Let us help you understand Metabolism!

What Metabolism is and how it works - Metabolism is the rate at which the body uses energy to support all basic functions essential to sustain life, plus all energy requirements for additional activity and digestive processes. There are three components to energy expenditure (calories burned daily): Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) This is the amount of calories needed to run all essential functions and chemical reactions while in a rested and quiet state. RMR is the largest part of total metabolism and accounts for 65 - 75% of calories burned in a day. Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) The body uses energy to digest and absorb the nutrients present in the food we eat. The rate of energy used for the TEF is about 10%, it can be increased depending on the composition of each meal. Physical activity The amount of energy the body burns during daily activities such as exercise, recreation, work, housework, etc. Daily physical activities account for 20 - 40% of calories burned each day. This part will vary depending on the individual and how active they are each day. A sedentary person will require fewer calories to maintain weight than a busy worker in a construction site! Lack of physical activity is one of the biggest reasons why humans now gain weight more easily than in the past (think back 100 years to when they were plowing fields, and all of the other manual labor-intensive activities), not a slow metabolism. Everyone's body follows the laws of physics, which are based on the Laws of Energy. Therefore, because the Laws of Energy dictate that energy cannot be created or destroyed, humans must burn more energy than they consume or they will gain weight. Our programs assist those individuals who are trying to lose weight by educating them foremost on what it takes to succeed. Weight loss is possible for everyone as long as they move more than they eat. Reprinted with permission by World Gym Express of Fairfax