Metabolism is the process that the body uses to convert food into energy.
So, YES in order to lose weight, we need to expend MORE energy than we take in.
BUT...
It is practically impossible to accurately count calories.
Here is why calorie counting alone is faulty:
People are not great at eyeballing calories.
Food labels can have a % of error.
Cooking and preparing foods can alter the calories and nutrients.
Energy burned through digestion varies depending on macronutrients. For instance, you burn more calories processing protein than you do carbohydrates.
The body burns calories in various ways and every person differs.
It is hard to accurately know how many calories we burn when we exercise.
Different forms of exercise have different calorie-burning effects.
NOT ONLY THAT
Your body burns energy in various ways:
Basal metabolic rate: the energy used just by being alive (and doing nothing)
Thermal effect of food: calories used to chew, swallow, churn the stomach, make the acid in the stomach, make the enzymes, etc. You know…digesting your food.
Physical activity: exercise
Movement: everyday non-exercise activities like tapping your foot, walking to the washroom, getting up to turn on the radio, brushing your teeth, typing. This is also known as NEAT or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (we’ll just call it NEAT ‘cause it’s easier)
Unfortunately, as we age, our resting metabolic rate naturally goes down. It is what it is.
And, I know it sounds obvious, but one thing that we also need to keep in mind is that every BODY is different. One size doesn’t fit all and there is always more to the story.
Everybody processes, absorbs, and uses food differently… also known as our unique metabolism.
Plus, the body is really good at maintaining homeostasis, or balance. So, if you are not eating a lot of calories, your body will do whatever it takes to make you not move as much. And when you don’t move as much, well, you don’t burn as many calories.
If you have extra energy, you are more likely to get up and run up the stairs or go do a work out.
Everybody’s body is different. It’s important to learn what YOUR body needs in order for your body to function at its most efficient level in order to meet your goals.
If you feel like you eat “pretty well” but just can’t seem to get the scale to budge, I invite you to check out my online training. We dive deeper into intuitive eating, habit coaching, macronutrient breakdown, and changing things up so that the efficient human body doesn't get too “used” to one way of eating or exercise.
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