Metabolism 101: It’s not all about weight

Written by Jamie, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

These days, the buzzword surrounding metabolism is “boost,” and we get it: 30 years ago, when we invented our original nutritional powerhouse Almased formula, we did so to help people with sluggish metabolisms. However, we don’t want metabolism to become so closely associated with weight loss that you begin to believe that’s the whole story.

Your Metabolism is Your Lifeforce

When we refer to metabolism, we’re not only talking about “basal metabolic rate,” which is where the calorie-burning conversation belongs. Metabolism, wholly, is about transforming food into energy to keep you alive. In other words, when you drink an Almased shake or eat a meal, your body extracts energy from the food, uses that energy to replace/repair damaged cells, and stores energy as fuel for later use.

The metabolic process is complex. For example, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are absorbed differently and trigger unique metabolic reactions. But you don’t need to become a biologist; what’s key is that you understand this: with a properly functioning metabolism, you remain alive and well because your cells receive the energy they need to carry about chemical reactions associated with weight gain/loss, breathing, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

Basal Metabolic Rate

Now that you have a holistic understanding of metabolism, let’s discuss “basal metabolic rate” or “BMR.” The BMR is the amount of energy your body uses (calories burned) to carry out basic functions; think breathing, sleeping, blood circulation—resting functions.

When the metabolic rate is lower, you burn fewer calories as you carry out the resting functions and instead store more energy, often in the adipose tissue or fat cells, so the pounds stick. Those who have a low metabolic rate are also likely to experience low energy levels.

Although you can affect your BMR through a protein-rich diet like Almased, which is packed with 24 grams of protein per serving, exercise, sleep, and minimal stress, certain factors that impact BMR are out of our control, such as age and sex. Men tend to have a higher BMR than women, and we all experience a decline in our BMR as we pile on birthdays.

Get Good at Being Alive

Since our inception, Almased has encouraged people to do the right thing for as long as possible. While there are quick ways to shed pounds, we encourage you to seek the best solutions and practice them in a sustained way. After all, quick fad diets may harm your metabolism and yield unwanted results.

If you want to gain more energy and shed pounds, ultimately achieving a balanced metabolism, try these tips:

Incorporate an Almased shake into your diet—we’ve got plenty of recipes —and eat whole foods and plants 80% of the time.
If you need to lose a healthy amount of weight, follow our 4-step Figure Plan.
Exercise 2-3 times per week.
Do strength training; maybe take on the 100 pushup challenge.

Adopt some positive thinking to encourage your journey. A vision board may prove helpful.