Metabolism & Calories
Me•tab•o•lism: Is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. The number of calories your body uses to carry out these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate. Your individual basal metabolic rate is affected by: your body size and composition, gender and age.
Your basal metabolic rate accounts for 70% of the calories you burn daily. Thermogenesis: Digesting, absorbing, transporting and storing food accounts for 100 to 800 of the calories used each day. Physical activity: Physical activity and exercise such as playing tennis, walking to the store, etc account for the rest of the calories your body burns up each day. To lose weight, you need to create an energy deficit by eating fewer calories or increasing the number of calories you burn through physical activity or both. (Mayo Clinic)
