What is a calorie?  .   .   .   .   . 

 

cal-o-rie

noun

1) the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through degree Celsius (defined as 4.1868 joules), small calorie

     

2) the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 degree Celsius equal to one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of foods, large calorie 

 

 

 

     Scary stuff!  Are you on the edge of your seat yet? In all reality it's pretty simple, and yet some what complex. But nothing to be frightened of, as some "diets" and "trainers" would have you believe. Simply put do more from an activity standpoint than you consume from a food standpoint and you will lose weight. Eat more, do less and you will gain weight. Kind of.

 

     Food, while often looked at from a comfort and taste stance, should be viewed as what it is: FUEL. Fuel to run the body through a gambit of processes - from activity, thought, repair, and growth. That is foods true use. Not to say for an instant that taste shouldn't play in to choices you make on occasion, you have to enjoy your food from time to time. And here is something that you won't hear often enough, there is no such thing as a bad food. Everything you could ever think of to consume has a place, and can be used in a manner suited to a healthy eating plan. 

     The caloric value of food, the source, quality, and freshness should be accounted for when selecting you fuel. As well as your goal and current condition. You must account for all you are and do when designing your food plan. You must understand that the calories you choose can make or break your look and health, if you are to look only at food as the means to your end or goal. The backside of calories, or energy expenditure is just as crucial in achieving your goal as the intake. 

 

"obsessive misguided calorie counting must come to an end"

 

     I will leave you with this - food plans are a living breathing thing. They must adapt constantly or die. Your obsessive misguided calorie counting must come to an end, and any plan that has you counting every calorie and worrying over every misstep, will leave you wanting more and failing in the long run. Learn your body's ability to efficiently use calories, and how you can do it quicker when you do indulge, and you will be much happier and healthier.