How many times have you heard about someone having a fast or slow metabolism? Most of us associate having a fast metabolism as a good thing and having a slow metabolism as a bad thing. But do we really know what metabolism means and what a fast metabolism or slow metabolism is?
Your metabolism is a multifaceted thing; it is the sum of all the metabolic processes within your body. Rather the total amount of energy your body utilizes to function.
The total amount of energy your body needs within a day to reach your health and fitness goals can be broken down into three basic parts: resting metabolism, active metabolism, and dietary metabolism.
Resting metabolism refers to the total number of calories burned when your body is at rest; breathing, circulating blood, organ functions, and basic neurological functions.
Active metabolism refers to the total number of calories that your body uses for physical activities. And dietary metabolism is the total number of calories your body uses to process what you eat and drink.
Many people focus on their resting metabolism because it is the biggest part, equating to about 60-70% of all metabolic functions. There are a lot of ways to measure your resting metabolic rate, some more accurate than others. The good thing is that it doesn’t play a big part in weight gain or loss. You can measure it if you want to, but focusing on the other two types of metabolism, active and dietary, are more important when trying to achieve your health and fitness goals.
The best thing about your active and dietary metabolism is that it’s adaptable and will adjust to your daily life. That's why these two parts are far more critical for weight loss than your resting metabolism and will help you to achieve your health and fitness goals faster.
Your metabolism adapts to calorie intake or deficit, largely because of changes in physical activity. So is a fast metabolism good and a slow metabolism bad? It doesn’t necessarily matter in terms of your health and fitness goals. Being consistent and regular with your workouts, eating a clean diet of whole foods, and staying accountable with your personal trainer are the best ways to achieve your health and fitness goals.
Let go of what your metabolic rate may be; health and fitness isn’t about a certain size or physique. Again, it’s more about eating the right foods to nourish your body, getting into the studio for your workouts and personal training sessions, and simply taking care of yourself.
It’s a new year, so if you haven’t prioritized your health and fitness, now is the time.