fit tips
Your metabolism is
different from his
and hers
and his
and hers
Metabolism is the process by
which our bodies convert the food
we eat into the energy needed for
survival and function.
YOU AND YOUR
Metabolism
Ever wonder why some individuals can eat anything
without gaining a pound, while others seem to only
have to look at food to gain weight? Individuals
metabolize foods differently; muscle mass, age,
and physical activity are just some of the reasons
for these differences. Metabolism is the process by
which our bodies convert the food we eat into the
energy needed for survival and function.
by Registered Dietitian, Jeannie Versagli
28
HACHEALTHCLUB.COM
Each one of us has a rate at
which we burn calories at rest,
known as our Resting Metabolic
Rate (RMR). A person’s RMR
will vary depending on genetic
predisposition, body size,
gender, and age. Surprisingly,
we burn approximately 50-80%
of the energy used each day
for our RMR. This is the energy
our bodies burn to maintain
themselves at rest. Functions
of our bodies at rest include
our heart beating, breathing,
digestion, and sleeping,
to name a few. Every bit of
physical activity that we perform
throughout the day requires
additional calories other than
those needed for RMR.
Activity affects how many
calories you will burn; for
example, jobs involving
gardening, walking, and lifting
require more energy than
individuals with sedentary jobs,
like sitting at a desk all day.
New research is suggesting that
standing requires more energy,
thus a standing desk could
increase the number of calories
burned. The goal is to meet the
necessary energy requirements
to fulfill our RMR needs along
with the additional calories to
perform activities of daily living,
all while maintaining a healthy
weight. There are many factors
affecting our RMR, some of
which we have control over and
others, not. Let’s explore these
factors influencing our RMR.