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/
cleaning help near Mundelein ..WEIGHT LOSS:Nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can... Read More
The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse... Read More
Your pants are a bit tight, you can't seem to... Read More
Fast Weight Loss - Is it better to lose 2lbs... Read More
Ever wonder if you have a serious problem with binge... Read More
Most Americans do not get enough calcium in their diets;... Read More
Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people... Read More
I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More
The words I read made me furious. There it was,... Read More
I am Dr Patrick Flanagan, and this is the latest... Read More
Yesterday, out of the blue, without any foreboding gossip or... Read More
If you have ever been snow skiing you know that... Read More
There are many diets, all of which boil down to... Read More
There are as many reasons you've given yourself to eat... Read More
Offer a woman the choice between a dress she likes... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
As parents who've had gastric bypass we face many challenges... Read More
With summer completed and school back in session, it'll be... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time.... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..There's nothing more fun then being creative with food and... Read More
You may be considering weight loss surgery if you are... Read More
The Atkins diet can be boring because of the limited... Read More
Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric... Read More
Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially... Read More
When women talk about their biggest obstacles to successful weight... Read More
It would not be surprising to hear your answer is... Read More
Flip through a magazine, scan a newspaper, or channel surf... Read More
Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
Today you have a good chance of getting diabetes or... Read More
Stomach-Stapling Surgery ------------ There's no doubt that stomach-stapling surgery leads... Read More
Americans have their French fries, the British have their chips,... Read More
Only if you're trying to fool the scale on a... Read More
Some of you will not like what I'm going to... Read More
It can happen with one bite. The moment those refined... Read More
"Help, none of this mainstream stuff works!"There is a specific... Read More
This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss... Read More
How's the practicing going? Are you spending time each day... Read More
I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for... Read More
Have I become invisible or are people just aiming right... Read More
I gotta confess: I'm completely addicted to crisps. Any kind... Read More
Let me ask you a personal question. As you read... Read More
RISING POPULARITYGastric bypass surgery has become a popular surgical procedure... Read More
Have you heard about coconut oil diets yet? People are... Read More
Weight Loss |