Calories Do Count

You can count the fat but those calories are sneaky

The calorie is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

No matter what claims are made by weight loss plans, the only proven way for you to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than your body needs. The best way to do this is to reduce the amount of food you eat and increase your physical activity.

You may associate calorie cutting with weight control, but may not understand exactly what it is you're counting. A calorie is a measure of energy or the ability to do work. The food you eat is your energy intake and physical activity is your energy output. The calorie is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

The three nutrients

Carbohydrates, fats and protein three of the nutrients that food provides also have the capacity of producing energy. The amount of energy that food contains is measured in one thousand-calorie units, which are called "kilocalories." Although the calories you add up for a day's meals and snacks are actually kilocalories, we still use the term "calorie" to designate this food energy.

How many calories?

The number of calories you need depends on the amount of energy your body uses. Because people are different, their caloric needs are different, too. These calorie differences are due to differences in basal metabolic rate for basic body functions such as breathing and heart beating. They're also due to differences in levels of physical activity, health status, body size, body composition, and growth stages.

When you normally take in more calories than your body needs for all of these activities and functions, the extra calories are converted to fat and you gain weight.

The best way for you to lose this body fat is to decrease excess food consumption and increase physical activity. However, you should never drastically reduce your food intake. Diets which contain too few calories can lead to nutritional deficiencies and poor health.

A well-balanced diet, including foods from the basic food groups, along with a regular program of physical activity, provides the best means of weight control.

For more information on diet and weight control, contact your local county Extension office.