Published on February 8, 2020
We often talk about metabolism as if it is a single mechanism in our bodies. But it’s not. Metabolism—including resting metabolism—is a series of functions that are happening all the time. The rate at which those functions occur is your metabolic rate.
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is often used interchangeably with basal metabolic rate (BMR). However, while your RMR refers to the number of calories your body burns while at rest, your BMR is the minimum number of calories your body burns to just exist, without any external influences.
One reason that some (dare I say, “too many”) people give for gaining too much body fat, and which I hear in the office frequently, is “I have a slow metabolism,” a variant on the “blame the genes” approach. I’m always prepared to hand this reference sheet to folks when I do.
Slimcerely yours℠,
