Stretches for Metabolism and Weight Loss

What are the signs that you have a slow metabolism?

• Ongoing fatigue
• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Constipation
• Depression
• Thin hair, brittle nails, dry skin

What are the common treatments for a slow metabolism:

• Eat Plenty of Protein at Every Meal
• Drink More Cold Water
• Do a High-Intensity Workout
• Lift Heavy Things
• Stand up More
• Drink Green Tea or Oolong Tea
• Eat Spicy Foods
• Get a Good Night's Sleep

What causes a slow metabolism (According to WebMD these are common causes):

• Hormone shifts
• Genetics
• Lack of Sleep
• Strict dieting
• Salt without iodine
• Dehydration
• Drinking decaf coffee
• Low calcium
• Keeping your room temperature too high
• A medication you may be taking
• Eating too few carbs and too much fat
• Chronic stress

Can stretching help you loose belly fat, burn fat and increase your metabolism?

In short, yes it can. Morning stretches for metabolism are particularly beneficial, but you can stretch any time of day as long as you are stretching the correct muscle groups and you will see an increase in your metabolism. 

Most people don't think of stretches for weight loss or calories burned from stretching. Big mistake!  Metabolic stretching, and stretching to speed up metabolism is a very real thing and if you aren't doing it, you are missing a great opportunity. 

Some Testimonials from Bendable Body 45 Minute Zoom Classes where we do a stretch flow for the whole body:  

According to my FitBit, this was an impressive fat burning series of exercises. 44 minutes of the 45 was at "fat burning" rate. - Tracie

I sweat more than cardio at the gym. Be present in the stretch per John! - Dianne

Biggest calorie burn in class yet! My Apple watch read 190 usually I get 130. - Nancy

So in terms of the above testimonials, they simply point to the fact that The Bendable Body Method of stretching is a complete exercise method that not only increases true flexibility, gets you stronger, improves balance and removes pain and injury... but it ALSO gets your heart rate up and burns fat and calories. It's not traditional stretching... it's an intense workout! 

But that's not the only reason our stretches increase metabolism. Bendable Body stretches align with meridian channels and meridian channels service organs and improve physiological and emotional health. So when you do stretches for the quads and upper back and triceps, you are stretching muscles groups that each have a meridian channel running though it. Specifically the stomach meridian and the small intestine meridian. 

If you were to go to an acupuncturist and tell them you want to loose belly fat and increase your metabolism, every chance they would put needles in the stomach and small intestine meridians to increase the flow of energy or chi there. Another approach is the do the stretches for each of these muscle groups, get the fascia in those areas healthier and open up the meridian channel that way. But don't take our word for it! Try stretches for the quads and upper back and see what results you get. You may need to continue doing these stretches for some time to make a lasting impact to your metabolism. But once you do, we find that results are significant.