What is BMR?
The Basal (or Resting) Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of
energy ( in calories) your body needs each day just to sustain its basic
life processes. If you took no exercise at all and lay still, in bed all
day, you would still expend this energy.
It is slightly different for men and women but is a very useful figure to
be aware of if you are dieting or trying to lose weight.
What Affects BMR?
Health & Nutrition - Our Metabolism
comprises hundreds of separate chemical reactions which must be fed
through a constant supply of the right nutrients. Without vitamins and
minerals (particularly vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6 & C) our metabolism can
become inefficient and sluggish. This is why a well balanced diet is so
important.
Eating Frequency - Our
metabolic rate increases during digestion. So it is better to eat little
and often if you are trying to burn more calories. Be aware that your body
has a super efficient 'starvation mode' which starts to kick in after only
about 5 hours without food for men, 3 hours for women.
Muscle - The more muscle you
have, the faster you burn calories. Muscle cells are around 8 times more
demanding on energy resources than fat cells.
Exercise - It stands to
reason that if you do work you burn calories. However, the effect
continues for several hours afterwards during which time we continue to
burn energy faster.
Age - As we get older, we need
fewer calories. Our BMR drops around 2% every 10 years.
Genetic makeup - Some people have a naturally faster
metabolism. (drat!)
There is a BMR Calculator but you need to be a
Registered user to access it.