The Weight Control Holy Grail
Does weight control have another name? Yes, it can be called caloric equilibrium! This means you are burning the same number of calories that you consume! That is, if you burn more calories than you consume, you lose weight and of course, if you consume more than you burn, you will gain weight.
In fact, 3,500 calories is equal to 1 pound of body fat.
The calorie as used in the context of nutrition, is the amount of energy in food available through digestion.
Only carbohydrates, fats, proteins, organic acids, polyols, and ethanol contain energy.
All foods are made up of these 6 nutrients.
Everything else in food is non-caloric including water, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidant, caffeine, spices and other natural flavors.
To maintain a healthy weight and normal muscle tone, the average woman of average height needs to consume approximately 2,000 calories per day.
The average man of average height will need to consume approximately 2,500 calories per day.
Consumption at this level with a reasonable metabolic rate should "maintain" the individual's body requirements.
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life.
These processes allow the organisms to grow and reproduce.
The metabolic rate is the rate that the organism breaks down organic matter to harvest energy.
Your basal or resting metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories burned when the body is completely at rest.
Metabolism can be increased through both diet and exercise.
How does all this fit together? First there must be a reasonable goal; and, it needs to be both achievable as well as measurable.
For example, weight can be measured in pounds changed per unit of time (say one week).
Weighing at the same time each week will provide a reference point to weight stability.
Of course there are many variables; however, a gain of 1 pound indicates an excess consumption of 3,500 calories (500 per day).
If it is desired to lose weight, a reasonable goal would be to lose 1 to 1.
5 pounds per week.
Cut the calorie consumption a little and increase the exercise a little.
This will increase the metabolism and cause calories to burn faster.
In summary then, determine the current weight and then measure its change a week later.
Reasonable adjustments to calorie consumption and exercise can bring the change in-line with the long-term goal.
In fact, 3,500 calories is equal to 1 pound of body fat.
The calorie as used in the context of nutrition, is the amount of energy in food available through digestion.
Only carbohydrates, fats, proteins, organic acids, polyols, and ethanol contain energy.
All foods are made up of these 6 nutrients.
Everything else in food is non-caloric including water, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidant, caffeine, spices and other natural flavors.
To maintain a healthy weight and normal muscle tone, the average woman of average height needs to consume approximately 2,000 calories per day.
The average man of average height will need to consume approximately 2,500 calories per day.
Consumption at this level with a reasonable metabolic rate should "maintain" the individual's body requirements.
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life.
These processes allow the organisms to grow and reproduce.
The metabolic rate is the rate that the organism breaks down organic matter to harvest energy.
Your basal or resting metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories burned when the body is completely at rest.
Metabolism can be increased through both diet and exercise.
How does all this fit together? First there must be a reasonable goal; and, it needs to be both achievable as well as measurable.
For example, weight can be measured in pounds changed per unit of time (say one week).
Weighing at the same time each week will provide a reference point to weight stability.
Of course there are many variables; however, a gain of 1 pound indicates an excess consumption of 3,500 calories (500 per day).
If it is desired to lose weight, a reasonable goal would be to lose 1 to 1.
5 pounds per week.
Cut the calorie consumption a little and increase the exercise a little.
This will increase the metabolism and cause calories to burn faster.
In summary then, determine the current weight and then measure its change a week later.
Reasonable adjustments to calorie consumption and exercise can bring the change in-line with the long-term goal.
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