Food Calorie Mystery?
Posted by toast2fitness on November 8, 2009
There is a huge cloud of mystery surrounding the concept of “calories”. Typically the first two things notice don the nutritional label of food packaging are the caloric value and the total fat amount. People are often confused whether to count calories or monitor their fat intake. Both are IMPORTANT, but you don’t want to avoid certain types of fats such as Omega 3 fats often found in fish since they are beneficial to overall health. In regards to calories we need a certain amount to gives us energy needed for our body to function properly and efficiently. A “calorie is nothing more than a unit of energy that is available in food amongst other things. The BIGGEST reason why we should monitor our calorie intake is because we need to burn more calories per day than the amount that we take in.
*Explanation: Eat 3000 calories – Burn 2,500 calories = 500 calorie surplus!!
(1lb = 3500 calories)
Over a 7 day period this 500 calorie surplus per day equates to you gaining ONE pound. So to lose 1lb you would have to do the opposite and create a deficit of 500 calories per day in order to lose 1lb a week. (These equations are done without regards to exercise as it will burn calories at a faster rate)
Eat 3000 calories – Burn 3,500 calories = 500 calorie deficit (1lb weight loss! per week)
The caloric needs of each individual is different depending on the person’s age, weight, metabolism, and activity level. No one human is alike so each nutritional plan should be geared only towards that individual. To get a basic idea of your caloric need CLICK HERE and input your information and it will give you a generalization to how many calories needed to maintain or lose weight.
**BE WEARY** of low fat, no fat, reduced fat foods as they tend to be high in calories!
