The number 1 thing that people tend to get wrong about nutrition is counting calories. This stems from misinformation spread by the food industry who want us to believe that eating more means eating better. While we shouldn’t eat anything without regard to our nutritional needs, there are other factors to consider beyond caloric content. For example: do I like what I am eating? Is it safe for me? Does this fit my preferences? Do I have any allergies? These questions should always come before how many calories something has. When we think about nutrition, the first question we need to ask ourselves is “what are my nutritional needs?” To answer this question, we need to determine our current state (body weight) and then calculate our ideal state (weight loss goal). Once these two numbers are determined, we can begin to look at what foods meet those needs. Most Americans fall into a calorie deficit no matter how much they exercise. As a result, they never reach their desired body weight. So instead of focusing on calories, they should focus on macronutrients and micronutrients.
1. The first thing that comes to mind is counting calories, right? Well, not exactly. Calorie counting isn’t always necessary, but it can be useful when trying to lose weight. However, it should not become a “fad diet”.
2. A calorie is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius. This means that 1 calorie is equal to 4.184 kJ (kilojoules). When people say “calories are bad”, this is what they mean: if we eat too many calories, our bodies store them as fat. We know this because we have been told to avoid eating excess calories throughout our lives, leading us to believe that they are harmful. However, this is only partially true; while there is no doubt that having too many extra calories will make you gain weight, overdoing it can actually cause serious health problems.
3. How many calories do I need to lose weight?
First, it is important to understand that your body needs some calories to function properly. If you don’t consume enough calories, then you won’t get enough energy to perform basic tasks like breathing or thinking. You may experience fatigue and even fainting if you go without food long enough. But let’s face it. People often choose to skip meals intentionally to try to lose weight. This leads to negative consequences, since the body has evolved to respond to hunger cues instead of ignoring them. So, if you want to effectively lose weight, you need to eat regularly. In fact, research suggests that people who skip meals tend to put on more fat than those who maintain regular mealtimes.
4. Can we burn off the calories from exercise?
While calories count, they don’t tell the whole story about how much energy you use. Many studies have proven that physical activity does help people lose weight. Exercise burns calories at different rates depending on intensity, duration, and other factors. As a general rule, a healthy person burns around 500-1000 calories per hour through moderate aerobic activity. Anaerobic activities (like sprinting) can burn upwards of 2000 calories per hour!