For years we have been told that your metabolism has slowed down or it is not working.  While it is all good to be told, few of us really understand what it all means.  How does your metabolism work?  What exactly is it?  And why should I even care?  So I did some research and the answers are so simple.  I don't know why the doctors just don't explain.  Or we should ask more questions.  Either way, The phrase is just pushed out there and we are left with questions that we for the most part just ignore.  

How does your metabolism work? 

• Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function.  Even when you're at rest, your body needs energy for all its "hidden" functions, such as breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels, and growing and repairing cells. The number of calories your body uses to carry out these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate — what you might call metabolism. 

Here are some links to a couple of articles that I found that help explain both of which are simple and straight forward.  

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/metabolism/art-20046508#:~:text=Metabolism%20is%20the%20process%20by%20which%20your%20body,release%20the%20energy%20your%20body%20needs%20to%20function.

https://www.rush.edu/news/how-metabolism-really-works  (this one is high on my list)

After 72 years of living, I am still learning life lessons each day.  This one is very interesting and I wonder why I have never known this before.  Was it easy to ignore, not really caring?  Our lives are so busy sometimes with kids going here and there, with family and jobs and just day to day living.  Lets not forget the laundry and bills.  You get the idea.  The last thing one thinks of is how the metabolism works.  And of course when we were young we were active, riding our bikes and running and playing.  Not so much with kids today.  They are busy on their phones.  I have to admit to doing a lot of that now a days too.  A very bad habit.  So we work on changing that too, but little at a time.  Slowly.  Small changes.