We all know that to live a healthy lifestyle we need to eat healthy food and exercise. So you may be asking yourself, why do you still hold on to unwanted weight when you are doing all the right things?

The answer lies in HOW MUCH you are eating.

The Weight Equation Goes Like This…

• energy in – energy out = the amount of energy your body has to store.

Your body needs energy just to get through the day which is known as your basal metabolic rate. Exercise adds to the amount of energy your body utilises and the food you eat acts as this energy source.

Even though eating a healthy diet is important, it is really the overall calories you consume every day that count. So yes if you eat more energy from a healthy diet of fruit, vegetables, yogurt, lean meat and whole grains than you expend, you will gain weight. It is that simple.

Chocolate Diet

Does this mean you can go on a chocolate diet? Essentially yes this does mean you can eat chocolate every day and still lose weight – as long as you are expending more calories than you consume. However, it is much easier to control your weight when you are eating less calorie dense foods like salads and soups.

Do you have a friend who eats whatever they want and doesn’t put on weight?  Studies show that thin people who eat fast food such as a burger and fries for lunch, will naturally compensate later in the day for this high energy meal by  eating less at dinner to equal out their energy equation.

On the other hand, over-weight people do not seem to compensate as well and end up eating more calories in the day than they expend, leading to weight gain.

How Many Calories Should You Consume Daily?

Males need around 3000 calories per day on average, and females 2000 – 2500 calories per day. These numbers will vary depending on activity level, height and genetic differences. So the one simple step we have to take to lose unwanted fat is to expend more than we consume. No secret!