Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) your body burns to keep you going. Whether you’re sleeping, reading or walking, your body is constantly burning calories. Each person’s metabolism is unique. Factors which affect your metabolic rate, or how fast your system “runs,” include age, weight, gender, physical activity, hormone levels and body composition (amount of muscle vs. fat).
For example, two women of similar height and weight may have significantly different metabolic rates because one is more muscular. And because muscle burns more calories than fat, the woman with the higher percentage of body fat will likely have to consume fewer calories per day to maintain a healthy weight.
A Simple Test for Better Health
To lose weight, you have to eat fewer calories than you burn. There is a quick and affordable test which measures your unique resting metabolism—how many calories your body burns each day to keep your heart pumping, lungs expanding and all other vital functions going. A metabolism measurement tells you how much you need to eat and exercise to reach your weight loss goals, giving you a daily calorie target based on your body’s unique needs. Controlling your weight can, in turn, help manage diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and other conditions, leading to improved overall wellness.
An exercise specialist administers the BodyGem® test, in which you simply breathe into a small, hand-held device which accurately measures your resting metabolic rate. You receive results right away, along with instruction on how to use the results to reach your weight loss goals. Th e session takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
Avoiding Weight Loss Plateaus
The initial satisfaction of losing excess pounds can give way to frustration when you “hit a brick wall,” or what is commonly called a weight loss plateau. Even though you continue to eat a healthy diet and keep your body moving, the scales won’t budge! That’s because your metabolism changes as you lose weight.
When you lose weight, your body mass goes down, and so does your resting metabolic rate. Your new, lighter body requires fewer calories to keep going than your heavier body did. Also, during weight loss, your body may go into “starvation mode,” conserving energy in response to lower calorie intake. Re-measuring your body’s resting metabolism during weight loss helps you avoid weight loss plateaus. By repeating the simple BodyGem® test as you shed pounds, you and your healthcare professional can adjust your nutrition and exercise plan to meet your body’s changing calorie needs. TPW