LOSE WEIGHT, HOW MANY CALORIES

Fitness And Health For Life
4 min readAug 31, 2023

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The importance of comprehending the significance of caloric intake cannot be overstated in the quest to lose extra weight and live a healthier lifestyle. The balance between the calories you consume and the calories your body uses up determines how much weight you can lose. This article explores the science, math, and useful advice to help you start a successful weight reduction journey as it goes deeply into the complexities of calorie consumption for weight loss.

Caloric Intake and Weight Loss: The Fundamentals

Calories In vs. Calories Out: A calorie deficit, or taking in less calories than your body uses up, is the basic idea behind weight loss. This forces your body to use fat-based energy that has been stored for use in daily activities, which causes weight reduction.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): BMR represents the energy your body needs to maintain its basic functions at rest. Knowing your BMR gives you a place to start when figuring out how many calories you require each day.

Activity Level: Incorporating your activity level into the equation is crucial. Your daily routine, physical activity, and even inactive movement have an impact on the number of calories your body burns overall.

Caloric Intake Calculation

Various formulas, like the Harris-Benedict equation, are used to calculate BMR depending on variables like age, gender, weight, and height.

To calculate your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE), multiply your BMR by one of the following activity levels: inactive (1.1–1.3), lightly active (1.3–1.5), moderately active (1.5–1.8), highly active (1.9–2.5), or super active (2.5+).

Create a Calorie Deficit: To shed pounds, shoot for a daily calorie deficit of 500–1000. This translates to a weight loss rate that is both safe and sustainable: 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 pounds) each week.

General advice for setting macronutrients is 2–3g/kg of body weight for proteins, 0.6–1g/kg of body weight for fats, and divide the rest of the calories for carbohydrates.

Example of caloric intake for person of 80 kg (176 pounds)

Gender: Male

Age: 25

Height: 180 cm, Weight: 80 kg

Activity: Moderate (weight training 4–5 times/week)

Maintenance Calories: 2700 Calories/Day

Weight Loss Calories: 2200 Calories/Day

Protein: 2.2*80=176 g * 4 kcal = 704 kcal

Fats: 0.7*80=56 g * 9 kcal = 504 kcal

Carbs: Calories — (Protein Calories + Fats Calories) = 2200 — (704 + 504) = 992 kcal

Carbs: 992 kcal / 4 kcal = 248 g

Nutrition and Weight Loss in Balance

Calorie counting is important, but calorie counting alone can cause you to overlook a food’s nutritional worth. Choose foods that are high in nutrients, such as fresh produce, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.

The function of protein is to maintain muscle mass during weight reduction and to increase satiety, which lessens the desire to overeat.

Pay attention to your hunger signals and engage in mindful eating. This entails enjoying each bite, chewing thoroughly, and gauging when you’re full.

Hydration: Getting enough water helps with digestion, revs up metabolism, and can stop you from overeating because you won’t confuse hunger for thirst.

Useful Advice for Success

Keep a Food Journal: Keeping track of your meals and snacks will help you become more conscious of your eating patterns and aid in making educated decisions.

Planning your meals in advance will help you stay away from impulsive selections and bad options.

Portion Control: Pay attention to serving sizes. Even healthy meals might cause weight gain if they are consumed in excess.

Regular Exercise: Including regular physical activity in a balanced diet speeds up weight loss and promotes good health.

Keep Being Consistent: Consistency is essential. Small, long-lasting improvements are more successful than big, transient ones.

Conclusion

Caloric intake and weight loss have a complex but essential link. You can start a successful weight loss journey by being aware of your body’s energy requirements, establishing a calorie deficit, and concentrating on foods that are high in nutrients. Recall to seek advice from qualified dietitians for healthcare professionals to customize your plan to meet your specific needs, and to be persistent and patient as you make progress toward your objectives.

Building muscle, how much protein?

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