Understanding Calories - A First Step Toward Losing The Weight

Almost everything you eat and drink contains calories (water, celery and certain diet beverages do not). Your body weight is affected by how many calories you take in, but more importantly is what consumptions these calories are derived from.

Your body requires a certain amount of calories to maintain its current weight. Take in less daily calories than your body requires to maintain its current weight, and you lose weight. Take in more and you gain weight.

Calories are delivered to the body in what you eat and drink, but basically through three forms, Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fat. No we didn't forget sugar, if that is what you are thinking. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate.

Let's do some math
1 gram of protein = 4 calories
1 gram of carbohydrates = 4 calories
1 gram of fat = 9 calories

Many weight loss programs focus on single derivative of calorie intake, more protein, less carbs, less fat.

Protein is extremely important to the body. Its intake is vital.

Carbs (Carbohydrates) are found in almost all foods, especially, the foods that most of us enjoy eating. Since the foods we most enjoy are high in carbs, giving them up in time causes cravings that most of us eventually submit to, thereby causing such diets to fail.

Fat calories are delivered in higher quantities per gram. As noted above, 1 gram of fat = 9 calories. Fat in itself won't make you fat. It is all a matter of consumption. Take in 5 grams of fat and you consume 45 calories, while 5 grams of proteins or carbs and you take in 20 calories. If you eliminate fat from your diet, but double your intake of proteins or carbs you won't experience weight loss.

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