People are compulsive creatures. When one person does something, and it works for him, most people would follow suit. After all, if it worked for him, it can work for me, right? Wrong. When it comes to things like weight loss, every person is different. The way one person will lose weight is not the same way another will. Understanding that can help you save yourself from metabolism shutdown and all the problems that come with it.
Let’s talk about what Metabolic Shutdown is
Have you ever started on a diet, lost a lot of weight in the beginning then started piling it all back up? If you have, then that is because you forced your body into metabolic shutdown.
So, what is this concept that health buffs are always talking about? Basically, a metabolic shutdown is your body’s self-defense mechanism when it’s faced with starvation. That might sound a bit weird- how can you be starving while you’re eating the three or so meals that fad diets prescribe for you? The answer is simple. You’re denying your body the energy it needs to run.
Your body needs a number of calories to function effectively. The number varies by gender, weight, age and a host of other factors but on average it runs at 2,500 calories for men and 2,000 for calories for women. When you take on a diet that supplies a deficit of more than 600-700 calories below the required number of calories, you fool your body into thinking that food is running out. Your body then goes into starvation mode. It starts stocking up on fats to prevent starvation the same way a camel drinks water to prepare for water shortage. To top it off, your body starts burning your muscles- instead of fats- to sustain its need for fuel, and that slows down your metabolism.
Metabolic shutdown is caused by one of three things. Either you’re eating way too few calories, exercising too much or both.
Preventing and Fixing a Slow Metabolism with Singapore personal training
A slow metabolism is uncomfortable to live with. If you’ve never witnessed or experienced it, here is what it looks like. Weight gain, volatile moods, gut problems, fatigue, and depression- these are just a few symptoms of a slow metabolism. Because it’s bad for your health (not to mention uncomfortable), you should try getting a head start on preventing or fixing metabolic shutdown.
To keep from getting a metabolic shutdown in the first place, mold your menu around getting enough calories with the help of a little Singapore personal training. Include lots of protein in your diet because of its high satiety and stay away from processed foods. Also, remember not to overdo it in the gym, and you should be okay.
In case you already have a slow metabolism, switch from yo-yo dieting to a healthy balanced diet. You can also try reverse dieting (slowly adding calories into your diet until you cover the deficit). De-stress with meditation and nature walks and get enough sleep to enable your body to heal and recover from muscle loss. Get into a Singapore personal training program that allows you to keep up with your workout but which stresses your body less, for example, with less cardio. Do this and develop a faster metabolism in no time.