|
Eat Yourself Healthy: Part Two - Balancing Energy Requirements |
|
|
|
A calorie is a measure of the amount of energy food provides to the body. In order to maintain your current weight, the number of calories you consume each day should equal the number of calories your body burns. If you do not use all the calories you consume then over time you will put on weight and body fat. Consuming fewer calories than your body needs leads to eventual weight loss.
But how do you know how many calories you need?
The number of calories you need each day in order to maintain your current weight depends on many factors, such as gender, body composition, weight and physical activity level.
Muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest. This is why men, who are designed to hold more muscle tissue than women, tend to need more calories each day. By eating sensibly and exercising regularly you can increase the muscle in your body and lower the proportion of fat. You will automatically increase the amount of energy your body needs, just to carry out everyday functions such as breathing and regulating body temperature.
Your body also needs energy to move around, whether you're walking upstairs or running a marathon! The more active you are, the more energy your body will burn off. Try to include at least 20 minutes of aerobic activity each day; anything from going to the gym to walking to work or the bus stop.
Through increasing the amount of muscle tissue in your body, increasing the amount of exercise you take and eating less of the high-calorie, high-fat foods, you can soon take a step toward a healthier and fitter life.
You must be honest with yourself though! Remember to include snacks and drinks in your daily calorie count. You don't need to stop eating all the foods you love - such as chocolates and crisps - just be sensible.
With a Body Fat Monitor it is now possible to obtain an estimate of your daily calorie requirement. A Daily Calorie Intake (DCI) feature performs an instant calculation each time you step on.
|
