There are direct connections between calories and weight loss that fitness enthusiasts should understand!
A lot of fitness enthusiasts have weight loss goals, and it’s understandable how overwhelming it can be to sift through countless nutritional guides and diet plans while trying to figure out what works best for you.
The best starting point for anyone’s weight loss plan is to thoroughly understand their calorie intake, as well as what your calories mean for your body during workouts and everyday life.
Below is a comprehensive guide detailing what calories actually are, and how they play a vital role when losing weight!
How Essential Is Understanding Calories When It Comes To Weight Loss Goals?
All of us at Rising Legends are here to support your fitness journey and overall health, and we believe in gradual, sustainable weight loss exercises that are combined with healthy diet changes. Although crash diets that are low in calories can seem appealing for quick weight loss goals, it’s always much more effective to keep long-term goals in mind while fostering a new healthy lifestyle.
This subsequently means that we believe in gradual changes to your overall calorie consumption, and we’ll help you understand which micronutrient-rich foods are good options for you.
Calorie-tracking can help you build up your understanding of which foods are helping you achieve your weight loss goals, but it’s not suitable for everyone. Our team of licensed nutritionists can help you develop a meal plan that’s specifically tailored to you and your fitness journey!
What Exactly Are Calories?
Calories are an energy measurement that foods and drinks give to our bodies, so they’re the fuel that our bodies need in order to properly function.
Food is made up of many different types of macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and each has unique energy values that dictate the amount of caloric energy we get with consumption.
How Do Calories Impact Weight Loss Strategies?
When we consume more calories than we burn, our bodies will naturally store these reserve calories as fat. When you consume over 500 calories more than you burn on a daily basis, you’ll likely see gradual weight gain. The opposite goes for when you burn more than 500 calories than you consume on a daily basis, which likely leads to gradual weight loss.
Understanding how to be successful with your weight loss strategies initially begins with understanding your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE).
What Exactly Is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
Even if you don’t work out or exercise on a given day, your body will still burn some calories just through basic bodily functions. This amount of calorie-burning is known as basal metabolic rate or BMR.
This number typically varies depending upon factors like height, weight, gender, and age.
What Exactly Is Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)?
Your TDEE is the number of calories that you burn within any given day, and this type of metric is best measured with fitness trackers like Fitbits and Apple Watches. These tools are great for fitness enthusiasts with weight loss goals, because you’ll be able to monitor just how many calories you’re burning during your exercises and gym workouts.
How Many Calories Should I Eat To Lose Weight?
It’s generally recommended to aim for a daily calorie deficit of about 500-1,000 calories below your TDEE when you’re trying to lose weight, so the amount of calories you should eat will largely depend upon how many calories you burn.
Monitoring your calorie burning will subsequently make it much easier to monitor your calorie consumption. But always be sure that you’re still getting enough calories to feel energetic and lively, which typically means a minimum of 1,200 daily calories.
It’s also important to remember that fewer calories aren’t always a good thing, because calories technically are the fuel that your body needs after workouts to maintain strength and properly recover.
Contact The Rising Legends Team To Learn More About How We Can Help You With Your Weight Loss Goals!
Rising Legends is one of the leading fitness gyms in New York, and our team of esteemed specialists is here to assist you with reaching your weight loss goals.
We look forward to seeing you at the gym and fine-tuning your workout routines to coincide with your unique fitness journey!