Is Your Metabolism Happy?

Why is it that so many people complain that they eat very little, but are still overweight? I have many triathlete friends that eat way better than I do, yet can’t seem to tame the belly bulge. Then there are people like me that eat everything in sight, and never seem to gain weight. We complain that during times of extreme training that we are hungry constantly and work hard not to drop too much weight! No one feels sorry for us! What’s up with that?

Your metabolism is the key. Most people are somewhere between the two extremes. Their intake, metabolism and output are on a roller coaster ride. If only you can tame the metabolism beast, healthy weight and better performance will follow.

How can we make our metabolism happy? The answer is a healthy, consistent diet and regular exercise routine. The key word is consistent! Food becomes energy at the rate our metabolism dictates. Exercise utilizes this energy at a more efficient rate if our metabolism is fast and happy.

This is not only the key to getting stronger, faster and more efficient but also the million dollar answer for weight loss! Losing weight means taking in less than you put out. You have to take into account your personal BMR (basal metabolic rate) which is one part genetics, one part age and many parts lifestyle habits! Seems simple enough; but if you are on a constant fad or crash diet, your body’s BMR is very low. Hence, you burn much less at rest than a hyper runner like me who eats constantly! I love my BMR! I burn more calories when sleeping than the average person!

So what does all this mean? A person who eats very little but can’t lose weight probably has a slow BMR and is often sluggish in their energy output; while in contrast a person with a fast EMR can eat more calories, utilize them more efficiently and have a higher energy out put!

The formula "energy plus metabolism equals output" means that all three react synergistically. High output is always desired, so in order to affect output, more energy either has to come in, or metabolism has to speed up, or both. Metabolism tends to be the limiter in most cases, since we can choose how much to eat. The volume of output can also be manipulated through programming our metabolism to be happier.

How do we affect our metabolism to achieve our goals? The most logical means to improve metabolism is to do more work. Increase your exercise in either duration or intensity. This will encourage your body to pick up the pace!

Many times your metabolism is low genetically and environmentally for many years and is stubborn to move. It is clinically depressed! The way to jolt it into action is not through starvation, which is often a knee-jerk response to the problem. Steady and consistent eating habits will be supported by good and steady energy inputs and high-energy outputs.

It makes sense that we need to increase our output and eat sensibly and consistently in order to change long-term trends. It is important to remember, this is a gradual process, so a commitment to the course of action is necessary.

Small consistent meals five or six times a day with a gradual increasing exercise program over a period of months leading to years will help kick your metabolism back into its happy place! Patience and discipline are the two primary rules of metabolism repair mechanism.

Almost all of us can improve what we're doing at some part of this equation. Grade yourself honestly. Is your metabolism happy and trusting? Is there enough energy? Is there enough exercise? Too much? Is your metabolism depressed and mad at you having been starved and stuffed with bad food and bad habits? Is there enough energy coming in and where is it going? Where can you improve?

Make your metabolism happy for better race results and an added bonus of a better waist line!