Metabolism 101

Ever wonder exactly what a "metabolism" is? Every talks about it like they understand--"Oh, I just have a fast metabolism" or "Oh, since I went through puberty my metabolism has slowed down"--but does anyone actually know what they're talking about?

Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories. Calories are energy, so metabolism is really how much energy your body uses.

Resting Metabolism is measured by the number of calories your body needs to burn in order to keep your body functioning.

Energy Metabolism is the process undergone by your body as it breaks down calories and converts them into energy used to power your body.

Every metabolism uses the same process, but the speed, or rate, at which they work are unique to each person.

Basal Metabolic Rate (often referred to as BMR) is the rate at which your body burns calories while at rest. you can estimate your BMR by multiplying your weight by 10; for example, someone who weights 150 lbs would have an approximate BMR of 1,500, meaning they can consume 1,500 calories without gaining weight.  Of course, this leaves out the age, sex, muscle mass, general health, and amount of exercise that is unique to each person, and should only be used as a rough guide.

So, when someone says they have  "fast metabolism" (assuming they're correct), that means that their body burns calories very efficiently.

One way to improve your metabolism is to gain muscle mass--muscle burns calories more efficiently than fat, so the more muscle a person has, the more efficient their metabolism!