10 Metabolism Myths holding you back from weight loss

Struggling to shift the pounds? Here we explore some common metabolism myths, explaining what you may be doing wrong!

It's true that losing weight, in its simplest form, is a matter of easy math: consume fewer calories than you burn, and the net result is weight loss. While this is a pretty good place to start in your goal towards getting healthy and slim, for some, this motto is an oversimplification. In reality, weight gain is often a complicated matter involving food, hormones, and lifestyle factors like stress levels, health complications, and sleep quality. So, losing that weight can be more difficult for some people. Understanding how your metabolism works is key to weight loss - so we debunk some metabolism myths to help!

What is my metabolism?

Your metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories, turning food into energy. The BMR is your basic metabolic rate, and means the calories you burn while resting. This is determined by your weight, age, and sex. There isn't a lot you can do to change your BMR, and it accounts for somewhere between 50-80% of your daily calorie intake. However, your overall metabolic rate is also affected by output every day. So, you will use calories while eating, and while you are moving around. The goal for sustainable and permanent weight loss should be to change your lifestyle, with more exercise and less bad food. The exercise will boost your metabolism as you need to burn more calories, and eating the right foods will ensure you feel healthy and happy. 

1. Eating smaller meals through the day is best

This depends more on your individual preference than science. According to a study in Canada, those eating six smaller meals a day experienced no more weight loss than those with the same calorie count set across just three meals. So there's no rule that eating little and often is going to work - just watch your total intake for the day. It's also important that the quality and quantity of the food you are consuming is right. Too small meals could lead to sugary snack temptations as your blood sugar levels drop; too large meals cannot be used by your body immediately, so the energy is stored as fat. Eat balanced, filling meals so you stay full and energized through the day, and are not tempted to eat the wrong food.