10/01/2024
So first topic of discussion is calorie deficits, if you have been looking into losing weight you have probably saw this term all over the place.
What is a calorie deficit? Well for this we first must understand what a calorie is. A calorie is a unit of energy. In terms of health we think of Calories in how much energy it provides for our bodies.
So a calorie deficit, means we take on less calories than we use. So how do we create this deficit?
We burn calories either actively, through exercise or through our resting metabolic rate, RMR. Your RMR is constantly burning calories through the day, it accounts for internal functions carried out in the body and will fluctuate depending on, size, muscle mass, gender, hormones and much more.
Although you can get watches and apps that tell you your RMR it is very hard to get an exact reading. To be in a calorie deficit you must be eating less than the number of calories combined from your RMR and your active calories burned.
So is calorie counting good for you to lose weight? Well, it’s subjective. It has been found that although calorie counting and strict diary calorie intakes will help lose weight, sometimes even substantial amounts of weight, it is not that sustainable. Research has found that most people that stick to only calorie counting to ensure you are in the deficiency will more often than not get you hooked on the yo-yo diet effect. Where your weight will constantly go up and down because you can’t sustain the initial dieting phase.
Another few calorie counting tips to remember before getting disheartened about your progress. People burn calories differently, two people eating the same meal will not be able to store and use the same amount of energy. Calories on a packet can often not accurately describe the actual calories. Studies show that calories can be out by a whopping 30% on packaging. Lastly, food quality, which I will discuss next week, plays a massive part in weight control.
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