Our body’s fluctuating metabolism has for ages been blamed for that tight feeling in the middle. But what happens when you’ve been following a regular healthy diet and getting your daily dose of exercise, yet feel your body getting heavier or not in the best of shape?
Is it age that is catching up with your metabolism?
What Is Metabolism?
According to the National Institutes of Health, metabolism refers to the process used by your body to convert the food that you eat into energy. The energy which is not being used by your body then turns into fat.
What Is My Metabolic Age?
Your metabolic age shows your body’s overall health in the form of a calculation which is based on the base metabolic rate. For instance, if your metabolic age is lower than your actual age, it means you are in good health and have more muscle and less fat. On the other hand, if your metabolic age is higher than your actual age, it is a sign of health related issues, and means that you need to get into a fitness routine that will help your body get healthier.
How to Calculate My Metabolic Age?
If you are calculating it on your own, make sure you have the accurate numbers for the calculation.
For women: 655 + (4.35 X your weight in pounds) + (4.7 X your height in inches) – (4.7 X your age in years)
For men: 66 + (6.23 X your weight in pounds) + (12.7 X your height in inches) – (6.76 X your age in years)
Signs of Slow Metabolism
The following signs can point towards a slow metabolism:
- Sudden weight gain
- Cannot shed weight even after exercising or dieting
- Sudden accumulation of fat or cellulite in body parts that were till now fat free
- Dry skin and hair fall
- Sudden cravings for sweet or certain foods
Is My Age Slowing Down Metabolism?
Age does have a role to play in slowing down your metabolism, but the fact is that lack of exercise or inactivity probably plays a bigger role in poor metabolism.
Contrary to what you may believe, from the time when you cross your mid-20s, your total body fat starts increasing, while the muscle mass and body water starts decreasing.
According to his quote on Everyday Health, Michael West, M.D. an endocrinologist with Washington Endocrine Clinic in Washington D.C. feels that as your cells age, they do metabolize much faster. When you age your body loses its ability to quickly use up the energy.
As you grow older, your muscle mass is lesser than what it was when you were younger. As per the quote from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Everyday Health, if you are above the age of 65 you should ideally be getting two and a half hours of moderate activity every week. Also, you should practice muscle strengthening exercises at least twice a week.
Help Yourself
Regular exercise, healthy eating and eating your meals on time will help get your metabolism back on track.
Here are a few things that can help you boost your metabolism:
- Exercise on a daily basis
- Cut down on your smoking and drinking
- Include a good amount of Vitamin C in your diet
- Sleep well
- Cut down on calories
- Stay hydrated
- Add protein, carbohydrate and good fats in your daily diet
- Some spices are known to aid metabolism, add these in your diet
- Eat smaller meals and do not starve your body
