By Alex Bakhovsky
Updated: April 25, 2023
6 minutes
Common Myths About Weight Loss
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Eating less than 1,000 calories a day will help you lose weight faster.
False – Eating too few calories can be
harmful
and can actually impede your progress.
-
You should avoid eating carbs to lose weight quickly.
False – Carbohydrates provide the body with energy for exercise and are an
important part
of any diet for exercise enthusiasts who are trying to lose weight. Eating a balanced diet which includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is still essential for the optimal performance of athletes and regular exercisers.
-
Eating late at night will make you gain more fat or calories than eating early in the day.
False – If you eat the same number of calories
no matter when
, it won’t matter what time they are consumed as these calories will all be processed by your body equally regardless of the time eaten.
Introduction
Losing weight can be a tricky and bumpy journey, full of highs and lows. Calorie counting is key to this process as it helps manage your weight: consume fewer calories than you expend for slimming down, and more for putting on.
Calories are energy our body uses daily from cleaning cells to lifting heavy objects. Controlling your calorie count can ensure success on the road ahead!
To excel at this feat requires deep insight into multiple facets linked to calorie regulation – including metabolic rate, macro/micronutrient breakdowns & physical activity, etc.
In this blog post – We’ll take a deep dive into the intricacies associated with calorie counting for losing weight – exploring peripheral factors like lifestyle adjustments and exercise strategies that contribute towards your body’s need for calories efficiently & effectively to maintain a desirable calorie deficit for sustainable fat loss!
Concept of Energy Balance and Weight Management
Energy balance refers to the relationship between the number of calories you consume from food versus how many calories your body burns off during exercise or other physical activities.
If you want to lose weight, it is very important to understand how much energy (calories) your body needs each day just for regular functioning such as breathing and digesting food properly. Consuming more calories than this basic daily requirement often leads to health issues including obesity and being overweight.
When calculating an accurate total daily energy expenditure (
TDEE
), it is vital to take into account different factors that can influence caloric needs – age, gender, body composition (muscle mass), activity level, and metabolism rate.
For example, men generally have higher TDEEs than women because their bodies contain more muscle tissue; therefore, they can burn more calories compared with females during physical activity due to a higher metabolic rate. Additionally, those with a greater muscle mass will naturally burn more calories even whilst at rest due to increased calorie utilization for muscle tissues over fat tissues.
Furthermore, engaging in consistent strenuous physical activity also increases the number of required calories for adequate energy levels throughout the day.
To ensure gradual weight loss through balanced calorie deficit maintenance, three primary methods should be used when calculating one’s necessary calorie intake:
Men: BMR=88.4+(13.4 x W)+(4.8 x H)-(5.68xA)
Women: BMR=447+9.2xW+3xH-4xA
Men: BMR = 10 × W + 6.25 × H – 5 × A+ 5
Women: BMR = 10 × W + 6.25 × H – 5 × age – 161
BMR
is the Basal Metabolism Rate, which is the amount of energy (in calories) that the body needs to function while at rest. BMR represents how much energy the body needs to stay alive and perform basic functions such as breathing, circulation, and digestion.
Where W is your current body weight measured in kg; H is the height measured in cm and A is an age in years.
The result of equations 1 and 2 – the number of calories you would require to maintain your weight without factoring in any physical activity (assume rest the entire day).
Use BMR and Activity factor in order to calculate TDEE
-
sedentary lifestyle – 1.2
-
light activity – 1.375
-
moderate activity – 1.55
-
for heavy activity – 1.725
-
very high levels – 1.9
If an individual’s TDEE is estimated to be 2000 calories per day and they have a goal of losing 1kg of weight in one week, which corresponds to about 7700 calories less consumed over seven days, then it is advisable for them to decrease their daily caloric intake by 500 calories or increase physical activity in order to reach their target.
3. Online Calculators & Apps: If manually calculating calories feels complicated, you should look into using online calculators and apps that make getting a better estimate of your caloric needs easier. Also, you’ll be able to input data about physical activity, as well as other factors.
