Calories In Calories Out

The old idea of calories in and calories out seems to be a staple that will never change. No matter what new scientific discoveries or new-fangled diet fad that comes on the market, you can’t get around the fact that calories exist and if you’re not burning them, then you’re probably storing them.

I’ve never been one much for counting calories. I would roll my eyes at the mere mention of such an archaic form of “dieting”, hey why don’t we pop in a Jane Fonda Video while we’re at it. All I have to do to lose weight is to eat healthy and exercise, right? That seems simple enough, and it is, IF you really know what you’re putting in your mouth and IF you’re really making an effort when you’re working-out. Let’s break it down: 3,500 calories = 1 pound, so if I’m eating 3,500 calories a day and don’t budge an ounce, then that means I’m probably going to see a higher number on the scale within the week right?...But if I burn say ½ those calories in the same day, then I will probably maintain my weight…THUS, if I only eat 1,500 calories and burn 500-1000 at the gym + the rest of my daily activities like work and walking about, then I’ll possibly see the weight on the scale go down…right? Eh…theoretically…calories in calories out right? Ok…right…but, if I eat say those 1,500 calories in potato chips in one sitting, then how the heck am I going to find the energy to really burn those calories at the gym instead of just wanting to lounge on the couch and watch Biggest Loser? Ok, ok….let’s break it down even more. Yes, the # of calories that you take in and the # you burn and get out are just that, a number, but where those calories come from, are an entirely different story. For example: Egg Whites are only 17 calories each, thus I can eat 6 egg whites cooked in no calorie butter Pam (totally 102 calories) and feel very satisfied for a couple of hours, as opposed to say 1 plain donut for 185 calories and feel greasy and on a major sugar high and then crash starting within 20 minutes and with the lasting crappy feeling effects for the next couple of hours, or until I break-down and start the vicious cycle all over again…oh and let’s not forget the 1.5 g of SATURATED fat in said donut, where as the egg whites are clean and lean proteins cooked in no fat no calorie Pam AND do nothing but feed your muscles instead of instantly going into your fat stores and clogging up your lovely organs and arteries…But again, calories in and calories out. You can eat egg whites until you’re blue in the face, but if you’re just sitting on your ass and not burning those calories, then those lovely protein laden nutrients are just going to go to that which you are sitting on, not to mention other fat storing places. You’ve got to get off your butt and do something, and you can even have too much of a good thing (too much water and you could drown yourself, too much rope to hang yourself with…) you get the point. Moderation peeps and basically get up and get going…That is the “secret” to weight loss…eating healthy foods within a certain caloric range, and the more you eat, then the more you have to burn. Really when it comes down to it, it’s all about balance…but that is another path that we will discuss someday in another blog entry.

Have a great day, eat well, and get your butt to the gym.

Best,
Bex