A matter of fat: Maximize, metabolize for successful weight loss
Hit a sticking point in your weight-loss efforts? Do you feel you are doing all the right things, eating better and just not making the progress you would like?
The American Red Cross
There are common culprits that might surprise you -- not eating enough and sometimes exercising too much on top of that. Yes, some people actually may need to eat more calories and exercise less in order to lose weight.
How could that be? Well, your body needs a set number of calories a day just for functions such as digestion and breathing. In other words, if you were to lie on the couch and do absolutely nothing all day, your body still would require a set amount of calories to keep itself going. This is called BMR, which stands for Basic Metabolic Rate.
My BMR is about 1,400. Your individual number is based largely on sex, age, weight and body composition -- mostly how much muscle you have because the more muscle you have the more calories you will burn, even at rest. Men typically have a higher BMR than women because of the muscle factor.
Since, (at least hopefully) you aren't just lying on the couch all day, you'll need to consume more calories than your BMR. Simple things like shopping, walking to the car, cleaning and chasing after your kids count, by the way. If you're hitting the gym, you'll, of course, need to take that into account.
See how the calorie requirements add up? Especially the more kids you have and the faster they are.
Cheryl Keaney is a personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist. You can contact her through her Web site, www.got2workout.com
