So many clients come to me asking for advice on how to lose weight. The first thing I usually ask them is What is your diet like? How many calories are you consuming a day? How much exercise do you get? These are all factors you need to consider when embarking on a weight loss journey.
To lose weight you need to be in a calorie deficit, which basically means eating fewer calories than you burn a day. But what is a calorie and how do I figure out how many calories I should be eating per day to achieve my goals?
A calorie is a unit of energy and is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water to 1 degree Celcius.
You use the calories that you eat and drink for essential functions such as breathing, thinking, digesting as well as day-to-day activities. Any excess calories you eat will be stored as fat, so consistently eating more calories than you burn will eventually lead to weight gain. You may wonder which kinds of foods have the most calories. The answer is it depends on which nutrients they contain.
1 gram of carbohydrates =4 calories, proteins =4, Fats= 9, and alcohol =7. In other words, a gram of protein or carbs will give you fewer than half as many calories as a gram of fat.
Being in a Calorie deficit basically means you consume less energy than you utilize or burn throughout the day. You should aim to be in a 500-calorie deficit a day to lose around 1-1.5 pounds a week. Creating a higher deficit than this can be difficult to sustain and can lead to failure and frustration and can sometimes lead to you putting on more weight than you started with. Therefore it is better to have a smaller deficit to create a sustainable healthy weight loss.
How many calories you need depends on factors like gender, age, weight, and activity level. No matter what goal you have in mind whether it be weight loss, weight maintenance, or weight gain, you first need to know what your maintenance calories are (how many calories you need to eat daily in order to maintain your weight.)
You first need to find out what your Basal Metabolic Rate is. Your BMR is the amount of energy (calories) expended whilst at rest. It represents the minimum amount of calories required to sustain vital bodily functions. This counts for about 60 to 70% of all the calories you need each day. Use this equation below to find out. Or you can use a BMR calculator on the Internet to do the hard work for you ;)
Men
BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight in kg) + (4.799 × height in cm) - (5.677 × age in years)
Women
BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight in kg) + (3.098 × height in cm) - (4.330 × age in years)
You then need to calculate your estimated total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). Which is defined as the amount of energy you use for physical activity. That’s everything from brushing your teeth, to mowing the lawn or going to the gym.
BMR x PAL (Physical Activity Level)= TDEE
Very light x 1.2
Low Active x 1.5
Active x1.6
Very Active x 2
The best way to keep on top of your weight loss journey is to track your calorie consumption on an app. My favorite app to use is My Fitness Pal. But remember you have to track EVERYTHING you consume- including drinks, snacks, meals, and even bites of your kid's dinners. It’s amazing how quickly those little snacks during the day can add up. This isn’t for everyone but can be a great way to learn how many calories are in the foods you regularly eat and may help you make healthier decisions when planning your meals.
At the end of the day, all foods provide calories, and all calories provide energy. It’s the number of calories you eat is that is important for weight loss however it is the quality of the food that will have an effect on your overall health. For example, 100 calories of vegetables will affect your health differently than 100 calories of chocolate.
Additionally, the effects of different foods on hunger, appetite hormones, and the number of calories you burn can vary considerably. It is best to base your diet on high-quality foods from plants or animals that have been minimally processed. High-quality foods not only provide health benefits but also make it a lot easier to consume fewer calories in the long run.
Just remember drinks count as calories too- a glass of wine can be 120 calories. It may provide you with energy but has little to no nutritional value and will not satisfy your hunger in fact most people will get more hungry when drinking- I know I definitely do!
So if you want to eat/drink whatever you want, you can. As long as you are eating a balanced diet to get enough nutrients and minerals to stay healthy, you are sticking within your calorie limit, and you are getting enough exercise, you can reach your weight loss goal.
Take home message:
1. Find an exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Try to set yourself a daily step goal.
2. Find a way of eating that you enjoy, fits into your lifestyle, and makes you feel good.
3. Calorie tracking apps can be a great tool for calorie management, however, it isn’t for everyone. Find something that works for you.
4. Eat mindfully- Try to only eat when you’re hungry and be aware of portion sizes. Consider which foods will satisfy your hunger.
5. View your weight loss journey as practice. It's ok not to be perfect all the time. If you want a treat, have a treat. Be patient. It takes time. It is all about sustainability and creating habits that you can maintain.
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