That thing called Metabolism, Part 2

And then there’s the ever-confusing metabolism and metabolic rate.  Do I hear, “huh? Got difference?”  Erm…yes, and now that you know, we can all refrain ourselves from confusing each other by not using the two terms interchangeably, especially in gyms and training outfits.

Basically, metabolic rate is the rate which you burn calories.  More specifically, it speaks about the rate your body burns calories while at rest, or your resting metabolic rate (RMR).  Check out www.restingmetabolicrate.net for a RMR reading.  It prewarns you not to forget to check the right gender!

Next, we all want to know what effects our metabolism, right?  Some say lifestyle.  Some blame it on genetics.  Some simply age and stop bothering altogether.  Well, they’re all correct (except for the stop bothering altogether. Please bother). 

Lifestyle, genetics and age play a role in everyone’s metabolism.  Genetics, which can be unfair, plays an important role…so, as much as it seems cruel that some people can gorge and stuff their face while remaining super slim, it is the fact of life.  SOMEONE had a plan, and nobody knows WHY!!!  Yet, not all hope is lost because a good lifestyle choice that particularly looks into diet and exercise can play an equally important role.  Unfortunately, when you get older, metabolism just automatically slows down because we tend to lose muscles. 

Fact: Metabolic rate can begin to decline as early as in the twenties, about 2% per decade.

Next, coffee lovers can jump for joy for their officially ‘legal drug’ because caffeine is a stimulant, so it does increase the metabolic rate.  Studies have shown that one cup of an American coffee can increase metabolism by about 3% - 4% for a short period of time.  People who like Tom Yam, too, can do the celebrative dance because spicy food raises metabolic rate.  It stimulates a metabolic process called thermogenesis, in which the body produces heat, which in turn burns calories.  But, eating spice alone to lose weight that the loo is the place you frequent more than the gym is not your solution.

Fact: Supplements that say it can boost metabolic rates with the additive of Ephedra or L-carnitine is not true.   Neither will consuming bitter orange until your face scrunch beyond recognition. The best way is diet and exercise.

However, killing yourself in the gym hoping to burn all the calories you ate in one day doesn’t work!  You burn more calories through simply maintaining your body’s vital processes than you do through physical exertion.  Physical activities only contribute up to 30% of your total daily calorie burn, though it remains the best way to boost the metabolic rate.  In reality, 65% - 75% of the calories you burn in a day are burned while your body maintains its basic vital processes.

Where you live geographically, too, can help you maintain metabolism.  If it’s cold, your body works hard to keep you warm.  If it’s hot, the body works hard to keep you cool.  It has been estimated that people living in warmer climates have a RMR that is 5% to 20% than people living in more temperate regions.  So, let’s bow and put our hands together that we were born Malaysians…so close to the equator, what?

*Both Part 1 & 2 are based on information collected from WebMD