Reasons Why Your Metabolism Slows After Having a Baby

Subtle Signs Your Metabolism is Slowing Down

Have you heard someone say they have fast metabolism? A fast metabolism refers to a high rate at which the body burns calories. This means that individuals with a fast metabolism tend to expend more energy throughout the day, even when they are resting.

Symptoms of a fast metabolism (if too fast can become hyporthyroidism):

-easy weight loss or difficulty gaining weight

-high energy levels

-increased appetite

-frequent sweating

-increased body temperature

-regular bowel movements

-sometimes irregular periods

-insomnia

-tendency towards hyperthyroidism

Now think the opposite of these things for a slow metabolism...

Symptoms of a slow metabolism (can lead to hypothyroidism):

-fatigue

-feeling coldness

-mood swings

-craving high sugar or fatty foods

-weight gain

-dry skin

-slow digestion or constipation

If you used to have a fast metabolism then notice a dramatic shift after becoming a mom, then this post is for you. Many women notice that their metabolism slows after having a baby or that they just can't lose the baby weight or they lost it fast in previous pregnancies but not this time around.

There are key elements that drive your personal metabolic health. These include your muscle, your stress levels/adrenal health, your thyroid, and nutrient levels.

After giving birth, many women experience a slowdown in their metabolism due to several factors:

1. Muscle Mass Reduction

Your muscle are your biggest flex when it comes to metabolic rate! During pregnancy, many women may experience a decrease in muscle mass, particularly if they are less active or breastfeeding. Even if you are at the same weight as you were pre-pregnancy - it's very likely that your body composition is different and you have less muscle mass. It takes a lot of energy (calories) to keep a pound of muscle alive. So the more muscle you have, the more you are using at rest. One less pound of muscle isn't that big of a deal but 10-15lbs can make a huge difference (average muscle loss after pregnancy). We also lose muscle with age; an average of 1 pound per year after 35.

Mainly, women lose muscle due to the combination of lack of use (ie not lifting weights), low protein intake, and hormonal changes. Since muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, a reduction in muscle mass can lead to a slower metabolism.

2. Thyroid Health

The thyroid is a gland that sits in the front of your throat, and it's main job is to control your metabolism. So when the thyroid is not being supported (due to a number of factors like stress) this in turn affects your metabolic rate.

Hypothyroidism ("sluggish" thyroid) is super common in women, particularly the first year postpartum and then again in perimenopause. Sometimes it is severe and medication is helpful, but most cases are in "subclinical levels" which means they aren't "bad" enough to medicate, but is clearly impacting how someone feels.

Signs of hypothyroidism are:

-fatigue

-depression

-hair loss

-constipation

-heavy periods

-weight troubles (not losing weight)

There are a couple of factors that can affect your thyroid like:

Under-eating

If you are not eating enough to support your day to day needs, the thyroid sees this as a stressor and responds by slowing down the metabolism to preserve energy.

Stress

This is a hard one especially when it feels like so much is out of our control. However, there's a very strong connection between thyroid health and adrenal health - and cortisol issues can impact the thyroid.

3. Nutritional Needs

Women lose around 10% of their minerals stores after pregnancy and breastfeeding requires additional calories and nutrients. Unfortunately, most women are under-eating during postpartum which further depletes them. Poor nutrition can affect metabolic health and energy levels. Your thyroid needs lots of nutrients to function optimally. Minerals in particular that are all very commonly depleted in pregnancy and postpartum and are also 100% necessary for optimal thyroid function.

Trouble losing weight?

A slow metabolism makes it difficult to lose weight because it means your body burns fewer calories at rest and during activity, leading to a higher likelihood of storing excess calories as fat rather than using them for energy, making it harder to shed pounds even with dietary changes; essentially, your body is less efficient at converting food into usable energy when your metabolism is slow. 

Think of it this way, chronic stress leads to a slow metabolism. That stress could be physical or emotional. Our body will hold onto fat as a protective mechanism. It needs to feel safe before it can let of those extra pounds.

There are a few factors at play when it comes to weight loss, or the lack thereof...

Cortisol

When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that prepares you for a fight-or-flight response. This temporarily slows down your metabolism. 

Insulin resistance

High cortisol levels make it harder for your body to use insulin, which can slow down your metabolism. 

Cravings

High cortisol levels can lead to cravings for high sugar or fatty foods.

Unhealthy habits

Stress can make it harder to maintain healthy habits like exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep. 

Our metabolism will naturally begin to slow down with age, but that doesn't mean it has to be so slow we are miserable and unhealthy. There is a lot we can do it speed it up to a healthy level and feel our best.

Did you know that vitamin and mineral deficiencies can impact your overall metabolic rate? An HTMA test is a non-invasive home test that can tell you your metabolic type (fast or slow) and analyze the mineral levels in a hair sample to help create a targeted approach to supporting your body.

If you want to know your metabolic rate, thyroid health, and mineral levels, schedule a free consultation or book a package with me to learn how to speed up your metabolism, loose the stubborn weight, increase your energy and feel your best.

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