We know calories are in food. We know some food that tastes good has lots of calories. We know (or should) that to lose weight, we need fewer calories, and more calories can make us gain weight. But what exactly is a calorie?
calorie
Definition
| cal·o·ries | Plural |
NOUN
1.
unit of energy: a unit of energy equal to 4.1855 joules, originally defined as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of pure water by 1º C. It has now been superseded by the joule in scientific usage.
2.
larger unit of energy: a unit of energy equal to the heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of pure water by 1º C
3.
unit of food energy: a unit of energy-producing potential in food, equal to one large calorie. This energy, if not used, is converted to fat and stored.
[ Mid-19th century. < French < Latin calor "heat" < calere "be warm" ]
Content above provided by
Encarta® World English Dictionary[North American Edition] © & (P) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
The quick and dirty is that calories provide us with energy. The more energy that we expend, the more calories you need. It takes energy to work, cook, clean, take care of kids, workout, pay bills, and do dishes. And that is after your body spends energy pumping your heart, working your brain, digesting, breathing, growing, and basically surviving!
Some additional points to consider:
- The amount of calories you need is different than what others may need. Your calorie need number is based on your age/sex/height/weight/muscle mass. You can google 'calorie counters' to find some websites that can make a good estimation, but it will only be an estimate.
- You need more calories the more you weigh. It takes more energy to run a larger object than it does a smaller one. Given that rationale, as you lose weight, you will need to eat less to continue to lose.
- 3,500 calories is equal to one pound. You can lose 1 pound a week by eating 500 calories less than needed or burning 500 calories more than normal or a combination of the two.
- Our bodies are unique and fickle. It takes time and patience to change them. The more you have of both, the more successful you will be.
Information on calories could cover a months worth of blog posts, so we will keep it simple for today. If you want some more information or guidelines, check out http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/contents.htm
This is a simplistic, yet extensive overview on approaching good health with both information and tools to help you achieve your goals.
In Pursuit,
Sarah
No comments:
Post a Comment