| As you age your metabolism slows. You typically don’t exercise as much as kids. You can no longer eat as an adult what you ate as a child. The BMR formula (Basal Metabolic Rate) shows you how many calories your body will burn to stay alive. It is the release, and usage of energy for the functioning of the vital organs, the heart, lungs, nervous system, kidneys, liver, intestine, sex organs, muscles, and skin. You can search the internet for one to calculate your BMR or metabolism. The formula is as follows: Women: BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years) Men: BMR = 66 + (6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in year) My weight: 156 lbs. My height: 69” My age: 53 So my BMR – calories my body uses (male calculation see above for female numbers) = 66 + (6.23 * 156) + (12.7 * 69) – (6.8 * 53) = 66 + 971.88 + 876.3 – 360.4 = 1554 Calories doing nothing If I was 18 years old the 360.4 would by 6.8 * 18 = 122.4 so my BMR = 1792 Calories doing nothing According to the BMR formula, if you’re a male, your metabolism slows 6.8 calories per year as you age. So add this to a lower activity level and not changing what you eat will cause weight gain. If I was to eat the same diet as when I was 18, I’d gain (360.4 – 122.4) 238 calories per day. Multiply this by 365 days in the year = 86,870 and dividing by 3,500 (calories in one pound) I’d gain 24.8 pounds. |