How to up increase your Metabolism or BMR
I feel like a foolish 40ish woman. I never really paid any attention to the word “metabolism”, also known as BMR, until I started the 40 something weight gain. Looking for an answer and a cure, I now realize my darn BMR is too low.
There are 3 ways to determine your BMR and the easiest way is to multiply your current (honest) weight by 10. In order to keep this number higher and burn more calories per day, there are changes that must be made in the 40+ lifestyle.
Exercise is the number one answer. But, no longer will the stroll around the neighboorhood suffice. Walking is a great way to burn a few calories, but walking alone will not work to increase our BMR levels or our muscle mass. What then?
Weight training should be the number two answer right under exercise. We need to change our body flab to muscle. Ok, the term is body fat but we all know that women have flab. Especially around the hips and belly. Pretty plain and simple. Weight training will increase our muscle mass and we all know that muscle burns more calories than fat. Working our muscles keeps our metabolism humming for a good 6-8 hours after we are done with our workout. The harder the workout, the higher the hum.
We still need to walk, but to truly get in shape after the age of 40, we need to be aggresive in our workouts. We need to really ”feel the burn,” we need to sweat heavy, be red-faced, push ourselves to the limit and do the things we never dreamed possible. Find your limits and then exceed them and for that moment you will find true and complete happiness.
