Every person is unique, so there are always exceptions to the rule, even when it comes to the number of calories they burn. In general, people who are more muscular require more calories, just as those who weigh more do. In general, men need more calories than women do. The amount of calories your body burns depends on many things. One is gender. A wife who starts workout programs with her husband is often disappointed because she may stick with the program faithfully, while her husband sometimes cheats, and he ends up losing more weight! It’s about differences in the body.
It’s more about averages and generalizations.
If you’ve used a calorie calculator, you probably found the perfect number of calories to eat to lose a pound or two a week. It isn’t always accurate, but a generalization. It’s based on the fact that to lose a pound, you have to eat 3500 fewer calories than you burn. It’s also based on what the average person of your gender and age needs to maintain weight, lose weight or gain weight. It doesn’t consider a lot of other factors that affect your metabolism. On the average, for instance, a female between 19 and 30 needs 2000 to 2200 calories, while a man the same age needs 2600 to 2800.
Male hormones play a role.
When adolescence hits, males increase testosterone levels, which helps build more muscle tissue, increases HGH and builds muscle size and strength. While women also have this hormone, it’s not the dominant one, estrogen is. In fact, both sexes have estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, it’s just a matter of how much. The increased testosterone means increased bone density and increased muscle mass, so it also means increased metabolism and daily calories burned.
Starting weight plays a role, too.
The average male weighs more than the average female. It doesn’t mean men are fatter. It means men have denser bones, a bigger build and more muscle mass. Not only does muscle mass require more calories than fat does for maintenance, but it also weighs more per cubic inch. The more you weigh, the harder your body has to work to do everyday tasks, like walking, so the more calories you burn.
- Age also plays a role in the number of calories burned and it’s primarily due to muscle mass. After the age of 30, people start losing muscle mass every year unless they work to maintain it. The muscle mass can be regained, but it takes hard work.
- Fit men have between 87 to 94% lean muscle mass, while their female counterparts have from 77 to 91%. The average American male has 75 to 86% lean muscle mass and 69 to 76% for the average American female.
- If you’re female, you have to work harder to lose weight, but that shouldn’t discourage you. If you start an exercise program, it can build muscle tissue and help boost your metabolism. If your spouse is sedentary, you could even burn more calories than he does.
- Starting a program of exercise not only helps you burn more calories, but it also helps you maintain a youthful appearance and extends your life. Not only will you add more years to your life, but you’ll also add more life to those years.
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