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Is Your Metabolism Fast or Slow?

What Kind of Metabolism Do You Have?

March 19, 2010

I have girlfriends who can regularly devour three slices of pizza, a Caesar salad, and a slice of cheesecake and not worry about gaining a single ounce. Then some of my other friends can't eat more than a piece of grilled fish with steamed broccoli, or they'll end up going up a dress size. Our metabolism determines how our bodies break down the food we eat into energy; for some of us it's fast, and for some of us it's slow. Tell me . . .

27 Comments

Mouzzer 3 years 8 weeks

Average now I would say. Before 28 though, it was really fast. Too fast cause I was usually very skinny. But like some others have mentioned, it does depend on what I eat. Too much white sugar slows my metabolism and my digestion, so that's the one thing I have to keep an eye out for.

blackdresses88 3 years 8 weeks

Mine was fast until maybe my sophomore year of college. I was always naturally thin and could eat whatever I wanted without gaining anything. But then I gained 10 pounds. I thought it was because of the birth control I was on, but now I'm not sure. I was on Seasonique-one of the ones that let you go three months without getting a period. When I went off, it took me 6 months to get back my period. So I feel like it kind of screwed up my body chemistry a little. I lost it all, and then gained back even more (15 this time). It took me 5 months to lose that weight. I know I'll never have a naturally fast metabolism again. So I guess I'd say I'm "average"-when I eat healthy and work out regularly for months at a time, I can maintain my weight and even lose a little, depending on my portion size. But if I "fall off the wagon" and stop working out and eating healthy, my metabolism slows down very quickly. It's so easy to gain the weight, but not so easy to lose the weight. Wow, that was a long-winded way to say "average." :P

cheekyredhead 3 years 8 weeks

Want to know more about your metabolism? This is gross but it works. Eat beets and then watch how long it takes for your stool to turn dark....then you have your answer. Less than a day--fast. One to two days---slow. More than three---go see a Dr.

sloane220 3 years 8 weeks

i think i'm like what spectra just described. i'm fairly muscular and very active so it takes me eating a lot of junk and a few weeks of inactivity to put on weight. otherwise i maintain a fairly decent weight.

ayuninur 3 years 9 weeks

average

insanitypepper 3 years 9 weeks

I think mine is pretty average. According to various online BMR & RMR calculators, I should be able to eat anywhere between 1800 and 2400 calories a day, but I definitely put on weight in that range.

Meowphotog 3 years 9 weeks

There has to be a better way to test your metabolic rate than breathing into something! what does that prove? how hard your breath is? I get where fizzy is coming from entirely. the weird thing is if I restrict my cals I drop weight like that, but if I eat the number recommended for someone who is extremely active, I feel like I "blow up" doesn't make sense. and there are times i go on vacay and eat healthy, but alot more and lose weight. its very strange. thats why i am so confused

3 years 9 weeks

I got mine professionally tested--you breathe on an aparatus for a few minutes--and it was 980. My RMR is less than 1,000. So, I can eat very. little. It sucks. I've had to restrict my calories since I was 16, and I'm still a good 10 pounds over my ideal weight. I really don't know how in the world I will get it off..

Spectra 3 years 9 weeks

Actually, the heavier you are, the faster your metabolism is. So saying that skinny people have a naturally faster metabolism is definitely a bit of a misnomer. If you are very muscular, your metabolism will be faster than if you are flabbier, too. Mine is pretty high because I'm very muscular and active. I can eat a LOT of food without gaining weight. The only time I really gain weight is when I eat a LOT more calories than I burn for a good few weeks to a month.

ella1978 3 years 9 weeks

Super slow. I attribuite it to lots of forced dieting when I was a kid, plus years of weight gain, followed by weight loss, followed by weight gain.. ugh. I am in the process of ending the cycle & have realized that daily exercise and watching my calories is just part of life.. will I pass up every brownie.. no, but I know how to offset it, and how it affects my day.

