E ven when we are at rest, the vital organs of our body keep functioning. We burn calories during rest and the rate at which calories are burnt at rest is called the Basal Metabolic Rate [BMR]. This is closely related to Resting Metabolic Rate [RMR], i.e., the rate at which energy is expended daily by humans. The body only burns calories during rest to function properly. For instance, it takes energy, or calories, to keep your heart beating, your lungs breathing and your brain cells communicating.
You also burn calories at rest by digesting food; this is called thermogenesis, or the “thermic effect of food”. But the main source of calorie burning is physical activity.The number of calories burnt depends upon an individual’s physical and non-physical activities.
Even while sleeping, a person with greater muscle mass burns more fat and sugar, compared to a person with lesser muscle mass. A single pound of muscle consumes 50 calories a day, while a pound of fat consumes only nine calories.
You can burn more calories while resting by following the tips given below:
1) Lack of sleep leads to weight gain. Hence you need to have sufficient sleep to burn calories.
2) Be an active person to build more lean muscle mass, which will help you increase your metabolic rate.
3) Avoid consuming alcoholic drinks before going to sleep or rest as it may slow down your metabolic rate.
4) Avoid stress while resting as it will slow down your metabolic rate by increasing the levels of the hormone cortisol, which lowers the metabolic rate.