Does Exercise affect Metabolism?

Hello:

Just wondering if your metabolism speeds up or slows down during exercise. I know that eating helps start it up but does exercise have any affect?

Well Im not positive but this is what I have heard....Exercise burns calories...but if you are putting on more muscle through exercise the extra musle raises metabolism.

Original Post by soltestimony :

Hello:

Just wondering if your metabolism speeds up or slows down during exercise.  I know that eating helps start it up but does exercise have any affect?

Exercising vastly increases metabolism. 
Eating has minimal impact on metabolism. 
Exercising is the best thing you can do to boost metabolism. 
The only effect eating has on metabolsim is energy to break food down, but that is offset by the calories eaten by about 10 to one. 
Eating causes an insulin response that increases storage (fat). 
Exericise promotes the burning of fat stores.

 

Original Post by soltestimony :

Hello:

Just wondering if your metabolism speeds up or slows down during exercise.  I know that eating helps start it up but does exercise have any affect?

 

Thanks Strikez

So why is everyone so gung hoe on eating first thing in the morn to "start" your metabolism?  Wouldn't walking around the block instead be better?

Original Post by soltestimony:

Thanks Strikez

So why is everyone so gung hoe on eating first thing in the morn to "start" your metabolism?  Wouldn't walking around the block instead be better?

Actually a glass of water and a walk around the block would really get your metabolism going.  Eating early is a good satiety strategy, but does little to start metabolism.  Your metabolism runs 24/7 and the biggest increases are from activity.

Umm there has been a lot of research on this and having breakfast does in fact boost your metabolism. If you google "breakfast" and "metabolism" you will see the millions of articles about this, here is an excerpt from one that I think captures it pretty well:

"Skipping breakfast has a similar effect to starving yourself. It slows down your metabolism because your body conserves energy and burns only what is absolutely necessary until fuel becomes available. Obviously if you’re trying to lose weight this is the last thing you want. Breakfast is your first opportunity of the day to fuel your body, rev up your metabolism and start burning the most calories possible. "

Yes activity increases it as well, but I would hardly recommend skipping breakfast for a walk instead...there are other reasons that countless studies show breakfast-eaters are thinner than non-breakfast eaters, for example those who skip breakfast are more likely to overeat and make poor choices later in the day.

Original Post by victoriagirl:

Umm there has been a lot of research on this and having breakfast does in fact boost your metabolism. If you google "breakfast" and "metabolism" you will see the millions of articles about this, here is an excerpt from one that I think captures it pretty well:

"Skipping breakfast has a similar effect to starving yourself. It slows down your metabolism because your body conserves energy and burns only what is absolutely necessary until fuel becomes available. Obviously if you’re trying to lose weight this is the last thing you want. Breakfast is your first opportunity of the day to fuel your body, rev up your metabolism and start burning the most calories possible. "

Yes activity increases it as well, but I would hardly recommend skipping breakfast for a walk instead...there are other reasons that countless studies show breakfast-eaters are thinner than non-breakfast eaters, for example those who skip breakfast are more likely to overeat and make poor choices later in the day.

I do not advocate skipping breakfast - but go to a place that does RMR - do the test and you will get the same results after fasting and after eating.  Have a cup of coffee and your RMR will go up.  Breakfast helps many with satiety (thus the over eating later in the day), but is not a metabolism booster.  Why do you think eating is not listed as a calorie burning activity.

The calories you are burning in the morning, prior to eating, are from fat stores.  When you eat - the process reverses.  

Eating does not increase calorie burning - activity does.  

Eating does is not listed as a calorie burning activity for obvious reasons...but technically it is, you use about 10% of the calories to process the food through your system. That is not really the point though.

I used to believe that skipping breakfast meant I would use fat stores to function and therefore it was a good means of losing weight. Clearly that sort of thinking did not work out for me. And this is a dangerous myth. They teach the value of eating breakfast as a basic part of nutrition education nowadays...I am not sure why i am even bothering to defend it, it's like defending gravity - but there are clearly still people who don't get it. Starving your body is counter-productive!! Not only does fasting too long slow down your rate of burning calories, it also throws your blood sugar out of whack. I have gotten this information from many many different sources, all of which seem legitimate. Are we being fooled into believing the importance of breakfast, when really, according to you,  just having a coffee is more beneficial to weight loss? Maybe I should take up smoking too, I hear it's a great appetite suppressant.

