Have you ever asked yourself the question, why is it that your best friend’s way of losing weight, seems to not be giving you half of the results he or she enjoys? It has something to do with your own personal metabolic rate. This personal metabolic rate varies in every person and it means, that we therefore need varied ways of losing weight.

Metabolic rate is the rate at which our body burns calories to sustain life. Our body burns endlessly, burning calories even if we are sleeping. Our muscles are responsible for burning down calories though we are not performing any physical activity. Muscles are called “metabolic reactive” because of the said qualities. Age may determine differences in metabolic rate but there are others which the degree of influence is just not as much as other factors or determinants.

Stress is actually one of the lesser influential among all the factors. However, it does give a difference. Most people who are stressed out are more prone to slower metabolism. Stress disrupts some normal processes of the body. This makes them gain more weight faster than those who experience lesser stress. It is also true that people eat more when they are stressed or depressed. Eating serves as the catharsis for them, and obviously when stressed, most women do turn to chocolate, or high in sugar candy bars, so is it no wonder, that those pounds creep on, and the so called “Love Handles” gain a few more unwanted inches.

In our endocrine system, a gland called the “thyroid” is responsible for our weight and other bodily processes. This would mean that hormonal production especially involving the thyroid is sure to affect every person, and thus, giving different effects to each. That is why people come in different metabolism and different sizes. Genes have something to do with it too.

Water intake is also a factor. Bodily processes are often involving the water portion of our body. This means that those who hydrate well have the chance to have faster metabolism than those who have lower levels. Inadequate water intake may impede body processes thus affecting one’s regular and normal metabolic rate.

Of course, the food we eat is one of the strongest factors. The choice of food actually varies to one’s lifestyle. Most busy people are into fast food. This leads them to an unhealthy diet, giving then higher calorie intake compared to those who are into healthful foods. More calories, slower metabolic rate, equals more weight to gain. Activities involving the body are one of the top determinants of metabolic rate. There must be a balance between the food intake and the work you do. Though you eat food but the activities you do are not that beneficial to your wellness

According to experts, muscles are the biggest factor in a person’s metabolic rate. The more the muscular tissues are, the higher the metabolic rate would be. This makes people with more active muscle tissues lose weight faster than those who do not. With these points, people must be aware of these factors so that it will be easier for them to work out on their target weight management and choose their own means of slimming down.

Your Resting Metabolic Rate Is So Important Too

Having a tough time jumping up just to let those jeans fit your thighs? Before a housemate complains about the mild earthquakes you create, think of doing your part of making an effort to commence a better and healthier life for your very self. What about a diet? It does not mean that you will starve to death but you just have to take efforts to lose weight.

Weight loss is as confusing as buying goods in a busy marketplace. Too crowded with methods that come with too many promises, it boggles up your mind. These promises come with the best advertisements and testimonials. But, did you know that you have the entire control of your weight? Did you know that it is all about how to know your metabolism and calculate your RMR or Resting Metabolic Rate?

What is RMR?

It is the total rate used up by the body in using fuel or burning calories but at times that we are just not doing anything or while resting.

There are factors that affect our RMR. One of these is age. As we become older, our muscles deteriorate and it leads to lower RMR. As a result, aging is accompanied with gaining of weight.

Dieting or any form of doing exercise is not at all an assurance that one could effectively lose weight. We have short-term effects only but what about the long-term ones? We know for a fact that the latter is more important than the former. Weight loss may mean losing your muscles instead of losing your fats. Muscles are essential for metabolism, so you may just get the other-way-around results. Choosing a more effective exercise really matters. Weight lifting is commendable.

As you take steps in increasing your RMR, you are pushing your self on your way to a lighter weight and healthier life as a whole.

Here's to improving and maintaining your own perfect metabolic rate
John

John Elliott aka Oaky Wood together with Luella May co-founded http://thecorner4women.com "Motivating & Empowering Women, in the Home for Business, Health and Leisure" for more Health related articles visit:
http://health-center.thecorner4women.com


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