Having a slow metabolism is considered a hindrance to some people; but if you are one of the few people who wants to slow down your metabolism, you may be able to make slight changes to your lifestyle and diet to accomplish this. Medical conditions may possibly be the cause for a metabolism that seems to be too high. Be sure to rule out any medical causes first.
See Your Doctor
Discuss with your doctor your desire to slow down your metabolism. Follow your doctor’s recommendations to determine if there is a medical cause for your high metabolism. Determine if any medical treatments need to be undertaken.
Stop Strength Training
Avoid doing any activities that will increase your muscle tone. Muscle mass burns more calories than fat, even when you are resting, according to MayoClinic.com. Therefore, having less muscle will help reduce the amount of calories your body burns throughout the day. This will result in a decrease in your overall metabolism.
Skip Breakfast
Missing breakfast on a regular basis can contribute to a slower metabolism. Eating breakfast helps jump-start your metabolism and lets your body know that there is plenty of food to keep running at full capacity. Skipping breakfast tells your body to conserve and save energy until the next meal, resulting in a decrease in your metabolism.
Be Sedentary
According to the Diet Channel website, engaging in exercise that is aerobic will increase your metabolism during the exercise and even 4 to 8 hours after you have finished, so avoid unnecessary exercise. Being sedentary will help slow down your metabolism, because your body will learn that it does not need to burn as much to provide you with the energy you need.
Eat High-fat Foods
Foods such as red meat, whole-milk dairy products and cheeses are high in fat. Also add foods to your diet that are quickly broken down and offer little nutritional value. This will cause your energy levels to spike as your body quickly burns the food energy, and then your energy will be depleted, leaving your body craving more energy. Also, the added weight that you will gain will help increase your fat, which will decrease your metabolism.
Sleep Less
Get less sleep. Getting quality sleep every night helps decrease stress and increases your metabolism. Reducing the amount you sleep will increase your stress level, and when your body is stressed, it will conserve and save energy in case it is needed in a future emergency.
Avoid Extra Intake of B Vitamins
Limit your intake of foods rich in B vitamins, such as leafy green vegetables, beans, dairy products, meat, eggs and cereals that have B vitamins added to them. These vitamins play a role in your metabolism by helping take the food you eat and converting it into energy, according to MedlinePlus. Keep your B vitamin intake at healthy levels, but don’t take in extra.
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