 

Hi - Im new here so bear with me, just though that I'd share this with you as you might find it interesting.

I have found in regard to the morning that I lose a lot more weight if I do excercise before I eat breakfast, but I only ever do lite cardio, just enough to pick up my metabolism.

I know for a fact that this works (at least for me) Because as a Type 1 (childhood onset) diabetic I actually get to measure how my blood sugar responds to my diet and exercise regime, If for whatever reason I can't get to the gym before breakfast I need a HELL of a lot more insulin to stabalise my Blood Sugars and we all know what that means More Insulin = More chance of non usage and storage as FAT. For example If I want a bowl of museli in the morning I need 3 times more insulin if I haven't been in the gym. It actually has a knock on effect all through my day (but that's another post)

I guess what I'm saying is don't overdo it but moderate exercise before breakfast has worked for me and sets you up for the rest of the day

 

Hope this help

Original Post by victoriagirl :

Eating does is not listed as a calorie burning activity for obvious reasons...but technically it is, you use about 10% of the calories to process the food through your system. That is not really the point though.

I used to believe that skipping breakfast meant I would use fat stores to function and therefore it was a good means of losing weight. Clearly that sort of thinking did not work out for me. And this is a dangerous myth. They teach the value of eating breakfast as a basic part of nutrition education nowadays...I am not sure why i am even bothering to defend it, it's like defending gravity - but there are clearly still people who don't get it. Starving your body is counter-productive!! Not only does fasting too long slow down your rate of burning calories, it also throws your blood sugar out of whack. I have gotten this information from many many different sources, all of which seem legitimate. Are we being fooled into believing the importance of breakfast, when really, according to you,  just having a coffee is more beneficial to weight loss? Maybe I should take up smoking too, I hear it's a great appetite suppressant.

 

I do not advocate skipping breakfast.  But eating breakfast does not increase calorie burn.   Having just coffee would increase weight loss because it would increase metabolic rate and not add calories.  That does not mean it is the healthiest way to lose weight. 

In simple terms: eating adds calories, exercise burns calories.  

Maybe I should stop exercising, because if I eat more, it will increase my metabolism and I will lose weight.  (just as ridiculous as your smoking statement)

Original Post by strikez:

I do not advocate skipping breakfast.  But eating breakfast does not increase calorie burn.   Having just coffee would increase weight loss because it would increase metabolic rate and not add calories.  That does not mean it is the healthiest way to lose weight. 

In simple terms: eating adds calories, exercise burns calories.  

Maybe I should stop exercising, because if I eat more, it will increase my metabolism and I will lose weight.  (just as ridiculous as your smoking statement)

 I agree with you that exercise is what increases your metabolism, because I did do some light reading. Calories are what you get from eating, metabolism is what breaks those calories down. But I'm a little confused - why do I metabolize better if I eat several times a day rather than once a day? Is that actually something other than metabolism?

Original Post by sauciedj :

 I agree with you that exercise is what increases your metabolism, because I did do some light reading. Calories are what you get from eating, metabolism is what breaks those calories down. But I'm a little confused - why do I metabolize better if I eat several times a day rather than once a day? Is that actually something other than metabolism?

 Eating several times a day does not increase your calorie burn.  It does help some people with appetite control.   But everybody is different and finding what works for you is what is important.  Experimenting with yourself to find how you can manage your calorie consumption and exercise is the best thing to do.  This is why I detest all these arbitrary rules that people push in these forums.  Like eating breakfast or better calories or the BMR myth's and so on.  They prevent people from trying different things in their weight loss journey. 

The only rule that need apply: weight loss requires a calorie deficit.  There are a thousand better ways to create that deficit - better for other people - not you.

(edit: removed quote)

Walking sure has given my metabolism a boost!  ( And I lost inches and pounds )  I recommend a nice brisk 30 minute walk in the morning and in the evening too.  I start most mornings off with 1/2 cup of orange juice and a banana. 

Rachel

As an example, I'm a diabetic so I have to monitor my blood sugar levels.  Exercise obviously burns the carbs in me lowering my blood sugar, but it also continues to lower it afterward.  Lifting weights really gets it going later.  I know I can't lift weights too late in the evening or I'll wake up in the middle of the night with dangerously low blood sugar. 

