Metabolism

RoadSweeper

May be a stupid question, but

How can ones metabolism be increased?

Is this a way of losing weight, or mearly not gaining any?

davyjose

RoadSweeper wrote:

May be a stupid question, but

How can ones metabolism be increased?

Is this a way of losing weight, or mearly not gaining any?

Exercising, gaining weight (preferably muscle) and eating regularly will all increase your metabolism. Your metabolism is basically how efficiently your body uses up calories. Think of it like an engine - In the case of exercising, your body is being forced to work harder, and so uses up more fuel. If you gain weight, there is basically more of you to carry around so again your body needs to work harder. And eating regularly will help keep the engine ticking over - or more accurately, if you 'diet' your body will think it's being starved and so try to preserve energy, holding onto fat stores.
As you grow older (from after your mid twenties approx) your metabolism begins to drop - i.e. your body's ability to burn fuel drops.

rubadub

I have read that every 1lb of muscle increases your basal metabolism by 35kcal. Basal is your energy needs per day while just walking about or sitting around. So a normal sized man has a average need of 2500kcal per day. If he was to put on an additional 10lb of muscle which is a very realistic goal in 1 year then his metabolism is increased to 2500 + 10x35= 2850kcal. So you can get away with eating more.

Additional fat also requires more calories but far less than additional muscle. This is why some people get fat and keep overeating yet stay the same weight. While walking around they expend more energy since it is like a normal person walking about with 100kg on their back!

Also while building this additional muscle your body needs more energy just to form the new muscle, like a growing teenager or pregnant woman.

Without good exercise peoples muscle naturally falls off over time so their energy needs DROP by 35kcal per lb of muscle lost.

I know many who cannot understand why they are now getting fat in their late 20's & early 30's- with the logic that they are not eating any more than they did in their teens, but not realising their energy needs are FAR less.

Pamwam

If your body is digesting all day your metabolism increases so eat often ... not large amounts obviously if you are trying to loose weight.
Very important to eat breakfast as this kick starts your metabolism.