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Calories Are

• units of energy you body uses to fuel its functions and activities
• created from proteins, fats and carbohydrates found in our foods and beverages
• necessary for basic body functions like keeping the heart, brain and lungs functioning (also know as basal metabolism
• essential to fuel activity – from the smallest hand gesture to a 5-mile run

The number of calories we need each day depends on how much we weigh, how much muscle mass we have and how active we are.

• If you consume more calories than your body needs, those extra calories will be stored as fat.
• If you consume less calories than your body needs, your previously stored calories (fat) will be used to supply additional energy.

A Pound = Approximately 3,500 Calories 

To Lose Weight 

• By cutting down 500 calories per day, you will cut a total of 3,500 calories per week – resulting in the loss of 1 pound of body fat. But never consume fewer than 1,200 calories per day.* (Refer to Weight Management section for Program.)
• If you want to lose more than 1 pound a week, you will need to either reduce your calorie intake further,* or increase the amount of calories you burn with exercise.

To Maintain Weight 

• Balance calories from food and beverages with calories expended.**

If you are a woman:

• You will need about 12 calories for every pound of body weight (A 150-lb. woman needs about 1,800 calories a day.)

If you are a man:

• You will need about 14 calories for every pound of body weight. (A 200-pound man needs about 2,800 calories a day.)

*Source: “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
**Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Even though I’m a dietitian, my clients frequently ask me about exercise as part of their weight loss plan. Since managing weight effectively depends on calorie balance, it makes sense that we talk about not only diet (calories in), but exercise (calories out), too.  Most simply want to know how much…or, sometimes, how little…exercise they need to do in order to lose weight, or to keep off weight that they’ve already lost. So here are some of the key things I tell them about exercise and body weight:

• Trying to lose weight through increased activity alone is tough to do. To lose a pound in a week’s time – strictly through exercise – you’d need to burn up an extra 500 calories a day, above and beyond your current activity level.  That’s no small task.  You’d need to hike uphill for an hour with a 10-pound backpack or swim laps for 90 minutes – without stopping. Trying to lose weightonly through increased activity – or only by cutting your calories – won’t be nearly as effective as a combination of diet and exercise.
• Cutting calories may cause your metabolic rate to drop somewhat. Your metabolic rate represents the number of calories your body burns just to keep basic processes going  - and is a big part of your ‘calories out’.  But your metabolic rate can dip a little when you cut back on your eating.  So even though your ‘calories in’ may be lower, your ‘calories out’ can drop, too – and leave you more or less in calorie balance.
• Strength training can help to increase metabolic rate.  When people think ‘exercise’, they usually think aerobic exercise, like biking, swimming or jogging.  But strength training is important, too – in part because it helps to build lean body mass, which can bump up your metabolic rate and help offset the drop in calorie burn that takes place when you cut your calories.
• It’s easy to make mistakes when counting calories – both in and out. People tend to overestimate the calorie cost of the exercise they do – and underestimate the number of calories they eat.  Which helps explain the frustration many people feel when they’re sure they’re doing ‘everything right’ – but the scale just won’t budge.
• You need a lot of exercise to lose weight, but you need even more to prevent it from coming back. Once you’ve lost it, regular activity is critical when it comes to keeping weight off.  But it takes more than a leisurely stroll around the block. Members of the National Weight Loss Registry – people who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for at least a year – burn an average of about 2800 calories a week in exercise.  That’s the equivalent of about 90 minutes of exercise – like a briskfour-mile walk – every day.
• Exercise is key to good health and anything is better than nothing.  When people hear that they might need an hour or more of exercise a day to keep their weight under control, it can be a little daunting.  But don’t let the numbers discourage you.  Do what you can, do it regularly, and try to go a little farther – or work out a little harder – each time.

Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD. Susan is a paid consultant for Herbalife.

Did your New Year’s resolutions include a vow to “eat right”?  Many of us make that promise to ourselves in January, but by about March we find our old eating habits sneaking back up on us. Maybe you tried to tackle too much – or maybe you hadn’t really thought about what ‘eating right’ really means.  Eating right involves more than just  making the right food choices – it’s also about eating the right foods at the right time.  So here are seven tips to help you to ‘eat right.’

 Eat right when you get up.  You don’t need to eat immediately upon awakening, but it’s really important to eat in the morning.  Those who eat breakfast regularly are better able to control their weight, while breakfast skippers are likely to over-compensate and eat too much at lunch. If you can’t face much in the morning, try a bowl of oatmeal with a bit of protein powder stirred in, some fresh fruit with a scoop of cottage cheese or yogurt, or a protein shake made with protein powder, milk and fruit. 

 Eat right before you grocery shop.  If you do your shopping on an empty stomach, you’ll be like a kid in a candy store – everything will look good to you.  Grab a protein bar, a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts before you go out the door so you’ll be less tempted.  And make a list – and do your best to stick to it.  

 Eat right when it comes to fats.  We need small amounts of fat in the diet, but most of us eat too much.  And, some fats – like the ones naturally present in fish, tree nuts, olives and avocados – are healthier than others. Healthy fats add flavor, so add avocado or nuts to your salad, or a dab of flavorful olive oil to steamed veggies.

 Eat right before you work out.  You need to fuel up before your exercise – especially if you work out first thing in the morning.  If you don’t have much time to eat beforehand, easy-to-digest foods like smoothies, soups or yogurt do the trick.  If you have a few hours to digest before you head out, have a regular meal with plenty of healthy carbs – whole grain breads, brown rice, pasta, fruits and veggies – to keep you going strong.  

 Eat right after you exercise.  After a good workout, your body might be low on fuel, so try to eat something within 30-45 minutes after you finish your exercise.  Your muscles are looking to fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help replenish their stock of carbohydrates – and a shot of protein to help them recover.

 Eat right when you eat out.   We eat so many meals out these days that dining out isn’t the special occasion it used to be.  Resist the urge to splurge when you’re out.  If you’re trying to cut your calories, split an entrée with a friend and order an extra salad.  Or, skip the starchy sides and double up on veggies.  Ask for dressings and sauces on the side so you can control how much you eat. 

 Eat right at night.  A lot of people eat lightly or skip meals during the day, only to eat huge amounts of calories between dinner and bedtime.  But when you do most of your eating at night, your brain and muscles don’t get the fuel they need for your daily physical and mental activities.  Instead, distribute your calories over fairly evenly over your meals and snacks.  If after-dinner snacking is piling on the pounds, try brushing your teeth right after dinner  – it’s one of the best ways to signal that you’re done eating for the day.

Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD. Susan is a paid consultant for Herbalife.

*Herbalife markets products that include protein shakes and snacks, sports and fitness drinks.