The mysterious calorie...
You can’t see, taste or smell them, but you can’t live without them, and you’ll definitely know when you have had too many!
What is a Calorie?
A calorie is neither good or bad. It just is!
A calorie is a measurement or unit of energy; calories in the foods you eat are a measure of the number of energy units that food supplies. Calories fuel the body. Energy units are then used by the body to fuel physical activity as well as all metabolic processes, from maintaining your heartbeat and growing hair to healing a scraped knee and building muscle. There's nothing bad or magical about calories, it's just that body weight comes down to a simple equation of calories in (from food) versus calories out (as physical activity). We need this reference value in the same way we need to know how many pieces of wood to build a house. Everyone’s body needs different amounts of energy based on height, weight, activity level, age and some other factors. However, when you don't use the calories you've consumed they get stored as body fat.
A calorie is a measurement or unit of energy; calories in the foods you eat are a measure of the number of energy units that food supplies. Calories fuel the body. Energy units are then used by the body to fuel physical activity as well as all metabolic processes, from maintaining your heartbeat and growing hair to healing a scraped knee and building muscle. There's nothing bad or magical about calories, it's just that body weight comes down to a simple equation of calories in (from food) versus calories out (as physical activity). We need this reference value in the same way we need to know how many pieces of wood to build a house. Everyone’s body needs different amounts of energy based on height, weight, activity level, age and some other factors. However, when you don't use the calories you've consumed they get stored as body fat.
Calculating Caloric Intake
You can roughly estimate your caloric intake by using this formula: If you are age 30 or under, multiply your weight by 6.7 and add 487; women who are 31-60 should multiply their weight by 4 and add 829. Then, multiply the total by 1.3 if you're sedentary (don't work out at all), 1.5 if you're slightly active (work out three to four times a week for one hour), 1.6 if you're moderately active (work out four to five times a week for one hour) or 1.9 if you're very active (work out almost every day for one hour).
You can roughly estimate your caloric intake by using this formula: If you are age 30 or under, multiply your weight by 6.7 and add 487; women who are 31-60 should multiply their weight by 4 and add 829. Then, multiply the total by 1.3 if you're sedentary (don't work out at all), 1.5 if you're slightly active (work out three to four times a week for one hour), 1.6 if you're moderately active (work out four to five times a week for one hour) or 1.9 if you're very active (work out almost every day for one hour).
Empty vs. Hidden Calories
The term "empty calories" describes foods that offer little or no nutritional value. In general, the more a food is processed, the lower its number of vitamins, minerals, fiber and cancer-fighting agents (phytochemicals), and the higher its content of fat, sugar and empty calories.
The term "empty calories" describes foods that offer little or no nutritional value. In general, the more a food is processed, the lower its number of vitamins, minerals, fiber and cancer-fighting agents (phytochemicals), and the higher its content of fat, sugar and empty calories.
In contrast, "hidden calories" can be found in all types of foods. These are the calories that sneak into your diet quietly, such as from the butter added to vegetables in a restaurant kitchen. Request that food you're served at restaurants be steamed, baked or broiled dry. To avoid hidden calories at home, always check the nutrition label on packaged foods.
People often ask me if I am counting my calorie intake? I don’t! I have learned about making healthier choices and I try and stick to a slightly active to moderately active workout routine. I know a slice of pizza can be about 500 calories and I would have to do at least an hour of extremely vigorous exercise or 1 mug of eggnog is about 345 calories which would mean about 40 minutes of ice skating! You ate it, negate it!!!
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