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Understand Your Metabolism and How to Boost It for Better Health

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Understand Your Metabolism and How to Boost It for Better Health

In the realm of health and fitness, there is often confusion about what exactly metabolism is and why it is important to understand your resting metabolic rate.

Cooper Clinic Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Elana Paddock, RDN, LD, CDE, defines metabolism as the body converting the calories from food into energy—every minute of every day. She explains what a simple test can tell you about your body’s metabolism.

What is a Resting Metabolic Rate
Two-thirds of your metabolism is used to fuel basic bodily functions that keep you alive, such as your heart beating, breathing and sleeping. This is called your resting metabolic rate (RMR), or the amount of calories your body uses while awake but completely at rest.

How is your RMR determined? You might be surprised to learn that your RMR is as unique as your finger print—no one else has an RMR just like you! Your personal rate of metabolism is influenced by:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Body composition (your muscles mass to fat mass ratio)
  • Physical activity
  • Genes

Understanding Your Metabolism
Resting metabolic rate testing takes the guesswork out of how many calories you need. With more than 98 percent accuracy, the test determines your personal metabolic rate and target calorie zone to meet your goals. It is a simple breathing test and usually takes only 10 minutes.

It is common to underestimate how many calories you eat and overestimate how many you actually burn on a daily basis, which can be counterproductive when trying to achieve your best weight. Whether you are trying to lose, gain or maintain weight, your RMR rate will define your RMR speed (fast, slow or normal) and your personalized calorie budget. That way you can know how many calories your body needs to function and how many it needs to lose weight. It’s that simple!

Boost Your Metabolism
It’s true that as you age, your metabolism does slow down. The good news? You can increase your metabolism rate by following these habits:

  • Increase lean muscle mass through strength training and aerobic activity. Your metabolism can also be affected by how frequently you exercise—the more physically active you are, the more you can boost your metabolism.
  • Eat smaller meals throughout the day. The more frequently you digest food, the more your metabolism is working.
  • Stay rested. Not getting enough sleep may negatively affect your metabolism.

Get a Personalized Plan
The best way to develop an action plan for success is to work with an expert. At Cooper Clinic, our registered dietitian nutritionists can help you develop a personalized meal plan and basic exercise guidelines. That way, you can understand how to balance your energy with the right amount of calories to reach your best state of health.

For more information about Cooper Clinic Nutrition Services or to schedule a Resting Metabolic Rate Test and Consultation, click here or call 972.560.2655.

Article provided by Cooper Aerobics Marketing and Communications.