February Support Group: Metabolism
The month of February is coming to a close and warmer weather is just around the corner! I can feel it or maybe we have a few more weeks of this crummy, wet, cold stuff! Either way, March is a great month for basketball, St. Patty’s Day celebrations, Dr. Seuss’s B-day (March 2nd), and to continue losing weight!
In February, support group uncovered the truths and fallacies associated with metabolism. To recap; metabolism is all the processes in the human body that convert food to energy. Gender, height, weight, body composition, and age affect metabolic rate. As we age, we are subject to muscle wasting. Muscle burns more energy than fat so if we lose muscle we burn fewer calories. In order to offset muscle wasting, an individual needs to engage in strength training exercises 2-3 times a week. Muscle burns 6 calories per pound daily while fat only burns two calories per pound. Unlike popular beliefs, yo-yo dieting does not damage metabolism. However, if your diet is inadequate in protein then muscle building will be impossible. Incorporating regular strength training, cardiovascular training, and diet adjustments can help offset sluggish metabolism. If you have further questions or would like more information on metabolism, please contact Laura at lkenny@riverview.org.
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