GlowingMoon 3 years 9 weeks

Average.

danakscully64 3 years 9 weeks

Average. I'm jealous of you people with fast metabolisms, I love food and can eat a lot, but have to be careful or the pounds pack on.

runswimmerrun 3 years 9 weeks

Since I left competitive swimming, mine is very slow. I no longer train 2-3 hours 6 days a week. However, my teammates and I used to count calories to see who could eat the most, usually around 5,000 a day. Buffets after home meets were appreciated. Like everyone, I gained some weight when I stopped after college until I learned to eat like a human. Now my weight is in check.

chloe bella 3 years 9 weeks

I agree with ticamorena. I read an interesting article about this in Vogue years ago where they actually measured people's metabolisms. They found that the "naturally skinny" people who seemed to constantly indulge in "bad" foods really only burn, at most, 200 calories per day more than people with super slow metabolisms. It was really the lifestyle differences that ended up being determinative. For example - some people eat hardly anything throughout the day and have one large indulgent meal (my dad does this) while others may snack constantly throughout the day and convince themselves that they're not eating many calories because it's all healthy. Also, I think "naturally thin" people realize the difference between having one very indulgent meal per week (such as the one you described above) versus having 1 or 2 indulgent meals per day.

trinachka 3 years 9 weeks

I feel like it depends on what I eat. My body can grind pretty well through proteins and greens and whole grains and even sweets in moderation, but for some reason it halts at (white) pasta. I can eat only a little—and if I can stick to just that little, it totally boosts my cardio performance the next day. If I end up eating a lot, I just feel kind of puffy...like it's absorbed and kept all that water inside me. : ]

Pistil 3 years 9 weeks

I've never had to worry too much about what I eat, but then again it's not like I'm always overeating. People who don't know me assume I never eat, but my friends know I can really pack away the groceries. I guess I've been fortunate that my diet, activity level, and metabolism seem to balance out (for now).

goddessru 3 years 9 weeks

I have PCOS, which takes in more insulin when I eat carbs and sweets, so it's very easy for my metabolism to be SLOW when I eat white carbs and desserts. I can gain 3lbs in one week if I eat like crap. I will lose 0 if I diet and exercise over one week time, but over time with consistency I still lose SLOW. Just gotta keep at it.

Allytta 3 years 9 weeks

i put on weight fast and lose it fast if i control what i eat. i can fluctuation 5-6 pounds a week. and it comes natural to me, i just stop eating junk food and more veggies and boom 5 pounds gone. i start eating icecream and cookies - they're back.

TADOW 3 years 9 weeks

Autumns I totally cosign to that! I love sweets but I have to be very strict about not eating them because I can put on weight like no other. I have to be very strict just to maintain my weight. People in my family are heavier, so I think it is genetic, but I refuse to be overweight so I really watch what I eat.

ticamorena 3 years 9 weeks

I'm not even sure I believe in 'fast', 'slow', or average metabolism speed, there is too much conflicting evidence e.g. I work out a lot, and find that if I slowly and gradually decrease my food intake, before you know it I'll be full after only half the normal portion and this is without getting thinner...then suddenly I'll eat a normal amount, remain exercising, and lose weight, so ergo your metabolism increases the more you eat? or is it genetically fixed? and what about hidden fat? i.e. the friend of yours who remains tiny despite eating for two, being sedentary, yet it is insider her body and her internal organs that her body is carrying the fat - is that a slow or fast metabolism?

TammyO 3 years 9 weeks

It used to be sort of fast when I was in high school and in my early 20's...then it totally went down hill when I turned 30 and beyond. :( Now it's a total struggle to make sure I watch what I eat and exercise just to maintain an ideal weight, nevermind losing extra pounds. That almost seems impossible.

imLissy 3 years 9 weeks

People are always amazed by the amount of food I can eat. We went out to dinner with my in-laws. My Husband, his mother and I all got the same thing. They both were only able to eat about half. I ate the whole thing and I wasn't even that full after. A lot of the time on the weekends I'll eat two breakfasts. I'll eat one and then when I get to my parents' a couple hours later, I'll be hungry again and my parents will want to go out to eat. Then I'll have lunch and a huge dinner and my pants will still fit fine. I like being me :)

fizzymartini 3 years 9 weeks

Ditto Meowphotog's comment entirely! I used to eat a ridiculous amount and remain within a few pounds, which suggests a fast metabolism... but I did still put on some weight. Until last year, when I started the Pill and suddenly shot up over a stone in no time at all! I started being much more careful about food and have dropped a few pounds now, but it's still a big struggle... but I got my stats measured recently and they said I had the metabolism of a 12 year old. So really, I just don't get it :-S

glowingoasis 3 years 9 weeks

Mine is usually normal. However, when I was recovering from my eating disorder it went on overdrive. I was extremely hot and sweating and shaky. Metabolisms are funny things!

lydialee_home 3 years 9 weeks

I put down fast - I eat a lot!. I have my $ worth when I get to the buffet line. :)

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