Metabolism and Weight Management

Metabolism

If you have the opportunity to have your metabolism measured by a professional, it may be worth the extra effort and small fee to know exactly what your caloric needs fall. These tests are simple breath tests by a device called the bodygem. There are many caloric formulas available on the Internet, which are created for the general public; however, much like the mass diet programs available, they do not take into account the unique factors of each individual that impact metabolism.

Why is metabolism different among different individuals? Not only is metabolism affected by weight, age and gender (which most on-line calculators use to compute), body composition or the ratio of muscle to fat significantly impacts the rate that calories are metabolized. In addition, hormone levels can influence how your body uses the nutrients and calories consumed.

If you simply trust a quick Internet formula you may be eating too much or too little for what you need (or what your body needs) in order to meet your fitness goals. For example, two women weigh exactly the same and are the same height, yet have very different calorie requirements. If they follow the same weight management plan, one may gain weight, remain the same, or lose weight when she was simply trying to maintain her weight.

Knowing your metabolic rate gives you an accurate daily calorie target. Regardless of whether you are trying to gain muscle, lose weight, or become more trim and fit, you will know exactly what your needs are and begin to adjust your diet with accuracy.