Weight loss pills/food/powder : Do they really work ? Importance of Good Metabolism & Myths associated with it :
The word metabolism is one of the most misunderstood words related to training (second only to motivation, but that's another story). People tell me all the time that their slow metabolism is to blame for their less-than-stellar results. Sadly, this myth is being perpetuated by the weight loss industry.
The other day we see a commercial for a weight loss pill that claimed to raise your metabolism "without the need to change your diet or exercise." The voice over said something to the effect of, "You can't lose weight because you have a slow metabolism. Thin people are lucky because they were born with fast metabolisms." I was too stunned to speak.
Not only is the term metabolism misused, but it's being manipulated by the weight loss industry to sell products. I have to say here that I'm not bashing fat burners. But any kind of supplements are purely intended to assist people who exercise regularly and rigorously, use fat for energy during exercise instead of sugar stores or worse, muscle tissue.
When people take pills to amp up their metabolism without hitting it hard in the gym, they're effectively abusing such pills and are putting their health at serious risk. Now back to the commercial. First of all overweight people actually have faster metabolisms than thin people because they are literally carrying around extra weight.
For example, a 130 pound, 30 year-old woman who is 5'5" tall has a BMR of 1384. The same woman at 230 pounds has a BMR of 1817. And the 230 pound woman burns more calories doing while exercising as well. So actually, thin people aren't "lucky" to be born with fast metabolisms. Their metabolisms are slower than overweight people.
Second, genes do play a role in metabolism, but I wouldn't go as far as to use the word "lucky" in describing those with faster metabolisms. Differences in metabolic rates are smaller than we think. Furthermore, people who have faster metabolisms are probably already doing things I've listed below either consciously or unconsciously. Again, luck really doesn't have anything to do with it.
The main point: we don't have to be victims of our "slow" metabolisms. There are several things you can do to easily reach the maximum potential of your metabolism. Read on to find out how!
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