People talk about their metabolism a lot. You'd think they actually understand it, but that's not always the case. Here are four things you should know about the M-word.
5 Ways to Rev Up Your Metabolism
Burning Truth #1: Skinny People Have Fast Metabolisms
Verdict: Sometimes
"There are slim people with slightly low metabolisms who just don't eat very much," says Michael Jensen, M.D., an endocrinologist with the Mayo Clinic. "And there are heavy people with really high metabolisms who eat a huge amount." (Watch out for these 5 Fat-Loss Myths.)
More: 15 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism
Burning Truth #2: Lean Tissue Burns More Calories Than Fat Does, Even While You're Asleep
Verdict: True
"Your brain, heart, liver and kidneys use a lot of energy, even when you're lying still," says Dr. Jensen. Muscle and the GI tract don't use much at rest; fat burns practically nothing. His estimate: You burn about a calorie per minute at rest. A quarter of that is torched by muscle, and 1/50th of it is burned by fat.
More: 3 Workouts to Crank Up Your Metabolism
Burning Truth #3: Some Guys Can Only Slim Down by Slashing Calories
Verdict: False
"In 30 years I've never seen anyone with a truly low metabolic rate," says Dr. Jensen. "People who think they need an 800-calorie diet often have resting metabolic rates of 1,500 calories." So why can't they slim down? They're often eating many more calories than they realize. His fix: Accurately record everything you eat for two weeks. Unhealthy trends may emerge.
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Burning Truth #4: Cutting 500 Calories a Day Means You'll Lose a Pound a Week
Verdict: Not Quite
A pound of fat does equal 3,500 calories, and you may lose a pound the first week. "But when you eat less, you lose lean tissue, so your basal metabolic rate goes down," says Dr. Jensen. Surprise: You may gain more than a pound after a 3,500-calorie pig-out, since calories stored as sugar cause you to retain water. (Keep yourself motivated with these 20 Ways to Stick To Your Workout.)
More: 10 Tips for Lasting Weight Loss
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