This has been one crazy week. I actually feel like I'm getting into heated arguments with people over eating vs not eating in order to loose weight. Please pay close attention!!

You body's basic metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories you basically expend or burn at rest. This is the minimum required amount of calories your body needs to eat, sleep, breath, digest food, etc. There are different ways to calcualate this out and each person has a different rate depending on their body type. The more muscle you have, the higher your BMR because muscle is more active than fat. I tell my clients that are dieting to just take their body weight x 10 and that gives a estimate of the amount of calories needed everyday at rest. EX. 150lbs x 10 = 1500 calories a day. Ok, now that was easy. Now without getting all techinical and stuff you simply take in more calories on the days you are active. If you are going to the gym or taking part in an active that requires you to "work" take in more calories.

If you don't take in enough calories that your body needs then it will hold on to the "stored "energy (carbs, fats) and burn your muscle for fuel. The body is not going to waste energy! It knows if you are starving it or not. When you go without eating for hours, your body slows down it's burning process. Ask yourself this, " Have I been eating the same way everyday regardless of my activity, and if so , have I lost any weight? I had a young lady tell me that she's been running every day and takes in 1600 caloreis and hasn't lost 1lb in over 3months. Duh!!! She's taking in just enough to "sustain life and all the metabolic processes her body goes through everyday". Your body will protect itself! It's not going to burn your "body fat", while you starve it!

You must eat to loose!!!!!! I hope you really think about what you just read.. Nutrition is vital when you are trying to gain/loose weight and maintain your hard earned muscle.

Good luck with you goals. I pray 2008 finds you in the best shape of your life. GOD GAVE YOU ONE BODY!! TAKE CARE OF IT!!

JUST MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!