If you think you have a slow metabolism, you should get it professionally tested.

The technology once reserved for hospitals and universities is now available at The Twin Oaks Fitness Center in Morristown. The Body gem device measures a person's resting metabolic rate with a simple ten minute breath test. Testing your metabolic rates will determine exactly how many calories you may eat to lose or maintain your weight. No more charts, averages, or guesswork. For the first time in years, there is an accurate tool for the thousands of people who are trying to lose weight.

Metabolism is the key to weight loss:

Testing a person's metabolic rate will determine exactly how many calories she needs to eat to lose weight. Retesting over time will reveal if her metabolism has been affected by dieting and exercise. The only way to really know if someone is burning fat is to test her metabolism. A weight loss plan must be individualized.

When it comes to weight loss, there is no such thing as "one size fits all." Each person's metabolism is different based on genetics, eating habits, and fitness level. Each person gains weight for a variety of physical, emotional, and environmental factors. Charts and averages are not always an effective ways to construct a diet plan. The Body gem gives you specific data so that you can customize a plan just for you. No gimmicks, no empty promises. Just real science that leads to real results

Metabolic Rate Measurements:

Metabolic rate, or metabolism, is the rate at which the body expends energy. This is also referred to as the "caloric burn rate". Knowing metabolic rate is vital for weight loss as well as for determining the proper feeding amounts needed to treat various disease states.

Energy expenditure can be divided into three groups of calories:

1. Resting Calories - Calories that are burned while the body is at rest. These calories are needed just to maintain life. The majority of all calories burned (about 70-80%) are burned at the resting level.
2. Activity Calories - Calories that are burned because of normal daily activities are "Activity Calories". Normal daily activities such as walking, eating, digesting food, typing, etc. are included in activity calories.
3. Exercise Calories - These calories are burned through intentional exercise.

The sum of all of these is the total metabolic rate.

Taking the Test:

1. Relax: Body gem measures resting metabolic rate. It is important that you be able to reach a resting state during your test. You should avoid activities such as exercise or stressful situations that will prevent you from relaxing for at least two hours prior to your test. Digesting a large meal, as well as taking stimulants, such as caffeine, can raise your metabolic rate and should also be avoided prior to your test.

2. Sit: Once you arrive, you will be able to sit comfortably while being tested. The technician will then place a nose clip on your nose, and you will be given a disposable mouthpiece to breathe through. This will measure how much oxygen you are breathing out. It is very important that you breathe only through the mouthpiece so this measurement will be correct. The mouthpiece is a sterile item that will be used only for you.

3. Breathe: Finally, you just sit back and breathe. The Bodygem will indicate when it has calculated your metabolic rate. This takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes. The more relaxed and even your breathing, the quicker it will be able to determine your resting metabolic rate.Using specific software we will enter all your data from the test and you will get a print out your results.

It's that easy. In just ten minutes, you can know precisely how many calories your body burns. No more being compared to charts and averages, no more wondering why your diet is not working. The Body gem will take the guess work out of dieting and put YOU back in control! Comfortable, effective and life-long weight loss is just a breath away!

The fee for the test is $65.

Please e-mail or call us at (973) 462-3954 to make an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does the Body gem measure metabolic rate?

Your body consumes a fixed amount of oxygen per calorie burned. The Body gem measures the amount of oxygen in the air you exhale to calculate how much oxygen your body is consuming. Based on your oxygen consumption, the Body gem then figures the exact amount of calories you are burning.

Why should I have my resting metabolic rate tested?

Everyone has a unique metabolic rate. Scientific studies show that even people with similar attributes like age, height, weight, and body composition can have very different metabolic rates. This means that if your metabolic rate is lower than average, you may gain weight even while dieting. Conversely, if your metabolic rate is higher than normal, you may never need to diet to lose weight or you may not be eating enough to lose weight! Metabolic testing reveals how many calories your body burns at rest, giving you the data you need to plan a weight loss, gain, or maintenance plan.

What are the steps of a metabolic rate test?

The Body gem automatically calibrates itself, so there is no need to configure the unit prior to each test. Your body data (age, height, etc.) is entered into the software. You breathe into a disposable mouthpiece to gauge your oxygen consumption. The Body gem determines when you reach your "resting" metabolic rate and it prints a detailed report showing your results and what they mean for you.

Does metabolism change over time?

Metabolism varies from person to person and can change over time. It is determined by many factors including body composition (amount of muscle and fat), weight, age, genetics and gender. Weight loss or a change in body composition can significantly affect your resting metabolic rate (RMR).

I exercise a lot. Why hasn't my resting metabolic rate increased?

Aerobic, or cardiovascular exercise burns calories during the activity, but does not have a significant effect on increasing your RMR over time. The calories you burn during aerobic exercise will help you balance the calories you eat. Strength training on the other hand burns fewer calories during the exercise, but can add more muscle to your body, which can lead to an increase in resting metabolic rate over time. A combination of aerobic exercise and strength training should be included to improve health.

Can I increase my RMR?

The best and safest method to increase your RMR is to participate in a vigorous strength training program that will add muscle to your body. Muscle burns more calories than fat so having more muscle will lead to an increase in your RMR over time.

I have lost weight. Why is my resting metabolic rate lower?

A decrease in resting metabolic rate during weight loss is normal. Metabolism is influenced by total body mass (your body weight). When you lose weight, your total body mass decreases and it takes less energy for your body to maintain vital functions. In order to minimize this decrease in RMR with weight loss, you can participate in a strength training program. Strength training, if vigorous enough to increase lean muscle mass, can help increase your resting metabolic rate over time because muscle is more metabolically active than fat and burns more calories to maintain, even at rest.

Does losing weight speed up my resting metabolism?

You might be surprised to read the answer is no. Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) actually tends to decrease as you lose weight. This happens because it takes less calories for your body to support a smaller you. This is one of the reasons that it is important to have your RMR re-measured as you shed pounds. Otherwise, you might find yourself plateau-ing too soon and not reaching your goals. One way to counter this trend is to add strength training to your workout plan because lean muscle mass burns more calories than fat. Remember to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Are there any special instructions to follow before getting my RMR measured?

Like many other tests, there are special guidelines to follow prior to your RMR test. These simple rules will help you receive an accurate RMR measurement:

• You cannot eat for at least 4 hours prior to the test (8-12 hours is preferable).
  
• You cannot exercise (cardiovascular or strength training) for at least 4 hours prior to the test (8-12 hours is preferable).
  
• You cannot consume caffeine for at least 3 hours prior to the test.
  
• You cannot consume nutritional supplements or medications containing ephedra, Ma Huang, or pseudo ephedrine for at least 2 hours prior to the test.
  
• You cannot consume nicotine for at least 1 hour before the test.
  
• You must be resting for 10-15 minutes before the test is administered. This means you are seated or reclining comfortably and not speaking, reading or watching television.