One of the key factors in losing weight is your metabolism. Metabolism is a chemical reaction in your cells that changes the calories (energy) in the food you eat into energy that you can use in your daily life. In other words, it's the rate you burn the calories in the foods you eat.
Calculating your BMI
Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is how much energy your body uses when it is at rest. If you take your present weight and multiply it by 10, you will get your BMR. This energy is measured in calories, so it is easy to understand that if you consume more calories than your body needs on a daily basis, you will gain weight. Conversely, if you consume less calories, you will lose weight.
One good way to increase the amount of calories you burn, and to burn calories more quickly and efficiently, is to increase the amount of exercise in your daily routine.
As you grow older, your metabolism may automatically slow down. This is what causes people to gain weight as they age. Nothing else changes in their lifestyle, but their bodies burn less calories each day and, as a result, they start to slowly gain weight. Some easy ways to combat this "creeping weight gain" is to eat less or to exercise more. Aerobics or strength training are both great ways to increase your metabolism and strengthen your body - and protect your heart.
Muscle Building to Raise Metabolism
Muscle Building, especially, offers two benefits that help with your metabolism. In the first instance, strength training increases your muscle mass. Using your muscles burns fat so, consequently, the more muscle mass you have the more fat you will burn when you do other exercise, or just going about your daily chores.
There is a theory that metabolic typing may also be important to successful weight loss. There are many "tests" you can take online to determine if you are a "carbohydrate" type, "protein" type, or a "mixed" type. Which type you are determines the most efficient proportion of carbohydrates, protein, and fat you should consume each day for optimal health and weight control.