Eating breakfast does increase your metabolism.  Just think, you probably haven't eaten for almost 12 hours before you eat breakfast.  You don't go all day that long, or shouldn't.  Your body slows itself down as it thinks that it's not going to get fuel/food.  That's why a good breakfast is something to start each day with.

I tend to eat a large breakfast as a way to kick start my day. My meals get smaller and more frequent throughout the day.  I just eat the larger breakfast to get my body up and running and burning again.  It still matters what you put in it, but getting some good calories in your body in the morning is great for your metabolism.

Hi dan - Don't know if you caught my earlier post on this forum but I am a diabetice also - What type are you? If you are a type 1 - could I possibly pick your brains about something (I'll start a new forum topic)

I am in complete agreement with Strikez on this one.

The best thing you can do is exercise and build muscle. There is good evidence to show that a work-out (cardio or resistance) can have a "burst effect" regarding metabolism, as well as generally speed up metabolism. In other words, during, and hours after your workout your body still uses more energy to get by than just before your next...

One interesting thing to note however: remember that all foods are not created equal... it WILL take more resources of your body to digest 120 calories of chicken breast than 120 calories of soda pop. In fact, though my source for this is shaky, I've read that it takes as much as 15% of total calories to digest and store the constituent parts of chicken protein and 5% for simple sugars...

Eating has minimal impact on metabolism.

Eating does not increase calorie burning - activity does.

Strikez, which is it? Little or None.  Everything helps when it comes to fat loss, eating may not ramp up the burning as much as exercise but it does help.  It's not even all about the increase in metabolism.  It helps keep you from a decrease in metabolism, the less you eat throughout the day the more your body hangs on to it's precious fat.  The more frequently you eat the easier it is to let go (no starvation effect).

The calories you are burning in the morning, prior to eating, are from fat stores.  If you've not properly fueled your body it can also come from muscle, which will only slow down your metabolism.

Eating does increase your metabolism and in some ways keeps it from decreasing which to me still equals increase.

Original Post by tommywantwingy :

Eating has minimal impact on metabolism.

Eating does not increase calorie burning - activity does.

Strikez, which is it? Little or None.  Everything helps when it comes to fat loss, eating may not ramp up the burning as much as exercise but it does help.  It's not even all about the increase in metabolism.  It helps keep you from a decrease in metabolism, the less you eat throughout the day the more your body hangs on to it's precious fat.  The more frequently you eat the easier it is to let go (no starvation effect).

The calories you are burning in the morning, prior to eating, are from fat stores.   If you've not properly fueled your body it can also come from muscle, which will only slow down your metabolism.

Eating does increase your metabolism and in some ways keeps it from decreasing which to me still equals increase.

 Eating has its own metabolism - the digestion and distribution of food.  But that metabolism is offset by the caloires in the food.  Increase in digestive activity does increase metabolic activity in other cells.  The starvation effect is more of a result of several days of severely reduced calories not an overnight fast.  Often the part of the cycle that follows about three and half hours after eating is wrongly called a starvation mode.  It is the point that a shift occurs between insulin and leptin.  But metabolic rate does not change.   Insulin drives fat storage, leptin drives fat burn (the amount of leptin coincides with the amount fat).   What also occurs is the release of the appetite hormone ghrelin.  A lot of overweight people  become insulin resistant (don't know they are full) and leptin resisitant (ignore the signals from their fat) but sensitive to ghrelin (hungry even though the body is not in need of energy).  If you are sensitive to ghrelin, you will be driven to eat more often.  So eating several small meals may be best to prevent you from over eating.   In doing so you eat less and can maintain a calorie deficit.  It does not provide a metabolic advantage, nor does it protect muscle from catabolism (unless you do not have adequate fat stores). 

What is often confused is the advice of weight lifters who have very little fat reserves, and want to reduce fat further.  Since their bodies have very little fat, they have very low leptin levels, thus they have more problems burning fat than normal people.  They do get increased metabolic responses, because of the lack of reserves.  Their bodies will quicky catabolise the excess muscle tissue to feed itself.  They have to try to walk a tight rope of nutrients because they had to break their natural energy cycles to obtain the glory of a six pack of abs.  It is its own eating disorder.  What is disturbing is they often try to push that disorder on those who are just trying to lose weight or maintain healthy weight.