Some Truth About Metabolism

Saturday Fever · 04-22-2004, 02:27 PM

What is metabolism? Most people think metabolism is just how much a person can eat and not gain weight, or maybe how some people don't eat much at all, but still gain weight.

To understand how to best exploit metabolism to our benefit, we have to understand that there are two types of metabolism:

1) Voluntary Metabolism

Voluntary metabolism is responsible for 30% of the calories we burn on a daily basis, on the average. This metabolism is controlled by our physical activity. Running on a treadmill, lifting weights, etc.

2) Basal Metabolism

Basal metabolism is respnsible for 70% of the calories we burn on a daily basis, on the average. This metabolism is a function of our bodies. These are the calories burned by the body for bodily functions such as making your heart beat, fueling muscle cells, etc.

So what does this all mean? It means, quite simply, that the more lean mass you have, the faster your basal metabolism will work and the more calories will be burned before you ever even get to the gym!

So what is a practical approach to exploiting this newfound knowledge? If I want to trim down and look like a hulking piece of manliness (or womanliness) how do I use this new knowledge?

First off, stop using the scale as a measurement of success. Muscle weighs more than fat. You can trim down but gain weight. You may be heavier, but you look GREAT.

Secondly, spend 2 months on a weights program only. Add as much muscle as you can. Eat clean, mind you, but focus on gaining muscle. This website provides numerous routines, free of charge, that will do fine to add muscle in 2 months.

Next, alter your diet for 2 months. Everyone's heard of the Atkins diet. I don't advocate a carb-free diet, but you get the idea. Drop your carbs to insanely low levels. Maintain the same workout routine. At the end of these 4 months, I expect you'll be able to look in the mirror and really appreciate yourself. But you should be doing that already.

Hopefully, something in here helps.

M.J.H. · 04-23-2004, 11:26 PM

Wow, just read the article SF, some good info in here IMO. I didn't realize that your basal metabolism accounted for 70% of your daily calories that you burn each day. I thought that your voluntary metabolism accounted for more, I am not sure why.

Nice job on the article.

Maybe articles on of your other training ideas in the future.

GRIFF · 04-29-2004, 08:20 PM

Very good SF, makes good sense to me, I actually realized that basal was the majority of your calories in a day. So you think I should say screw calories eat clean and try to build as much muscle as possible??? Without loading on the fat obviously.

Yanick · 04-29-2004, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saturday Fever
Muscle weighs more than fat.

Damnit! When are people gonna stop saying this?

**CowPimp** · 04-30-2004, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yanick
Damnit! When are people gonna stop saying this?

Don't worry about the semantics of the sentence; I think most people know what he means. Muscle is more dense than fat. Therefore, it weighs more at an equal volume.

jaim91 · 04-30-2004, 03:01 PM

I didn't know that (about the density). What exactly does it mean? Density vs. actual weight?

Saturday Fever · 04-30-2004, 03:13 PM

It means if you took a can and filled it with muscle and took another can and filled it with fat, the can filled with muscle would be heavier.

jaim91 · 05-01-2004, 05:38 AM

Ahh....so what does that mean in relation to someone who has a lot of muscle? This is directly related to the BMI: Someone very muscular will have high one, but they won't be obese becasue it's muscle and not fat?

Saturday Fever · 05-01-2004, 11:19 AM

It means they will weigh a lot but appear more lean. Thus, people should judge progress by the mirror, not the scale.

04-22-2004, 02:27 PM	#1
Saturday Fever Pimp Gimp Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,142 Photos: 4	Some Truth About Metabolism What is metabolism? Most people think metabolism is just how much a person can eat and not gain weight, or maybe how some people don't eat much at all, but still gain weight. To understand how to best exploit metabolism to our benefit, we have to understand that there are two types of metabolism: 1) Voluntary Metabolism Voluntary metabolism is responsible for 30% of the calories we burn on a daily basis, on the average. This metabolism is controlled by our physical activity. Running on a treadmill, lifting weights, etc. 2) Basal Metabolism Basal metabolism is respnsible for 70% of the calories we burn on a daily basis, on the average. This metabolism is a function of our bodies. These are the calories burned by the body for bodily functions such as making your heart beat, fueling muscle cells, etc. So what does this all mean? It means, quite simply, that the more lean mass you have, the faster your basal metabolism will work and the more calories will be burned before you ever even get to the gym! So what is a practical approach to exploiting this newfound knowledge? If I want to trim down and look like a hulking piece of manliness (or womanliness) how do I use this new knowledge? First off, stop using the scale as a measurement of success. Muscle weighs more than fat. You can trim down but gain weight. You may be heavier, but you look GREAT. Secondly, spend 2 months on a weights program only. Add as much muscle as you can. Eat clean, mind you, but focus on gaining muscle. This website provides numerous routines, free of charge, that will do fine to add muscle in 2 months. Next, alter your diet for 2 months. Everyone's heard of the Atkins diet. I don't advocate a carb-free diet, but you get the idea. Drop your carbs to insanely low levels. Maintain the same workout routine. At the end of these 4 months, I expect you'll be able to look in the mirror and really appreciate yourself. But you should be doing that already. Hopefully, something in here helps.
	yay.

04-23-2004, 11:26 PM	#2
M.J.H. Obsessed Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Delaware Posts: 3,587 Photos: 12	Wow, just read the article SF, some good info in here IMO. I didn't realize that your basal metabolism accounted for 70% of your daily calories that you burn each day. I thought that your voluntary metabolism accounted for more, I am not sure why. Nice job on the article. Maybe articles on of your other training ideas in the future.
	Stats! 23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat 380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current) 405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals) The M.J.H. Chronicles

04-29-2004, 08:20 PM	#3
GRIFF SP's Finest Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Portland, Maine Posts: 230 Photos: 2	Very good SF, makes good sense to me, I actually realized that basal was the majority of your calories in a day. So you think I should say screw calories eat clean and try to build as much muscle as possible??? Without loading on the fat obviously.
	JGRIFF'S Road to Rock-Diesel "Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting..." Bench: 305 Squat: 345 Dead: 465

04-30-2004, 03:13 PM	#7
Saturday Fever Pimp Gimp Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,142 Photos: 4	It means if you took a can and filled it with muscle and took another can and filled it with fat, the can filled with muscle would be heavier.
	yay.

05-01-2004, 11:19 AM	#9
Saturday Fever Pimp Gimp Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,142 Photos: 4	It means they will weigh a lot but appear more lean. Thus, people should judge progress by the mirror, not the scale.
	yay.

04-30-2004, 03:01 PM	#6
jaim91 Ms. Olympia Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,484 Photos: 16	I didn't know that (about the density). What exactly does it mean? Density vs. actual weight?

05-01-2004, 05:38 AM	#8
jaim91 Ms. Olympia Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,484 Photos: 16	Ahh....so what does that mean in relation to someone who has a lot of muscle? This is directly related to the BMI: Someone very muscular will have high one, but they won't be obese becasue it's muscle and not fat?

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