Calories Do Count
As America's waistline grows larger as a whole, obesity reaches epidemic proportions. So much so that several states (namely New York and California) have recently adopted statutes mandating that menus list calorie counts in an effort to promote healthy eating habits. Calories are simply a measure of energy. Assuming that a daily caloric intake that is less than the energy expended will lead to weight loss is inaccurate.
Food triggers various brain chemicals and hormones that contribute partly to a pleasurable dining experience. Some hormones permit bodies to store fat, some like insulin release sugar to meet energy demands, while others promote muscle growth and repair. Research reveals that diets based on equal calorie amounts but varying only in proportions of fat, protein and carbohydrates, result in different amounts of weight loss. So in many ways, we are what we eat, whether it is a carefully thought out fad diet or just a quick fast-food meal based on the dollar menu.
- Carbohydrates and protein have 4 calories per gram. Fats have 9 calories per gram. Alcohol weighs in at 7 calories per gram. Mix and match well.
- Average people need about 2000 calories per day. Here is an interactive Calorie Calculator to figure out your needs. Try out the Calories Burned During Exercise link as well.
- 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound of fat. In theory, burning 3,500 calories more than you take in would result in a pound of weight loss. So if you cut 500 calories from your typical diet each day, you'd lose approximately 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories).Think up of a weight loss formula that sounds tolerable to you.
- Cutting calories doesn't have to be difficult. Simply forgoing one extra item a day, or alternating with low-fat options (light or no whip cream in your frappuccino) or trimming serving sizes can add up quickly in your favor.
If you frequent fast-food chains, keep an eye out for calorie counts on menu choices (Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Subway already incorporate them). Regardless of human tendencies to self-delude, becoming mindful of food choices at restaurants and fast-food joints, will make anyone more aware of their own spending habits. Give it a try and see how much more you'll save in the long run. You might even stop fast-food as a whole (gasp!).
