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5 Metabolism Mistakes I Was Making Every Day

  • Writer: Sarah Mitchell
    Sarah Mitchell
  • Jun 27
  • 3 min read
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Hey friend!


Sarah here, writing this while sipping my morning coffee (yes, I still drink coffee - more on that later!).


Last week, Emma asked me why her friend's mom "eats nothing but still can't lose weight." Oh honey, I wanted to hug that woman because that was ME for five years. Eating like a bird, exercising like crazy, and the scale wouldn't budge.


Turns out, I was sabotaging my metabolism without even knowing it. Here are the five biggest mistakes I made - maybe you'll recognize yourself in some of these?


Mistake #1: The 1,200 Calorie Trap


Y'all, I lived on 1,200 calories for MONTHS. Salads for lunch, grilled chicken for dinner, and constant hunger. My friend Michelle called it "angry skinny" - except I wasn't even getting skinny!


What I learned: When you eat too little, your body thinks you're in a famine. It slows everything down to conserve energy. My metabolism basically went into hibernation.


What I do now: I eat 1,600-1,800 calories of real food. And guess what? The weight actually comes off easier. Who knew?


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Mistake #2: Cardio Queen Syndrome


Picture this: 5 AM, on the treadmill, running nowhere for 45 minutes. Every. Single. Day. I thought more cardio = more weight loss. My knees (and my sanity) disagreed.


What I learned: Too much cardio can stress your body and actually slow metabolism. Plus, I was losing muscle, which burns calories even at rest.


What I do now: 20 minutes of strength training 3x week, plus daily walks with Max (our golden retriever). Less time, way better results, happy knees!


Mistake #3: Skipping Breakfast to "Save Calories"


I was so proud of myself for not eating until noon. Look at me being all intermittent fasting before it was cool! Except I'd be STARVING by 2 PM and eat everything in sight.


What I learned: For women over 40, especially with hormone changes, breakfast can help stabilize blood sugar and kickstart metabolism.


What I do now: Protein within an hour of waking. Usually Greek yogurt with berries or scrambled eggs. Not exciting, but it works.


Mistake #4: Ignoring the Sleep Thing


I wore "5 hours of sleep" like a badge of honor. Teenagers, work, laundry, Netflix... who has time for 8 hours of sleep?


What I learned: Poor sleep messes with hormones that control hunger and metabolism. I was literally making weight loss impossible.


What I do now: In bed by 10 PM most nights. Yes, I'm officially old. But I'm also not exhausted and hangry all the time!


Mistake #5: Thinking Food Was Enough


I ate pretty healthy - lean proteins, veggies, whole grains. So why wasn't it working? Turns out, our food isn't as nutrient-dense as it used to be, and after 40, we need extra support.


What I learned: Sometimes our bodies need help, especially for metabolism support. After researching options, I added Mitolyn to fill the gaps.


What I do now: Real food first, strategic supplementation second. It's not about replacing good nutrition - it's about supporting it.


The Ripple Effect


Once I fixed these mistakes, everything changed:

  • Energy came back (no more 3 PM crash!)

  • Weight started dropping steadily

  • Mood improved (David can confirm)

  • I actually enjoy exercise now


Your Action Plan


  1. Pick ONE mistake that resonates with you

  2. Focus on fixing that for two weeks

  3. Add another change

  4. Be patient with yourself (this is the hardest part!)


Remember, I made these mistakes for YEARS. It took time to create new habits, but oh my goodness, it was worth it.


Let's Chat!


Which mistake hits home for you? Drop me a comment below - I read every single one and love connecting with you all. We're all figuring this out together!


Ready to stop sabotaging your metabolism? Here's what helped me turn things around.


xo,

Sarah


P.S. - About that coffee... I still drink it! Just moved it to AFTER breakfast instead of using it as breakfast. Small changes, big results!


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