We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low carb, high protein etc. Some of us have tried them with good results. There's no doubt about that they work.
They all have one thing in common though - they give us the impression that we no longer have to think about, or bother about, calories.
Nothing could be more far from the truth, unfortunatly. Calories still do count! What these new diets basically do is that they make you feel more satisfied on fewer calories. There are no mystical ingredients or unknown secrets that can change the law of energy balance. In other words, nothing will ever change the fact that if your metabolic system doesn't consume more energy than you take in, you will gain weight. If your metabolic system consumes more energy than you take in, you will lose weight. Period. The universe is made that way.
What are calories then? Are they some small evil molecules hiding in the food, just waiting to invade your body and make your life a fatty hell? No, of coarse they're not.
A calorie is just a word that defines a certain amount of energy, nothing else.
One calorie is the energy it takes to heat one gram of water one degree celcius. Mostly on food packages, the amount of calories are presented as kcal, which means kilo calories i.e. 1000 calories. So, one kcal is the energy it takes to heat one kilo, or one liter, of water one degree celcius. When a fitness chart or table says you burn for example 250 calories per half hour when jogging, it means 250 kilocalories.
Since calories are energy units, they apply to all kinds of energy, not only food. For example lighting a 60W lightbulb obviously takes some energy. The energy it takes to light it for 1,5 hour equals the calories you'll get when eating 1 piece of cheesecake! If you could fill your car up with BigMacs, you could travel almost 0.5 mile on one BigMac!
Does this knowledge make us any happier? Perhaps not but it can give us an idea on how different excercises will burn calories. Calories are consumed by performing work, in physical meaning. The amount of calories consumed equals power multiplied with distance, power x distance.
What does it mean? It means that the higher the power applied to an exercise and the longer the distance this power is in effect, the more calories are burned.
You can easily see that this explains why low intensity training like walking can be very effective, provided the distance is of significant length. You can also see that if you apply more power i.e. higher intensity, you will burn more calories compared to walking slowly the same distance.
Many people avoid to start excercising because last time they made an attempt they started at a high intensity level. The result is horrorful memories of short-of- breath, nearly- fainting, close- to- death feelings. The assumption that high intensity is the only way to burn calories is probably the reason most of us never develop a habit of regular exercise.
Next time you decide to improve your fitness level, remember the formula power x distance. Start by walking in a pleasant pace in let say half an hour three times a week. Increase the time (distance) by a quarter of an hour for the next three weeks.
After four weeks you will feel better, look better and healthier and you will also discover that you have automatically increased your walking speed. Without even notice. What does that mean? It means that you have automatically increased the power factor in the formula wich in turn means more calories burned!
The next step in your training program is your own choise. You can either increase distance or pump up your walking speed. If you have the time, why not both?
More fitness tips articles at: http://www.3crow.com/truefitnesstips/
professional maid services Park Ridge ..I would like to introduce you to an incredible new... Read More
According to a new study appearing in the American Journal... Read More
Would you run out of fingers, and maybe even toes,... Read More
Whenever I hear someone say they just can't lose weight,... Read More
Doctor, Why Can't I Loose Weight and by the... Read More
Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More
Natural Weight Loss Is PermanentOnly natural weight loss can be... Read More
It would not be surprising to hear your answer is... Read More
FINDING THE PERFECT DIETArriving at the Perfect Diet is no... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
Reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. needs to be a... Read More
If you've been on a low carb diet for any... Read More
How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More
Ephedra and Ephedrine consumers are still under the assumption that... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and... Read More
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More
It is a fact that about 70% Americans are overweight.... Read More
To see the "low carb" diets on the way out... Read More
Learning the jargon is part of the weight loss journey.... Read More
There's recently been a LOT in the weight loss news... Read More
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an... Read More
Experts tell us that overweight or obese children have reached... Read More
You may not like what I have to say, even... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Digestion is a chemical process. Our body combines different types... Read More
You know you have will-power. You can change a diaper... Read More
Liposuction works best with people who are a normal weight... Read More
For sometime now, you've been hearing about the Milk Diet... Read More
ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
Permanent Weight loss is not about Diet. If you are... Read More
The cost of a tummy tuck is something to consider... Read More
Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More
The only way you will ever follow through on an... Read More
Eating when under stress isn't just about filling an emotional... Read More
There have been endless numbers of fad diets over the... Read More
Holidays and special events should be a time of great... Read More
Are you trying to lose weight?If you are, STOP!Funny thing... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
You have decided that you want to lose weight and... Read More
Natural therapies uphold the importance of minerals, vitamins and herbs... Read More
You are the GREATEST, aren't you? You are focusing on... Read More
It was bad enough hearing almost daily that obesity in... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
"How do I lose 5 kg or 30 kg?""How do... Read More
Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some... Read More
Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More
Now that everything from a tan to pantyhose comes in... Read More
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More
Weight Loss |