Counting Calories
How many calories should I eat if I want to lose weight?
Counting calories is one of the basic methods to a weight loss plan. With some vital information about how this approach to dieting works, an effortless and easy loss of extra weight is sure to follow.
Many people repeat “A calorie is a calorie is a calorie”. It’s both true and not true. Calorie counting is a powerful technique when it comes to loosing excessive weight, but calorie counting alone, even if you use the most advanced calorie counter, wouldn’t help much. When you try to lose weight, you consume less energy (food calories) to force your body to burn the energy already stored as fat (fat calories). What you have to realize is that your body needs to get adequate amounts of all essential micronutrients from food you consume especially when you try to lose weight.
Technically, there is no magic number of calories we should all eat each day to lose weight. While most people can lose weight eating around 1,500 calories, you can assess your own personal caloric needs with a little math.
Calories In vs. Calories Out
The equation for weight management is an uncomplicated one and straightforward: calories in equals calories out. For weight loss, the equation is defined as calories in less than calories out. Hence, the amount of food eaten (and the calories contained in that amount of food) is either the same or less than the calories your body needs for involuntary energy expenditure and voluntary physical energy needs.
Why Counting Calories is Important
With the above equation in mind, it is important for weight loss purposes to achieve the necessary deficit of calories, keeping in mind that one pound of body weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. There are two way in which to do this:
*Eat less
*Move more
Counting calories on a daily basis is the only way to know for certain if you are eating the appropriate amount of food, whether you are seeking weight maintenance or weight loss. If weight loss is your goal, your body will use up stored fat for energy needs when the calorie shortage is reached. Daily caloric requirements differ for everyone. The following steps are critical for effective weight management:
- Know your calorie requirement by finding your basal metabolic rate specific for you.
- Calculate the amount of calories expended through your preferred physical activity.
- Start counting calories.
- Reach a 3500 calorie deficit and say good-bye to a pound of weight.
How to Count Calories
Calorie counting requires the following knowledge:
*1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories
*1 gram of protein = 4 calories
*1 gram of fat = 9 calories
It is the accumulation of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, the three macronutrients, which comprise total calorie intake. In contrast, vitamins and minerals, known as the micronutrients, do not contain calories and do not add to calorie content. So, if 50 grams of carbohydrate, 9 grams of protein, and 10 grams of fat make up your meal, your total calorie amount would be 326 calories
Read full article at: Free Diet Articles
Loss Weight Diet and Free Diet Articles Explains how to cut calories and reduce fat in a diet. Recommendations on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, and selection of low-calorie, reduced fat foods and beverages. Provides free diet information, and exercise plan, with an explanation of each phase including low carb diets, diet reviews, and other health information Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/counting-calories-1577533.html
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