What Does A Calorie Mean?
A calorie is a measurement of heat.
In the nutritional world it means the amount of heat needed to raise one kilogram of water by one degree centigrade and is a convenient method of calculating the energy contained in all food and drink.
Nutritionists, dieticians and weight watchers use calories as a measurement of the energy taken in and then used up by the human body.
As bodily activity increases so more calories are burnt up
That means in order to maintain a healthy weight it is necessary to consume the same amount of calories as are burnt up.
Too little exercise and eating food containing more calories than are used up results in becoming overweight.
A surplus of calories is converted by the body into either muscle or fat depending on the amount of bodily activity.
If you enjoy your food it really is necessary to exercise regularly to avoid becoming overweight, this is the reason for so many couch potatoes, especially our children, being obese – you have been warned!
In the course of a week, it is estimated that the average person must burn 3500 calories more than they consume to lose just one pound in weight. That sounds really off putting for those of us who want to lose weight quickly but…..
Cutting down on food with a high calorific content, increasing the amount of daily exercise or better still a combination of the two will result in weight loss. Unless you have a thyroid (or some other medical ) problem, there is absolutely no doubt that you will lose weight this way and, not only that but, you will have a more toned body.
Even if you are eighty years old it will still happen.
It is healthier to aim for gradual weight loss, so work out a sensible program that is not difficult to stick with and can be maintained for a long period, this way the body will not have to cope with too much change happening quickly.
Obviously before developing your weight loss routine you will need to know the calorie content of the food and drink that you consume.
Fortunately this information is easily accessed with easy to use calculators that can work out your ideal daily calorie intake.
Take care that the choice of food and drink you settle for in your program is balanced, as your body needs all the vital vitamins and trace elements to stay healthy.
Cutting down rather than cutting out is better and if in any doubt seek medical opinion.
Body Fat calorie diets overweight weight loss
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Donna Fitness said:
Getting back to basics and defining "a calorie" will be helpful for many people. Yes counting calories and "weight loss" is important - but lets not forget that fat loss and body fat% is even more important. Make sure when you are losing weight, you are losing body fat …..if not …you are losing muscle.
Huge mistake that too many people make. Make sure your exercise routine includes strength training.
John Kaiser said:
Thanks for the basics. Too many people are unfamiliar with them.
Jaks Lloyd said:
Well, as I have said in my article, you should not only restrict your calorie intake but, if you want to have a toned, not flabby body, you should definitely be doing some sort of exercise program suited to your body.