10 Daily Habits that Wreck You Metabolism

Lisa Franchi October 03, 2014

You work out. And you try to eat right. But the figures on the weighing scale seem stuck. If that’s the case, you could be engaged to some habits that are wrecking your metabolism – which is very important for your weight loss success. Here they are:

You’re into crash diets.

One of the easiest ways to destroy your metabolism is following a crash diet. Not only does it make your system out of whack, it doesn’t provide sustainable, long-term effects. So you’re just basically wasting your time and money.

You’re not drinking enough water.

Water plays a big role in weight loss. Your body needs fluid to perform every function it has to. And when there are not enough fluids in your body, you’re not burning as many calories. So make sure wherever you go, whatever you do – you always got a bottle of water with you. You may also increase your intake of natural fruit juices (we’re talking about whole fruits and vegetables that were juiced, not the ‘natural’ drinks you buy from grocery stores). And here’s one more tip – drink cold water more often – it takes more calories for your body to absorb cold water than the hot one.

You only do cardio.

Yes, aerobic exercises are good for your metabolism. They can get you burning lots and lots of calories. But if you want to double the rate at which your body burns calories, even when resting or sleeping, you must incorporate strength/weight training in your workout regime. Building lean muscles is a great way to boost your metabolism.

You lack sleep.

Sleep has a crucial role in keeping your metabolism strong. There’s no wonder why people who often lack sleep tend to weigh more than those who observe healthy sleep habits. Research shows that sleeping late can throw the hormones that control appetite, making you hungrier and causing you to eat more. Make sure you are getting at least 7 to 8 hours of full shut-eye, every night.

You’re eating too little protein.

Eating too little protein is one of the many diet mistakes most dieters do. Protein is a vital nutrient that doesn’t just keep hunger away, but also contributes to leaner muscles. And as mentioned a while ago, lean muscles can boost your metabolism. Protein also requires more energy to break down, so your body burn more calories just to digest it.

You love snacking before going to bed.

If you sleep early, you won’t be tempted to have a midnight snack. It is a common notion that we have to eat regularly to ensure that our metabolism goes perfectly well. But there’s also growing research suggesting that not eating for several hours could also be good for our body, and may even enhance our metabolic rate. Try to eat dinner at an earlier time. If you usually have it at 8pm, consider eating by 6pm. Then go to bed early, so you won’t be tempted to snack.

You don’t deal with stress right.

Stress is everywhere. We can’t avoid it. But, we can manage it and reduce its terrible effects on our health and well-being. When the amount of stress hormone cortisol in your system is constantly high, your body tends to be in the fat-storage mode. So never forget to add ‘relaxation’ and ‘me time’ in your daily to-do list. You deserve it! Practising work-life balance is also a key component to being healthy.

You don’t drink tea.

Caffeine has gotten a bad rap for years. But it’s actually a healthy compound that can boost your metabolism and reduce hunger pangs. No one’s suggesting that you overdo drinking coffee. Too much caffeine can have negative effects, instead of positive. When consumed in moderation, and without the sugary stuff (cream and sugar), drinking coffee is one easy way to amp your metabolism. Don’t like coffee? Want a healthier alternative? Go with green tea. Aside from caffeine, green tea has antioxidants and phytochemicals that boost metabolism and promote weight loss. What’s more, green tea offers protection from many diseases.

You’re not getting enough of the sunshine vitamin.

Vitamin D is also important for a fast metabolism. When you’re deficient in this vitamin, you lose weight slower and your levels of the hormone ghrelin (the hormone which makes you hungry) go up. While the sun is the best source of vitamin D, you can also get it from your diet by increasing your consumption of salmon and other fatty fish.

You’re always sitting.

Whether you work at home or in the office, sitting all day in front of your computer can be hurting your metabolism too, and slowing your way to weight loss. There are many ways sitting affects your metabolism. They include the following: inactivity increases your insulin resistance, it raises your lipid levels, it reduces your ability to reduce fat, lowers you bone density, and it stimulates fat storage. So sit less and move more!