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Why does a person who wants to lose weight need to know this?
In simple terms, a calorie is the unit of energy in the food we consume - it's the amount of energy that's taken in when we eat a meal.
A body needs calories, or energy, in order to function normally. Energy is necessary to carry out the important daily tasks such as breathing, digesting food, pumping blood throughout the body and the many other functions the body fulfills. A person lay in bed all day would still need a large amount of energy to enable his body to function satisfactorily.
Daily Calorie Intake
The term used to describe this vital and necessary level of energy is the Basal Metabolic Rate - BMR - and is calculated for each person by taking into account age, weight, height, gender, and degree of physical activity. The BMI figure is taken into account when determining a person's recommended level of daily calories needed to maintain a constant weight:
Calories consumed = calories used in daily activities
Or the same formula expressed differently:
Calories consumed = BMR plus 'calories used in daily activities'.
From this can be seen what happens when the number of 'calories used' is larger than 'BMR + 'calories used in daily activities'. The unused calories are stored in the body as fat, and this is what causes an increase in weight.
On the other hand, a reduction in weight is caused by either:
1) A reduction in 'calories consumed' OR
2) An increase in 'calories used in daily activities' OR
3) Both
So the BMR figure is fixed. It's only 'calories used in daily activities' that can be changed. And this can only be achieved engaging in more physical activity, or an exercise program.
Have a Weight Loss Plan that takes into account calories consumed and expended
Weight loss then happens by a reduction the amount of calories in food/drink eaten, and/or increasing the number of calories used up in physical activity. In other words, having a effective weight reduction management plan.
So if an overweight person wants to implement a weight loss plan, then they need to know two vital numbers before they start:
1) The number of calories needed daily to maintain a fixed weight level - in other words the number of calories used up each day.
2) The number of pounds (or kilos ) to be reduced weekly to achieve a certain weight level. A pound per week would be adequate - so to reduce by 10 pounds would take 10 weeks. Anything greater than a pound per week should only be done in consultation with a health care professional.
A pound per week loss will need a reduction in calorie intake of 500 calories a day.
The easiest way to reach the figure is firstly reduce the total amount of calories consumed by 250 calories. Then use up the other 250 calories in extra physical activity.
Or by eliminating a cake, pastry or chocolate bar , all of which contain 250 calories, AND use up the other 250 calories by going for a walk for about 45 minutes.
It's relatively easy to set up and start a weight control plan. All it needs is the will to achieve a desired outcome and the vision to realize the difference this will make to a person's life.
Help is at hand
To help those people having difficulties implementing a plan, there is a product on the market that can manage the amount of fat absorbed into the body. This pill has been accepted as a proven fat reduction product by the European Union, and meets the strict guide lines set by the US health authorities.
