Metabolism and Energy Defined

The reason people do not understand what metabolism truly is and how it relates to the ability to stay lean versus being overweight is that people are not very familiar with the relationship between metabolism and energy. In a way, to use the term ‘relationship’ is somewhat of a misnomer as it would somewhat infer that metabolism and energy are two separate entities interrelating. In actuality, it would be difficult to make a distinct between metabolism and energy as separate entities as neither can truly exist without the other as metabolism is the usage of energy by the body. When the energy (calorie content) is not used, it is turned to fat. That is, it is not metabolized.

Metabolism refers to the activity used by the multitude of the body’s cells in order to function properly. Depending upon the activity level of a specific person based on the person’s lifestyle, the energy required by the body will vary. Normally, metabolism and energy is based on calorie intake or, in the case of a calorie deficit, the body will metabolize (burn) fat or muscle or glucose.

At the lowest level, where one is completely inactive and sedentary, the body’s energy requirement will be very low. In fact, if totally slothful, the body’s metabolism may only require 1500 calories a day to stay ‘in shape.’ (1500 calories is such a low number that it would be next to impossible to subsist of such a low amount) On the flipside, marathon runners may need 6,000 calories to run a marathon and still be in a calorie deficit! These are extremes, but they provide two poles to draw a clear understanding of the relationship between metabolism and energy. Basically, one needs to find the weight one wishes to maintain and compare one’s activity level versus calorie intake and one will be able to adjust one’s diet or activity level accordingly.