What Exactly Is Metabolism?
I’m sure many of you have been told that you have a slow or fast metabolism because you burn calories either slow or fast respectively. Although that has a part in the process, it is just the surface. Metabolism refers to all of the chemical processes that help regulate the functions of the body to work efficiently. This includes breaking down what our body takes in as well as building and repairing. Metabolism affects every system of our body; hormonal, digestive, neurological, and cardiovascular to name a few. It does help determine the “amount of kilojoules your body burns at any given time.” That is where the blanket statement comes from that we all know and love. If you’re overweight, you have a slow metabolism and if you’re thin, you must have a fast metabolism.
Metabolism is often affected by stress. The amount of chronic stress we are living under can shut down, or at least slow down, many of our systems. Hence, slowing our metabolic rate. The few tips mentioned in my newsletter are ways to reduce unnecessary stress that is put on the body. This can manifest in many different ways. I’ll stick to the few that I already touched on.
Eating enough. When our bodies are not receiving the right fuel, our systems begin to go into starvation mode. This may not be noticeable at first, because our stress hormones take over. They are acting as though we are in fight or flight. In the short run, it is sustainable. But with chronic undereating, it causes distress and destruction to our bodies. Our hormones begin to wreak havoc within our bodies and many imbalances can occur.
Lower stress. This one may seem to be vague. We have copious amounts of stressors in this day and age. It’s not worth it to build more stress over the things we cannot control. Instead, try to identify things in your life that are making you feel unnecessarily rushed or anxious. We can’t always control our work environment, or have perfectly behaved children, but we can control how we respond and what we decide to carry as our burdens.
Strength training. This one was mind blowing to me when I learned about it. I have always been a distance runner. When I found out that excessive running could actually be harming my body and how it functions, my interest peaked. Now, this is very individual. Some people’s resistance to stress allows their bodies to run endurance while being able to recover afterward and maintain efficient functions of the body. However, if running and extensive cardio leaves you feeling exhausted and deprived of energy even an hour afterward, it may be time to consider decreasing your cardio (or easing into the amount that works well for you). Resistance training should be incorporated into everyone’s routine. Building muscle helps the body feel safe and allows rest within the workout. As a result of building more muscle, the body burns more fat at rest, rather than storing it. If your body is expecting long bouts of cardio that it is not prepared for, it will cling to that fat storage because it sees that as its survival fuel.
There are numerous aspects of our lives nowadays that cause us stress. Although it is good to have an open mind and act on what you learn, this education is not to be used to add another burden. Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) There is not one thing in this world that Jesus cannot empathize with. He wants to carry our burdens and relieve us of our anxieties. Our Creator knows that we are not meant to live with abundant stress and anxieties. We are to take ownership and create a lifestyle for ourselves and our families that reflects God’s design. So yes, that does mean incorporating very practical changes. But also remember, God should not just be our fallback. He needs to be our first defense.
Sources:
“Metabolism.” Metabolism - Better Health Channel, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/metabolism.
