16 Signs You Have a Crappy Metabolism {& What You Can Do About It}

Aaand we’re back, talkin’ metabolism. In part 1 of this series {read that here}, I broke down the basics of what our metabolism is and how you can channel your inner Sherlock Holmes using one simple tool to determine where your metabolism likely falls on the “hot or not” spectrum.

Did you do your homework?

Now, this is where the rubber meets the road. Here are 16 signs your metabolism is not so hot {pun intended}:

1. Your waking resting temperature is less than 98 degrees F/36.7 C every day.

2. Your body temperature does not rise after meals and during the day, to at or above 99F/37.2 C. 

3. Your hands and feet are cold most of the time at normal room temperature. 

4. You typically feel colder than those around you.

5. Your head and body hair and fingernail growth is on the slower end of the spectrum.

6. Your hair is dull and dry and nails are soft and easily crack or split.

7. Your skin is dry and flaky, particularly your hands, lower legs, and heels.

8. You get sick a lot and your immunity to colds, flus, and other common ailments is low.

9. You’re bitchy moody.

10. Your muscle tone is weak or poor.

11. You aren’t having at least one large bowel movement per day {without straining or using laxatives}

12. You have digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, excessive gas, heartburn, reflux, etc.

13. You urinate frequently and with urgency and your urine is consistently clear or pale yellow.

14. You’re not able to sleep for at least 8 hours at night without waking up {waking up out of a dead sleep to a hungry baby doesn’t count, mamas}.

15. Your sex drive is low, plagued with possible erectile dysfunction {dudes} or lubrication issues {ladies}.

16. For the ladies: your menstrual cycle is not timely, your flow is all over the map, and your PMS symptoms are a force to be reckoned with {lots of bloating and cramping}.

Indeed, many of these symptoms are similar to that of low thyroid. I talked about the relationship between thyroid and metabolism in part 1. Read that here.

How many of these signs do you have? Now what?

Well, the good news is that all of these are easily rectified with a few simple diet and lifestyle modifications.

5 Tips to Fire Up Your Metabolism

1. Step up your workout

Instead of hopping on the treadmill for the same amount of time, at the same boring intensity, get yourself off of auto-pilot, and kick it up a notch, by incorporating some high intensity interval training {HIIT} into your routine. In addition to the superb late-effect calorie burn, HIIT also boosts your production of human growth hormone {HGH} by up to 450% for up to 24 hours after your workout. HGH is responsible for not only cranking up our metabolism, but also lessens the aging process, making your body a sweet little {and youthful} fat-burning machine. Not sure where to begin? Check out my personal 30 Minute MIX™ HIIT Routine and prepare to BRING IT.

2. Drink more water

The body needs water to process calories. If you are even mildly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down. In one study, adults who drank eight or more glasses of water a day burned more calories than those who drank four. To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or before every meal and snack. In addition, try munching on fresh fruits and vegetables, which are full of fluid, rather than processed crap.

3. Don’t skip meals

It might seem like a brilliant strategy to save calories, but believe me, it backfires. Big time. Not only do you end up ravenous and eating way more at your next meal {your body is in survival mode}, your metabolism actually begins to slow down, because that intuitive body of yours channels its inner cave girl, and thinks famine has set in like in the old days, thus sparing your energy and fat stores.

4. Go green

In a small study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea appeared to raise metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation, as a result of its thermogenic properties. Those who consumed green tea extract had a 4% increase in thermogenesis, with an overall energy expenditure increase of 4.5%. Further research indicates that drinking 2-4 cups may push the body to burn 17% more calories than normal during moderately intense exercise for a short period of time.

5. Eat {the right foods}

This goes hand in hand with the right kind of activity. As with anything else, you put the right fuel into your body, car, or private jet {for the 1% out there reading this}, it will run optimally. You don’t, well you know what happens. But what are “the right” kinds of foods”? Everywhere you turn, someone is touting the latest metabolism-boosting superfood that will change your life {raspberry ketones, anyone?!}. Believe it or not, it’s a relatively simple formula. A formula that I’ve managed to crack the code to and have now become one of those “lucky S.O.B.s” {more or less} as a result.

Lose Weight, Feel Great – 8 Weeks to a New You is a fully-supported 8 week program to help you master your metabolism naturally and lose those last 10-20 pounds and keep them off without gimmicks, crazy diets, deprivation, countless hours at the gym, or calorie counting. This is my super popular program that will get you ready for short, sleeveless shirt, and {YES!}, bathing suit season for LIFE! 

It will also help you to:

• Lose those nagging 5, 10, 15 {or more} pounds that you’ve been hanging onto for way too long and keep them off for life.
• Become the master of your metabolism and never again succumb to the myth that “weight gain is inevitable as we age” {for the record, it’s not}.
• Learn the secrets to melt belly fat for good and lose weight for LIFE!
• Eliminate the cravings that make you feel terrible and full of guilt.
• Learn the right moves to do anytime, anywhere in less time {without a gym}, that will have you burning fat while you sleep.
• Gain confidence in your kitchen so you can feed your family real, whole, nutritious, and delicious food without sacrificing taste.
• Create your personal blueprint for living and looking your best.
• Never EVER diet again {who needs that hassle?}

Curious? Check it out here! You’ve got nothing to lose but the crappy metabolism. 

Join us

What crazy things have you done to try and boost your metabolism {that didn’t work}? I’d LOVE to hear! Please leave a comment below.