Facts About Calories
If you’ve been trying to lose weight, you may have read about “counting calories” or “cutting calories” to drop excess pounds, but do you know what it all means? Get the facts about calories and weight loss.
Experts recommend losing 1 to 2 pounds a week for healthy weight loss that’s easier to maintain in the long run. One pound equals about 3,000 calories, which means you either need to eat fewer calories, burn more calories, or achieve a combination of the two. If you’re aiming for 1 to 2 pounds of weight loss per week, that means you have 3,000 to 6,000 calories to either cut from your diet or burn off through physical activity.
How many calories are you eating or burning? Using an online calculator can help you estimate how many daily calories you need to meet your weight loss goals and keep track of the calories you eat and burn.
Resist the urge to cut more calories in an effort to lose weight more quickly. If you dramatically cut your calorie intake, your body will eventually adapt by reducing the number of calories it burns on a regular basis. This can make continued weight loss very difficult, and will also cause you to gain weight quickly as soon as you begin eating more calories again. In addition, eating too little can make it difficult for you to get the proper amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fats that your body needs to stay healthy and energized.
Instead of consuming fewer calories, work on adding more exercise to your routine if you notice you hit a weight loss plateau. Also remember that as you lose weight, your body will require fewer calories for normal function.