“That’s just what happens as you age,” says my mom referring to various aches, pains, and lack of energy. Well, only if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. For this Monday’s motivational snippet, I’ll summarize a great article by Clarence Bass (see link for full version: http://cbass.com/METABOLI.HTM) Here’s the jist:

• Inactivity results in loss of muscle. And loss of muscle, not an aging metabolism, is the primary cause of creeping obesity.
• If you have a reduced amount of muscle, as most middle-aged people do, your metabolic demand for oxygen and your caloric needs decline. That’s because muscle tissue is active tissue requiring nourishment. Fat is passive; it just sits there as a storage form of body energy.
• Diet controls creeping obesity. You should avoid calorie-dense foods and emphasize foods high in fiber and bulk. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. But the main solution is exercise. Exercise burns calories while you exercise, and after exercise you continue to use more calories than at rest. (See post on EPOC)
• Important conclusion: “Much of the loss of muscle as we age is preventable – and even reversible.” Dr. Lawrence Lamb agrees: “Developing an old muscle is just like developing a young muscle. You may need to be more careful and progress slower, but you can do it.” Plus, keep training and pushing to your limit occasionally, and you’ll keep your muscles – and your metabolism.
• It comes down to this: Your metabolism won’t slow down if you don’t.