Know your calories

Knowing what calories are and what they do is very important when you are dieting. Knowing what goes on "behind the scene" will give you an inside knowledge which will serve as motivation and optimation of your diet. This article will provide you that knowledge.

Calories are another word for energy, or energy stored in foods. In order to find out how many calories (how much energy) different types of food contain you can always read the food declaration on the wrapping/container.

Why are calories bad?

Calories aren’t bad, the body needs energy in order to function and calories provides this energy. The problem is that when you consume more calories (energy) than the body can use, then you begin to gain weight! On the other hand, if you take in less energy than the body needs, then you loose weight.

The best way of getting calories, are from food that has a high volume, this means foods that will provide you with a sensation of fullness fast and which contain a low calorie level but a high level of proteins. This could be vegetables.

Calories needed

We are all different in weight, height and have different jobs and do different things along the day. That’s why it is so hard to specify exactly how many calories each of us need to maintain a certain weight and lifestyle.

For instance athletes have a huge intake of calories compared to regular people, but they also need it and use it, so they do not become overweight. Normally skinny and thin people will need more calories than they spend, and obese and overweight people needs a little less calories than they use.

To get an estimate of calories you need per day try our "needed calories calculator".

Diets and Calories

Calorie limitation are the backbone in any diet. Since the main reason most people get obese and overweight are because of leftover energy (calories) from food.

The idea behind most diets are trying to limit the intake of calories (energy)  and maximize the burning of calories (energy usage) thus forcing the body to begin using its leftover energy depots better know as fat.

Most diets aim to provide foods which are high in density and low in calories, this being things like vegetables, fibre and such. These foods gives a feeling of fullness and at the same time has a very low calorie Vs density rate.

 

Burn Calories

Calories are energy, and energy can be used. When you use more energy than you consume you lose weight. In order to use more energy than you take in you need to exercise.
One thing is very important once you exercise for burning calories and that is keeping up the pulse. This way you optimize the calories burned.
 

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