This is something I hear all too much. It’s super common, and there is science on why.
Multiple components make up the total amount of calories we burn per day. For starters, our basic metabolic rate is the number of calories that are burned per day by just resting! Meaning that these are the calories required for our body to survive when we are doing nothing! Usually around 1500, this number makes up the majority of our total calories burned. The rest of the daily calories burned are made up of exercise and basic movement.
You are significantly damaging your body if you are not eating enough. How so?
Our bodies are CONSTANTLY ADAPTING. For example, we sweat to cool down our body when it’s too hot. When our muscles are under stress, they adapt by getting bigger to handle the load. When you exercise, your body produces more hunger hormone (ghrelin) to replenish the calories burnt. You get the point. When you eat nothing, your body adapts to function off that small amount of food.
This basically means that your body is functioning off the bare minimum. However, so many basic bodily functions still need to be given attention. This can include bone health, skin health, hormone and hunger regulation, immunity, hair and nail health, and much more.
Metabolism is the chemical process of transforming food into energy to maintain life. When we eat too little, our metabolism changes, and adapts, to live off the small amount of energy. This significantly damages our metabolism. Your body’s main goal is always to stay alive. When we aren’t eating, We go into survival mode and cling to as many calories as we can, which makes it harder to lose weight. In the long term, our metabolism slows down drastically, meaning the rate at which we burn calories is very slow. Making it harder for us to lose weight.
How can I fix this?
By speeding up your metabolism, you will burn calories at a faster rate.
- Aim for a small calorie deficit of 10-20% of your maintenance calories. Unsure of what your maintenance is? There are heaps of calculators online, however, I recommend looking up “IIFYM”.
- Eat plenty of protein and fibre to support your gut health and hormone regulation.
- Exercise more and lift weights. More muscle means you burn more calories when you are just resting! Exercising with a well-balanced diet teaches your body to be more productive at burning calories when necessary (like when exercising), rather than clinging to them.
- Make a PLAN. Plan your meals each day to ensure you aren’t skipping meals. Bring food to work with you and set times that you eat. Start with eating 3 times a day, and increase this over time as you become more comfortable eating more.
If you are struggling and want to reach out to learn more, contact me @meikasurgenor6@gmail.com or come and chat with me in the gym if you see me around!
Keep an eye out for the next post all about why as a woman you shouldn’t be scared of muscle or lifting weights!
Recent Comments