I started thinking..(watch out!)...Maybe everyone doesn't understand the whole calorie and weight loss concept. So, I will do my best to explain it as I understand it. First, let me say, do not be discouraged by the naysayers. Those are the people that will never encourage you, but always question the what, when, how, and why of what you are trying to do. I don't like when people ask me, "do you really think you burned that many calories?" (like it's not possible) Or tell me, "you are not working out as hard as me" (but I am losing weight and they are not). Or "you shouldn't eat that" (but they can't begin to tell me why and offer a better suggestion). Only you know what you are doing and how hard you are working at it. Everyone is different. And every outcome will be different.
The calorie is a measure of energy. You use calories every day just by being alive. If you never do any overt activity other than lay in the bed, your body will burn a specific amount of calories just to keep you ticking. If you really want to know what the specific amount of calories are you can have a Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) test performed. I won a contest a few years ago and the BMR test was the prize. At that time the test person told me that my BMR was approximately 1550 (I can't remember the exact number). That means that I will use 1550 calories in a day for my normal bodily functions, even if I lay in bed and do NOTHING all day. It is called metabolism.
Metabolism is the process that your body uses to convert what you eat and drink into energy. Everyone's metabolism is different. People who are bigger or who have lots of muscle mass will burn more calories. Men usually have more muscle mass than women who may be the same size and weight, so they will burn more calories. Older folks tend to lose muscle mass and start building more fat stores, so they will burn less calories.
You have to be careful when you try those LOW CALORIE, starvation diets. Your body will learn to adjust or compensate for extreme calorie reduction and your metabolism can slow down. There are also some medical issues, like hypothyroidism, that can slow your metabolic rate. IF you are keeping up with your yearly check-ups--as you should be--a simple blood test and informing your doctor of unusual symptoms you are experiencing should allow them to determine your issue and make medical decisions to help alleviate the problem.
Here we go! For every pound of fat you want to lose you have to burn 3500 calories. Yes, 3500 calories over and beyond what your body uses everyday to function. YEP, that's alot! The way to burn 3500 calories and lose that pound is to eat less calories and do activities that use up more calories. So, we are right back where we always start--watch what we eat and exercise.
Regular aerobic exercise--biking, walking, running, zumba, swimming--is the way to burn some calories. The suggestion is 30 minutes per day. The longer you exercise and the more vigorous your exercise, the better the calorie burn. But you know my motto, break it up however you need to, but GET IT IN!!!. Strength training--weight lifting--will help build some muscle and muscle will burn more calories. Change your normal activities. Take the steps instead of the elevator. Take a shorter time to eat lunch and use the remaining time to walk around the block a few times. Stop waiting on that close parking space at the mall. Park further away and take the walk...
So, what are you going to do to get rid of those UNNEEDED pounds??? What are YOU going to do to burn MORE calories??? We need to move toward healthy, Family. Don't let me do this one by myself!!! SMOOCHES...
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