When I was in my early 20s, I thought I had AIDS. My paranoia forced me to take two AIDS tests and fortunately, the results came back negative.
I thought I had AIDS because I wasn’t able to gain any weight. I used to eat huge meals six times per day, I used to lift heavy weights to build some muscles, but it seemed that all my efforts were in vain. I struggled to gain a few grams, and that went on for many years.
Now, I am fifty-five years old and I am living a totally different reality. I try to restrict the amount of food I eat and if I eat a few extra calories for the day, I gain weight almost immediately.
I am almost as physically active now as when I was in my 20s, and I weigh more or less the same, but my metabolism has changed. Before I used to eat six full meals a day, now I eat four small meals.
I think we should consider the speed of our metabolism when we are thinking about gaining, maintaining, or losing weight. Many times people get wrapped up in a loop of counting calories and choosing one food over the other one without taking into consideration the stage their body is in the cycle of life.
Also, we have to consider that everyone’s metabolism is different; to people could be the same age, have similar body composition, but have different metabolism speeds. However, most bodies follow the same cycle.
According to my reading and how I understand it, our metabolism generally goes through four distinct life phases. Newborns’ metabolism resembles that of adults. Then, when they are about a month old, their metabolic rate starts rapidly increasing, until between 9 and 15 months, it is more than 50 percent higher than an adult’s. At that point, between age 1 and 2, energy expenditure starts to decline and keeps falling until roughly age 20. From there, it holds steady for the next 40 years, you burn calories as efficiently at 55 as you do at 25. At around age 60, energy expenditure begins to drop again and continues to do so until the end of our lives. Men tend to burn more calories per day for their size because they typically have a higher proportion of muscle, which uses more energy than fat does.
We have to accept that although our bodies are different they follow certain patterns in the way they burn calories. Sometimes our bodies need a little bit of help in the form of supplements to obtain all the nutrients and vitamins it needs while consuming fewer calories. I found that Gundry MD offers supplements that helped me reduce the unhealthy “junk food” cravings (one of the biggest obstacles to weight loss).
For me, to lose weight or to keep a steady weight, it takes a lot of effort. It means not eating junk food, and rationing the amount of food I eat. Even “healthy” foods have to be consumed in moderation. I eat a combination of grains, fruits, and vegetables, and when I eat too much of those, I gain weight.
A popular way to keep track of the vitamins, minerals, and proteins we consume is by consuming meal replacement shakes. Meal replacement shakes are fortified with vitamins and minerals to help meet nutritional needs and all the ingredients are displayed on the label. For example, Proplant Complete Shake ingredients are displayed on the back of each container. Being aware of everything we consume helps us provide the body with all its nutritional needs and no more.
I have heard vegan doctors say that if you eat fruits and vegetables, you can eat as much as you want and not gain weight. Well, that’s not true. No matter how many certificates they have on their walls, and how many years they have of experience, what they are saying is not true. You just cannot eat absent-mindedly, as much as you want, without gaining weight. It just doesn’t work like that.
For us to manipulate our weight, we have to be aware that every body is different and that it’s not just counting calories consumed, it’s also good to be aware at what rate our bodies burn those calories.