We are all aging, and we can’t avoid it. Aging is usually accompanied by a decrease in metabolism or to use the correct technical term “basal metabolic rate” (BMR) which is the number of calories we need each day to maintain our vital organs, digest food, and move around.
We naturally have a higher BMR when we are young and growing because we need the extra calories to grow into adulthood. But after 20, our BMR levels off. A typical young adult lean muscle mass makes up 50% of their weight, which declines to about 25% of total body weight in the 75-80 year-old range. And having lower lean muscle mass decreases our BMR! Pound for pound, it takes more energy (calories) to maintain muscle compared to fat.
The goal of course, is to maintain as much lean muscle mass as possible since doing so will stop your BMR from declining, and allow you to stay strong, maintain a healthy weight, and live a quality life as you age. Read More