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Metabolism And Energy Balance: Finding YOURS

By Erin Morgart BA CPT

Metabolism is a vital factor in the regulation of body weight and body fat. Hormones also play a role -- but what about the client who constantly loses and gains weight? What is the physiological detriment to this person? And what exactly is metabolism and energy balance? I am going to touch on a few points involving these very topics.

Metabolism is simply the term for all the vital processes by which food energy and nutrients are made available to and used by the human body. The greatest component of metabolism, termed "resting metabolic rate" is the energy required to meet daily activities, including completion of simple bodily functions including heart rate, respiration, lung capacity, cardiovascular function, body temperature and even blood pressure. All of these functions and the RMR involve the body while it is at rest. Keep in mind, once exercise is introduced, the metabolism is challenged and extra nutrients must be replaced. RMR is responsible for approximately 75% of daily caloric expenditure. The other 25% is expended during activities such as food digestion and physical activity.

Indeed, both behavior and heredity can affect metabolic rate. While men enjoy a naturally higher RMR (due to more muscle mass), women have to work at acquiring more muscle mass so that their metabolism can be jump-started. Certainly everyone knows of the lucky individual who can gorge himself/herself on all types of fattening foods and still not gain one ounce of body fat. Sadly, those lucky individuals are not in the norm. Hence, exercise has a positive effect on boosting one's metabolism. Upon engaging in exercise, the client's metabolism is in turn slightly increased for that particular time period. Likewise, the client's muscle mass is increased which in turn allows the client to burn even more calories. So.... weight loss or gain totally affects metabolic rate. What then happens when a client cuts their calories drastically? Their energy level drops and their RMR drops as well. Not a good thing, and quite frustrating to most individuals who are desperately trying to lose weight! Instead, the client should be engaged in vigorous exercise AND be eating the proper amount of food. When the energy-balance formula is equal, the client is burning the same amount of energy as he/she is taking in, and weight remains constant. More calories plus less exercise equals more weight.

So how can a person truly lose weight, feel energetic AND have a healthy metabolism and energy balance? The solution is this: create a negative energy balance. Simply put, increase the energy expended by increasing the physical activity daily while decreasing the amount of calories ingested daily.

About the Author:

Erin J. Morgart is the CEO/Owner of BellaFiguravita LLC and a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor, holding classes for a local military base in Boot Camp, Spinning, Kickboxing and Muscle Pump. Erin currently holds a BA in Psychology and Graduate Studies in Clinical Counseling. She also is an Adjunct Professor and Home-school Co-op Teacher instructing students in Anatomy and Nutrition. Erin holds numerous certifications including ACE and Scirion. She is a member of IHRSA and the Medical Fitness Association (MFA). Currently residing in Virginia Beach, VA, Erin and her Navy Captain spouse and two children will be relocating to Honolulu, Hawaii in July 2007. Her website is www.erinmorgart.com.