Metabolism Myth: A Fast Metabolism Doesn’t Mean You’re Healthy or Skinny
For years, I equated a “good metabolism” with being skinny.
I thought if I could eat whatever I wanted and stay lean, my metabolism must be working like a dream. I admired women who could skip meals and still function. I assumed weight gain meant something was wrong.
Sound familiar?
This belief is everywhere. We’re taught to associate metabolism with fat-burning, leanness, and calorie control. But here’s the truth: your metabolism is not just about your weight. It’s about how efficiently your body turns food into energy, regulates hormones, and keeps every system—from your brain to your reproductive system—functioning smoothly.
And sometimes, being thin has nothing to do with a healthy metabolism at all.
What Is Metabolic Health, Really?
Your metabolism isn’t a thing you “boost”—it’s a system that runs every second of the day. It influences how you digest food, manage stress, regulate temperature, sleep, repair tissue, and maintain hormone balance.
In fact, some of the women who appear to have the “fastest” metabolisms—always cold, anxious, unable to gain weight—are often running on stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. They may be in a high-output, low-function state.
It looks like energy, but it’s often burnout waiting to happen.
Redefining a “Good” Metabolism in Midlife
In perimenopause and menopause, your metabolism shifts. Hormonal changes mean you may be more sensitive to stress, less efficient at regulating blood sugar, and more prone to losing muscle mass if you're not intentionally fuelling and moving your body.
A good metabolism in this season of life doesn’t mean staying skinny. It means:
Having stable energy throughout the day
Sleeping soundly at night
Being warm (especially in your hands, feet, and nose)
Maintaining muscle mass and strength
Having regular digestion and healthy libido
Feeling calm and resilient under stress
These are the signs your body feels safe and supported—and that’s what true metabolic health looks like.
My Own Wake-Up Call
When I was deep in dieting and overexercising, I thought I was doing everything right. I was lean, disciplined, and proud of my “control.” But I was freezing all the time. My periods were irregular. I couldn’t sleep. I had brain fog and irritability.
My metabolism wasn’t “fast.” It was stressed.
It wasn’t until I started fuelling my body—eating more protein and carbs, reducing high-intensity training, prioritizing minerals and nervous system regulation—that I began to feel alive again.
The Bottom Line
Being skinny isn’t the goal. Being metabolically healthy is.
And that requires:
Enough food
Consistent meals
Strength-building movement
Blood sugar balance
Stress reduction
Sleep
And yes, sometimes... letting go of old stories about what “healthy” should look like
Your body doesn’t need perfection. It needs nourishment, safety, and support.
If you’re ready to learn what that looks like in real life—especially in perimenopause—join me in The Nourished Collective, where we unpack the myths and rebuild real health together.