People with fast metabolisms…

You know, those lucky S.O.B.s that eat whatever, whenever and never gain an ounce.

Yeah, those people.

They’re healthy, lean, have great skin, luscious hair, and are practically shot out of a cannon 16 hours a day {the other 8, they’re sleeping like a rock}. A high metabolism is the canine equivalent of a chihuahua. Love them or loathe them, these people are the embodiment of a high metabolic rate. So, how can you test your metabolism to see where you fall on the spectrum?

First, let’s talk briefly about what your metabolism is.

In a nutshell, it relates to the various processes within your body that convert food and other substances into energy and other metabolic byproducts used by the body. In less nerdy terms, it’s how fast your body burns calories and it depends on many factors, including genetics, the type of activity we get {or don’t get}, and what we put into our bodies {or lack thereof}.

But what about you? How do you know if your metabolism is fast or slow?

While there are lots of different ways to measure your metabolic rate {resting pulse rate, resting respiration rate, among others}, these have limitations. For one, athletes often have a lower resting pulse rate, but not body temperature. Overweight people often have a higher resting pulse rate and low body temperature. Stressed out folks also produce excess stress hormones, which raises resting pulse rate. See what I mean? Way too many “ifs” and “thens” to make pulse rate a reliable marker to test your metabolism.

This is by far, the easiest, most reliable test to your metabolism and find out where you might fall on the metabolism spectrum. Are you ready for it? 

Test Your Metabolism Using Body Temperature

If you have one of these and a solid reminder system (thank you, iPhone), you’re in business. By taking your temperature once a day, at the same time, in the same place {oral, armpit, in the ear, or rectally, if that’s your thing}, you can track it easily. The best time of the day to do this is upon rising, before the cray-zay-ness of the day commences. 

Your core temperature {at complete rest} should be at a minimum 98 degrees F or 36.6 degrees C. For the pre-menopausal ladies reading this, you’ll likely see temperatures higher during the 2nd half of your monthly cycle. Daytime temperatures should reach a minimum of 98.6 degrees F or 37.0 C. Ideal temperatures are closer to 99 F or even slightly higher. Yes, really. If you’re measuring rectally, your temp will be slightly higher {~1 degree or so} than oral temps. 

Low thyroid or low metabolism?

Low thyroid and low metabolism seem to go hand in hand. Typically, if your thyroid levels are suppressed, so is your metabolic rate.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism {the fancy word for low thyroid function} and low metabolic rate are similar {cold hands and feet, erratic sleep, low body temperature, low resting pulse and respiratory rate, weight gain, among others}. The answer? A blood test to measure your thyroid level.

Here’s the problem…

You can have all kinds of symptoms of a low metabolic rate, yet your thyroid hormone levels may only indicate slightly low or even normal. When the results come back “normal”, you’re told to go on your merry way whilst still rockin’ cold feet, flaky skin, and pooing little pellets every couple of days. It doesn’t get to the root of the issue. This is why daily temperature tracking is so important.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

Take your temperature first thing in the morning every day for a week. Also take a few random temps after meals and throughout the day to monitor fluctuations.

Next, I’ll be sharing the most common signs that your metabolism is in the metaphorical toilet and what you can do about it. Read that here. 

How to Nourish Your Metabolic Health NATURALLY

An amazing resource that I highly recommend is this new book, The Nourished Metabolism, written by my friend and fellow Real Foodie, Elizabeth Walling. The Nourished Metabolism is a comprehensive guide to learning which hidden causes of stress are ruining your metabolic health, and how you can reduce or counteract these sources of stress using simple, practical steps that get results – no crazy diets required! 

You’ll also learn how digestion, sleep, and exercise are all connected to your metabolism, and learn which small changes can make a big difference in your health. Elizabeth shows you how to listen to your body’s biofeedback so you know what works for you. It’s not about following an arbitrary plan–it’s about learning what works for your body, which is why I love this book so much!

Grab it here. 

Do you suspect you have a crappy metabolism? What symptoms do you have? Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear! 

Like what you’ve read? You might also like these related posts from some of my  friends:

• Coconut Oil’s Role in Weight Loss and Metabolism
• Detoxifying & Metabolism-Boosting {Faux} Mocha “Latte”
• Improve Your Metabolism Through Food: It’s Not Rocket Science But It Is Science
• Warning: 7 Healthy Habits That Are Stressing Your Metabolism
• Workouts to Increase Metabolism