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Monday To Thursday
5:30am to
10pm
Friday
5:30am to 9pm
Saturday
8am to
5pm
Sunday
8am to 1pm |
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| Where Fitness, Fun and
Friendship Merge |
305 Second Avenue
Collegeville,
PA
610-489-8855
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| Come in for a tour and recieve a one
week free trial membership |
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On Fitness
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METABOLISM
Ever wonder why
certain people can consume relatively large quantities of food
and not gain weight, while others actually eat less food and
gain weight?
There is a clear answer and I'm going to
unravel this mystery in short and simple form such that even I
could understand it.
Simply put, the majestic machine
we know as the human body requires nutrients (water,
carbohydrates, protein, and fats) to perform the enormous
number of tasks and complex functions it needs to do to
sustain life - not the least of which is to keep the heart
beating.
These nutrients are, for the most part,
acquired from the food we eat. The amount of food (or to use
another term - calories) required for a human body each day
varies from person to person. This caloric requirement is
known as the daily metabolic rate. Our metabolic
rate starts slowing at about age 30, and continues to slow
each year, therefore, we need to strategize to lessen the
impact of age. In addition to age, there are several other
important factors that determine one's daily metabolic
rate, such as, physical fitness level, activity level, and
genetics - hold that thought.
The measurement of body
fat is extremely significant in assessing one's level of
fitness. It is much more important than weight. Excepting for
the most extraordinary of circumstances, you should strive to
lower your body fat. You want more muscle, less
fat.
Don't be too concerned with weight, if you have a
healthy body fat percentage, your weight will be fine. As a
general rule, males should strive for a mid-teens body fat
percentage ; females, 25%. We'll not get into the methods of
measuring body fat here, it suffices to say it can be done at
a health club or you can purchase a "body composition monitor"
(or calipers - with instructions).
In short, lower your
body fat, don't worry about your weight !
The mystery
is about to be unraveled, but one more thing. Muscle requires
more nutrients on a daily basis than does fat, or in other
words, muscle "burns" more calories than fat in given time
period. Remember that, it's key to the unraveling of the
mystery. Here it is, folks, mystery unraveled. Read the last
sentence of the first paragraph (above). The fact is that
one's physical fitness level and activity level are factors in
determining one's daily metabolic rate. And, I'll tell
you unequivocally; these are the most important factors in
determining one's daily metabolic rate. If you are
working out on a daily basis or close to it (five times per
week), you are likely to be physically fit. Your body in that
condition would require more nutrients / calories / food
because you are active and have more muscle mass and less fat.
You "burn" many more calories during rest periods (sleep) than
a sedentary person. Your human motor is revving and needs to
be fed.
Forget dieting, alone, to lose weight, you'll
slow your metabolism and the weight you lose will be
muscle mass and water ! Your weight loss will be temporary and
when you gain it back and you will, your body fat percentage
will have actually increased because you lost muscle mass, not
fat.
Yes, you will drop pounds faster and easier by
dieting alone (i.e. - starving your body), but it will be
temporary. By getting fit, you'll permanently drop weight and
keep it off. Rev your metabolism, work out, gain muscle
mass, lose body fat and eat sensibly. You will lose weight and
the weight you lose will be fat not muscle mass. And, you will
amaze those more sedentary souls who watch you consume more
food, more often with no weight gain.
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| 305 Second Avenue,
Collegeville, PA. 610-489-8855 |
| Copyright (c) 2006. Body
Transit Fitness Center. All rights
reserved. |
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