Weight and Metabolism - The Crucial Link

There is a lot written about the importance of the metabolism. There is also a lot of misunderstanding about what it is and what it does. To be able to lose weight and maintain your weight loss, there are one or two very basic facts about the metabolism that it would be good for you to know. They are not the least complicated, but once you know what they are, you will be able to run your life, as far as your weight is concerned, much more efficiently. 

Weight and Metabolism - The Crucial Link

The metabolism is a biomechanical process that breaks down food and turns it into energy. Your 'metabolic rate' is the rate at which your body converts your stores of energy into 'working energy'.

What is important to you if you want to lose weight is to make your metabolism work as efficiently as possible. It obviously depends on what you eat and drink, on the calories you consume. Your metabolic rate depends on the amount of exercise you take and on the amount of muscle mass you have. Muscle mass is important because muscle burns calories. The more you have, the more efficient you will be at burning calories. It's interesting to note that your muscle mass deteriorates at the rate of 0.5 per cent every year over the age of 40. You can combat this by doing regular resistance exercises and help to keep your metabolism healthy.

The other thing your metabolism needs to work efficiently is water. Water is needed to drive the metabolism's chemical reactions. If you don't drink enough water your metabolism will not be helping you to lose weight.

There is a crucial link between weight and your metabolism. If you compromise your metabolism you will find it very difficult to lose weight, far less maintain your weight at the right level.

Exercise is an important factor as is keeping yourself properly hydrated. Having a good diet that contains lots of fresh fruit and vegetables that give you the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs is important to. Look after your metabolism and keep it functioning well and your weight will cease to be a worry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_King/400515

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