A pound of fat represents approximately 3500 calories of stored energy. In order to lose a pound of fat, you have to use 3500 more calories than you consume. Although this seems like a simple formula remember that your body is a thinking organism designed to protect itself.
If you were to try to reduce your intake by the entire 3500 calories in one day, your body would register some type of alarm and think that there is a state of emergency. Immediately your metabolism would slow down and no weight loss would be achieved.
It's better to spread your weight loss out over a period of a week, so that you aim to reduce your caloric intake by 3500 to 7000 calories per week, resulting in weight loss of one to two pounds per week. It's generally not recommended to try to lose more than two pounds in a week. Attempting to do so may cause health risks, and on top of this you're unlikely to be successful.
In the example of attempting to lose two pounds per week, you can use a basic method of calorie counting to help you accomplish your goal. To do so, you need to figure out how many calories a person of your age, sex, and weight usually needs in a day, subtract 500 from that amount, and follow a diet that provides you with that many calories.
For example, if you would ordinarily need 3000 calories in a day, you would follow a 2500-calorie a day diet. Next, figure out how much exercise a person of your weight would need to do to burn 500 calories per day, and engage in an exercise plan that will help you achieve your goal.
The result is simple: 500 fewer calories consumed and 500 more calories expended equals a 1000 calorie per day deficit, which, over the course of a week adds up to 7000 calories, or two pounds. Although individual results may vary, the bottom line is if your body is consuming fewer calories than it's expending, then weight will be lost.
*********************************************************************
Ken Shorey is owner of http://vibranthealthnow.com
VibrantHealthnow.com provides ebooks and information to help you improve your health.
*********************************************************************
I wrote this article back in the late fall when... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
Its crowded..really crowded..every other site offers Weight Loss Programs and... Read More
In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More
As many of us know, it's the first few days... Read More
Body wraps can help tone and tighten the skin, improve... Read More
Living a powerful, healthy, fit and trim life is a... Read More
Are you gaining weight sitting in front of the computer?... Read More
I had 14 weight/health-oriented newsletters in my inbox this morning.... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
"Who are you to give me weight loss advice?" I... Read More
As an employee of famous fitness star Kathy Smith, personal... Read More
Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make... Read More
There have been many diets and weight loss plans that... Read More
We all have aspects of health we want to improve.... Read More
Which is easier to do ? turn a car's steering... Read More
No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy... Read More
The pursuit of a healthier me (or you) shouldn't involve... Read More
There are currently over 100 billion dollars sold in weight-loss... Read More
Staying Toned After Weight Loss ---------------------------------------- Following significant weight loss,... Read More
Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
How to Break the Weighing HabitFace it, if you weigh... Read More
Are you trying to lose weight?If you are, STOP!Funny thing... Read More
Dear BMTers,Low carb this and low carb that?that's all you... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More
Even if you're not overweight, you still could have a... Read More
Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added to certain... Read More
It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More
Being over weight is usually being 20 percent or more... Read More
When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More
Your Can Turn Fat into Muscle......Fact or Fiction???Completely False!!!!First of... Read More
Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come... Read More
Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child... Read More
The long marginalized San tribe of South Africa has suddenly... Read More
If you were going to travel to the other side... Read More
I recently received the following email:Q. Five weeks ago, I... Read More
To see the "low carb" diets on the way out... Read More
If your health and fitness are important to you, you... Read More
A little information if often a dangerous thing... and many... Read More
I can't do that Until I Lose This Weight! If... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
Imagine this ... What if you could ?Increase the rate... Read More
Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
Chant the following each day, several times. They are mantras... Read More
It's definitely no fun to lose weight -- put it... Read More
Obesity acceptance, also known as fat acceptance, has a simple,... Read More
Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or... Read More
Watching television exercises our eyes but nothing else. Unfortunately, it... Read More
Have you ever stepped on the scale after a week... Read More
Weight Loss |