family history or for how they can’t lose weight. So it’s time to discuss some of the myths out there.

GREAT METABOLISM MYTHS

Skinny people have fast metabolisms. It’s really common to hear people saying, “oh so and so is skinny, so they must have a fast metabolism”. I’ve probably blurted that out myself but that’s actually false. People who are heavier have faster resting metabolisms simply because they have more mass than their thinner counterparts. Perhaps a better way to look at it is to consider muscle mass, which will go a long way to help you lose weight. More muscle mass tends to give you a higher metabolism.

Don’t eat late at night. How many times have you heard that you shouldn’t eat late at night and especially not past 8pm? Well I’ll let you in on another little secret, not true. I’m even living proof of this. When I was dancing hours and hours each day, I would get home late and eat a big bowl of pasta, yet I was really fit and thin. It’s really not about what time you eat, it comes down to how much and what you eat. Also, it’s not like your metabolism comes to a grinding halt when you sleep. Your body is still working.

Don’t skip meals. This is one of my favourites. How many times have you been told to eat breakfast because it will jumpstart your metabolism. Not true. Sure there are other very good reasons to eat first thing in the morning but it has nothing to do with your metabolism.  That goes for skipping a meal here and there. Sure you might overeat at the next meal and you might find that you don’t have as much energy but there is no proof that your metabolism will slow down. For those with specific dietary needs this point might not completely apply.

Eat lots of small meals. The reasoning behind this one is that if your body burns calories (breaking down the food and absorbing nutrients) when you eat then if you are constantly eating it would be constantly burning calories. Well it’s not quite that simple because in the end whether you eat 6 small meals or 3 big meals, the increase in your metabolism will be proportional to how much you’ve eaten. In the end it all balances itself out.

Eat (insert food here) to speed up your metabolism.  I can’t even think of how many articles I’ve seen that tell you to eat spicy food or some type of herbs or spices to boost your metabolism. While they might temporarily give your metabolism a small boost, the amount is just too small to make a difference. To find out more about your metabolism and what you can do to give it that kick read: How To Boost Your Metabolism.

Yo-yo dieting will ruin your metabolism. Again, not so. Although constantly loosing and gaining weight will cause other health issues and it certainly isn’t the best thing you can do for yourself, it won’t actually slow down your metabolism permanently. It’s more of a psychological game that you play because you’ve lost and gained so many times, you become more jaded and tend to lean toward giving up faster.

Your metabolism is pre-determined. Sure, some people have an easier time gaining or losing weight, but there’s still a lot you can do. Gaining muscle is one of your best options to keeping your metabolism revved up (and I’d like to add that this point also applies to you as you age).

It’s really not about what time you eat or about finding that one magical food. Your metabolism will pretty much stay the same from day to day. Instead, what you want to focus on is your activity levels, how much you are moving and the types of food you are eating.

Have you heard of any other metabolism myths?

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