“ if you are experiencing mid-life spread you can no longer blame it on a declining metabolic rate.”

[ChocAuVin]

Article here explaining in groundbreaking terms that: “Middle-aged spread cannot be blamed on a waning metabolism, according to an unprecedented analysis of the body's energy use.

The study, of 6,400 people, from eight days old up to age 95, in 29 countries, suggests the metabolism remains "rock solid" throughout mid-life.

It peaks at the age of one, is stable from 20 to 60 and then inexorably declines.

Researchers said the findings gave surprising new insights about the body.”

I’m surprised but also cheered by this! I’m 42 BTW. How do others feel to know that ‘middle-aged spread’ is not a metabolic probability?

@grasstreeleaf I remained confused by the idea that activity does not affect overall calories used. I mean he says that different activities burn different calories and that our bodily functions burn calories. But that our bodies adapt and use fewer calories elsewhere if we exercise.

Ok if that’s true (I’m not convinced) then how does that work? Is he saying our heart beating for example could do so on either X or Y amount of calories?

I get that some functions such as cell renewal or hair growth could be slowed down. But if you go out and burn 1000 calories running 10 miles and your body needs 1300 just to exist … and you only eat 2000 … how does it cut 700 calories out from something else? A couple of hundred I could understand.

I
Just
Don’t
Get
It

😂🤷🏻‍♀️

@catinthewindow , I don't really get it either. Especially with all the other stuff I've been reading. It's the total energy expenditure for a day he's talking about. But why would the Hazda be compensating? The activity levels aren't even that high and they are well used to them. It's not like overtraining. Which lead me to think maybe in post industrial societies sedentary people have a higher total energy expenditure than they should because of inflammation and the healthier level would be more like the Hazda. Unless there's some other adaptation going on.

I'm also wondering how I did lose weight!

It was a miracle, I tell you!

@grasstreeleaf well indeed … either I lost nearly three stone through my diet of copious wine, chocolate and eating out … or it was the running. I’ll take either 😂

It's also due to loss of muscle. We lose approx 10 percent per decade after age 30. That means someone who does no weight training has 30 percent less muscle.

Muscle burns extra calories and stops loose skin/bingo wings etc

30 percent less by age 60 I meant!

Just been trying to get to grips with this one:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903931/

It suggests a Keto diet causes insulin sensitivity! Curiouser and curiouser indeed! Metabolism is certainly complex! We don't know anything really do we?

@ttcissoboring and cardio protects against insulin resistance.

Ok he’s completely lost me now @grasstreeleaf … people with faster metabolisms burning more energy don’t weigh any less. And people who sit on the sofa all day don’t burn any less than people who are really active.

I mean he supports it with studies but there are gaps in his presentation- I keep shouting out loud at him 😂

For context I’m an academic in a relevant related field so I’m blaming this all on being able to explain it to students … when really I just want to know for me 😂

@catinthewindow, I know it's all very frustrating. I've got to say there is no resolution by the end of his book. It's just all a bit of a mystery. There is no real explanation or exploration of the mechanics involved. My only conclusion is that the human body is incredibly adaptive which is why it is so difficult unpicking all this stuff.

And I really want to know too! Hence I've been reading about all things metabolism in the past few days!

I stopped running for 2 months because of a knee injury (I ran 80 miles a week). My resting heart rate went up from 48 to 58.
My ferritin levels went up from 20 to 80 so parts of my body which were being undernourished before were now receiving what they needed. Homeostasis is what the body craves. Excess of everything (even exercise) isn't necessarily good.