The Role of Macronutrients in Weight Loss
Though cutting on the daily caloric intake plays a significant role in weight loss, comprehensive nutrition programs require monitoring macronutrient intake too – they make up the majority of calorie sources from food eaten. Many dietitians recommend tracking macronutrients consumed: carbohydrates, proteins & fats.
Each macro has a unique nutritional value which affects how we feel every day and our capacity for exercise because they have different energy densities (calories per gram).
-
Carbohydrates provide immediate energy but are often high in sugar and thus spike blood sugar levels quickly; making them less filling over time.
-
Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates – helping people feel full for more extended periods while building muscle tissue during strength training exercises.
-
Fats provide prolonged energy release compared to carbs. They are more calorically dense than proteins or carbs however which expresses itself by their ability to fill people up faster yet remain metabolically active over longer periods meaning fewer cravings later on.
Balancing macro ratios isn’t an exact science mostly because everyone requires slightly different types/configurations of macronutrients depending on their individual goals related to performance/health/wellbeing. But there are generally suggested ranges that work for most people:
-
Carbohydrates: 45-65%
-
Protein: 10-35%
-
Fats: 20-35%
Adjusting Calorie Intake Based on Exercise
As mentioned before, physical activity also plays a critical role in determining your caloric needs. If you live an active life, your body will burn more calories than if you just sit on a chair and lie on a sofa most of the day.
To understand how many calories are burned during workouts or exercise, there are
tables online
showing the approximate number of calories burned per hour for different intensity levels (low/moderate/high).
Here are some examples from these tables.
Low-intensity activities:
-
Walking (3 km/h) – 320-480 calories/hour
-
Yoga – 180-360 calories/hour
-
Stretching – 120-240 calories/hour
-
Easy biking (less than 15 km/h) – 240-400 calories/hour
Moderate-intensity activities:
-
Walking (5-7 km/h) – 480-720 calories/hour
-
Swimming at a moderate pace – 640-1120 calories/hour
-
Dancing – 350-600 calories/hour
-
Moderate Biking (15-20 km/h) – 480-720 calories/hour
High-intensity activities:
-
Running (10 km/h) – 960-1440 calories/hour
-
Swimming at vigorous pace – 960-1440 calories/hour
-
Jump rope – 800-1,000 calories/hour
-
Intensive Biking (20-25 km/h) – 720-1,080 calories/hour
Remember that these figures are just to be used as an indication. To get an exact understanding of your calorie intake, use online tools which look at factors like your age, weight, and the type of exercise you do. Additionally, fitness trackers or heart rate monitors can give a more accurate estimation of the calories burned from physical activities.
Adjusting calorie intake accordingly can be as simple as matching up those numbers from resource materials to calculate and incorporate into nutrition plans.
Maintaining a Sustainable Weight Loss Plan
While an aggressive calorie restriction may yield rapid weight loss initially, it is not sustainable long term because it affects eating habits psychosocially with negative impacts like cravings and binges. The approach should focus on building balanced meals that support good mental health while helping people feel satiated and satisfied all day long.
-
Variety and Balance in Diet – Incorporating nutritious food variety keeps taste buds engaged – meaning less likelihood of overindulging in one food group. Maintaining micro/macro ratios makes sure there isn’t nutrient depletion across the board.
-
An Exercise Plan – The key is striking a balance between pushing yourself and taking care of your body. Working out releases endorphins, sharpening focus and improving physical health while enabling weight loss when done consistently.
-
Managing Stress – Monitoring stress levels can help keep appetite hormones like cortisol in check.
-
Over-emphasizing dieting/eating can also bring on psychological strain which itself can impact the metabolic rate & progress toward weight goals so it’s important to practice self-care activities such as meditation or yoga or even mild exercise regularly to promote mental well-being.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, calorie counting plays an essential role in any effective diet plan for sustainable weight loss but should be used in conjunction with mindful eating practices and a regular exercise program.
With detailed tracking dedication to calorie regulation coupled with understanding how other unregulated elements like stress & lifestyle factors contribute to calorie utilization – success toward reachable body composition goals can be made attainable through calorie counting!
