Why does the metabolic rate drop as you age?

 Why does the metabolic rate drop as you age?

Your basal metabolic rate - the number of calories your body burns each day just to stay alive - tends to drop as you age.
According to conventional wisdom, this is because you lose a small amount of muscle each year.
However, many people don't realize that muscle mass is not the only thing that affects your basal metabolic rate.

The age-related decline in metabolic rate - even when muscle mass is taken into account - is because of two reasons.

•Firstly is exercise, the more exercise you do, the higher your metabolic rate. The fact that people tend to exercise less as they age is partly responsible for the drop in metabolic rate.

• Second, metabolic rate is also linked to total calorie intake. This means that the more you eat, the higher your metabolic rate. A reduced metabolic rate in older physically active men could be due to the fact they eat less than their younger counterparts.
The bottom line is that a drop in your metabolic rate is not an inevitable consequence of aging, and has a lot more to do with the way you live your life.

You can minimize the age-related drop in metabolic rate by maintaining a high energy flux - balancing a nutrient-dense diet with regular exercise.

Not only will this help you stay lean, it's a great way to provide your body with more of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Did you know your body is constantly burning calories, even when you're not working out?

Did you know your body is constantly burning calories, even when you're not working out?

Did you know your body is constantly burning calories, even when you're not working out? And that watching television can actually lower your metabolism?

The body converts fat into energy, to fuel its functions and the calories stored in the body provide us with this energy. The level of fat-burning depends upon the type of activity being done. You burn more calories running around than just work

ing at a desk. Nonetheless, the body is like a machine which needs an inexhaustible source of energy to run. So even when you’re at rest, you’re still burning calories.

So don't be lazy bumps....even if u have a desk job or watching Tv...get up at frequent intervals for water break....gear up.....keep ur metabolism going.

Nursing mother and weight loss

World Breastfeeding Week 1 - 7 August

Nursing mother and weight loss

A common concern for most of the new mother after delivery is to lose the weight gained during pregnancy….

A good rule of thumb is to take in 200-500 calories in excess of what you needed to maintain your weight before you were pregnant while you are nursing. 

Breastfeeding doesn't make you gain weight - in fact, you use up calories when you nurse, and helps you get rid of extra weight more quickly while you are nursing. You might not realize that you already began your

weight-loss efforts the moment you put your baby to your breast. 

Breastfeeding burns around 300 calories per day, so it can help you begin to lose some of your excess baby weight. What's more, breastfeeding can help stimulate contractions in your uterus that help your belly shrink back to its regular size after pregnancy to help you regain your old shape, too.

Your body stores up fat during your pregnancy to provide the extra calories needed for milk production. It is easier to lose lower body fat (hips, buns, and thighs) when you are breastfeeding compared to the mom who is formula feeding. .

Begin your weight loss program slowly when you are breastfeeding. Increase your activity level.

ALL ABOUT METABOLISM

Want to build muscle and burn fat? Read below to learn how metabolism affects fitness level, and how to give it a boost.

"Metabolism" refers to your body's systems for using energy. This includes breathing, digestion, the building of muscle, and the storage of fat, circulation of blood -- anything that's part of your body's systems for converting energy into... an activity you need to live

Your metabolic rate is the rate at which you burn calories

People with more muscle and less fat generally have a faster metabolic rate.

As you age, you tend to lose muscle. This results in a metabolic rate that begins declining as early as your twenties -- about 2% per decade.

Genetics & lifestyle affect your metabolism. You cant do much about your genes and age, but you can make lifestyle changes to increase your metabolism.

Strength training can indeed help you lose weight by changing your metabolic rate.

Studies have shown that people who do extreme dieting or eat less than 1,200 calories per day are likely to wind up with a slower metabolic rate.

  Even going too long between meals can slow metabolic rate. Its recommended to eat a small healthy meal or snack every 2 to 3 hours. Also, never skip breakfast.

Studies have shown that the body requires more energy to digest high-protein foods, hence your metabolic rate increases.

Caffeine is a stimulant -- and so by definition, it increases your metabolic rate. This is why it is often an ingredient in weight loss diet supplements and acts as a thermogenic. Studies have shown that one cup of American coffee can increase metabolism by about 3% to 4% for a short period of time.

65% to 75% of the calories you burn in a day are burned by your metabolism in the process of maintaining your body's basic vital processes. Physical activity contributes up to 30% of your total daily calorie burn and is still one of the best ways to boost your metabolic rate.

Happy Pumping!

HOW TO LOSE 1KG IN ONE WEEK

WEIGHT LOSS THROUGH NEGATIVE CALORIE BALANCE

To lose 1kg       →   burn   7500cal/wk

In 1 day             →              1050cal

In 7 days            →             7500cal

How to lose 1 kg in a week

Calories lost because of diet modification  = 500

Calories lost th’ modification of behaviour = 50

(eating while reading, watching tv, eating while cooking dinner., eating out of boredom, fatigue, happiness, loneliness, anger)

Calories lost th’ lifestyle modification        = 50

(eg- taking stairs instead of lift, walk while u speak on phone, reducing excess no. of tea / coffee)

Calories lost through exercise                   = 500

Total                                                   =  1100                     

           

1100 cal lost in a day i.e. 7700cal lost in a wk i.e 4kgs in a mth. (varies with the health status of an individual)