So, what are calories any way?
Well, calories are simply units of measure. They are not actually things in and of themselves; they are name-tags for other things, just like how an inch really is not anything, but it measures the distance between two points.
So what do calories measure?
Easy: they measure energy.
Yup, the evil calorie – the bane of the dieter’s existence – is really just a 3-syllable name-tag for energy.
And it is important to highlight this, because the body itself, despite its vast intelligence (much of which medical science cannot yet understand), does not really do a very intelligent job of distinguishing good energy from bad.
Actually, to be blunt, the body does not care about where the energy comes from. Let us explore this a little more, because it is very important to the overall understanding of how to boost your metabolism, particularly when we look at food choices.
In our choice-laden grocery stores and supermarkets, with dozens of varieties of foods, and perhaps even hundreds, there seems to be a fairly clear awareness of what is good food, and what is bad or junk food.
For example, we do not need a book to remind us that, all else being equal, a plum is a good food, whereas a tub of thick and creamy double-chocolate ice cream is a bad food.
Not bad tasting, of course; but for obvious reasons, if you are looking for a healthy way to lose weight, eating a vat of ice cream a day, is not a great idea. So what does this have to do with calories and energy?
It is this: while you and I can evaluate our food choices and decide that something (like a plum) is a healthy source of energy, and something else (like a tub of ice cream) is an unhealthy source of energy, the body cannot and does not evaluate.
It sounds strange and amazing, but the body really does not care. To the body, energy is energy. It takes whatever it gets, and does not really know that some foods are healthier than others. It is kind of like a garbage disposal: it takes what you put down it, whether it should go down or not.
So let us apply this to the body, and to weight gain. When the body receives a calorie – which, as we know, is merely a name-tag for energy – it must do something with that energy.
In other words, putting all other nutrients and minerals aside, if a plum delivers 100 calories to the body, it has to accept those 100 calories. The same goes for 500 calories from a (small) tub of ice cream: those 500 calories have to be dealt with.
Now, the body does two things to that energy: it either metabolizes it via anabolism, or it metabolizes it via catabolism. That is, it will either convert the energy (calories) into cells/tissue (anabolism), or it will use that energy (calories) to break down cells (catabolism).
Now the link between calories/energy, metabolism, and weight loss becomes clearer.
When there is an excess of energy, and the body can’t use this energy to deal with any needs at the time, it will be forced to create cells with that extra energy. It has to.
It does not necessarily want to, but after figuring out that the energy cannot be used to do anything (such as help you exercise or digest some food), it has to turn it into cells through anabolism.
And those extra cells? Yup, you guessed it: they add up to extra weight!
In a nutshell (and nuts have lots of calories by the way, so watch out and eat them in small portions…), the whole calorie/metabolism/weight gain thing is really just about excess energy. When there are too many calories in the body – that is, when there’s too much energy from food – then the body transforms those calories into stuff.
And that stuff, most of the time, is fat. Sometimes, of course, those extra calories are transformed into muscle; and this is usually a good thing for those watching their weight or trying to maintain an optimal body fat ratio.
In fact, because muscles require calories to maintain, people with strong muscle tone burn calories without actually doing anything; their metabolism burns it for them.
This is the primary reason why exercising and building lean muscle is often part of an overall program to boost your metabolism; because the more lean muscle you have, the more places excess calories can go before they are turned into fat.
So, now you understand calories, you do not have to be scared of them – just be aware of how your body treats them. Balance those calories and there will be no reason why Food Lovers Fat Loss cannot be a reality for you.
Sandra specialises in helping women to lose weight and has written the inspirational ?Sandra’s Secrets’. To get your free copy just visit: http://www.easywaystoloseweightforwomen.com
Tags: Calories, Food, Happen, Loss, Lovers, Makes, Understanding
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Many bodybuilding theories exist in regards to achieving maximum muscle gains with the smallest possible body fat percentage, with weight lifters attempting to manipulate diet variables, including whether food is consumed prior to sleep, in order to improve progress. Some bodybuilders understand the value of bedtime meals, but others fear consumption of food prior to sleep, especially bodybuilders who either gain fat quickly when aiming for muscle growth, or who are focusing specifically on fat loss, and wish to amplify the speed of results.
The theory is that food prior to sleep increases the risk of fat gain, and although there is no inherent harm to body fat levels when consuming a late meal, because many diet plans are structured with an incorrect use of calories and carbohydrates, not to mention improper meal division, which can detract from building a more efficient metabolism, the bedtime meal encourages fat storage for many, and some in the bodybuilding world classify later eating as destructive towards body fat control.
The common mistake made is to either use excessive carbohydrates for a bedtime meal, or consume a food intake that is beyond the body’s core requirements for muscle growth or preservation (depending upon the goal), which then clearly will result in body fat increase, as energy needs during an overnight fast are less than at any other time. Yet, unlike certain mistaken theories may suggest, a bodybuilder is in great need of calories during sleep, as this is when muscle gains occur at their greatest proportion. In fact, since the body has a lengthy uninterrupted period to repair and grow lean muscle tissue, sufficient protein and calories must be present in order to maximize such progress, which is why a bedtime meal becomes crucial. When nutrients are withheld prior to a lengthy sleep period, although muscles seek to grow during such hours, they are unable to do so, and if an individual is consuming a lower calorie diet for fat loss, many times muscle mass will even decline dramatically.
During fat loss periods, one of the most challenging obstacles for many bodybuilders is muscle maintenance, and making dramatic alternations to a diet, whether it be reducing food intake below the maximum necessary for fat loss due to impatience, or eliminating food later in the evening, will greatly enhance the chance for lost muscle, which further suppresses metabolism, making future fat loss difficult. Unbeknownst to many, a properly structured bedtime meal can actually assist in the fat reduction process, as metabolism benefits from a frequent meal structure, and withholding food for prolonged periods can cause the body to restrict calorie burn. This can occur not only when decreasing frequency of meals during the daylight hours, but also by skipping a moderately sized meal prior to sleep. This is contradictory to the notion that food before bed increases the chance of fat gain or slows fat loss, but far too many who pursue bedtime meals are consuming a larger intake than is necessary to properly stimulate metabolism and sustain muscle mass, or are using excessive carbohydrates, as if the meal were preceding a weight lifting workout as opposed to a lengthy sleep session. A meal before sleep should be comprised of mostly protein, as the body during rest is seeking primarily recovery and growth (by way of protein synthesis), but eliminating carbohydrates completely will cause the body to use protein for energy, which robs nutrients for muscle recuperation, and places metabolism at risk.
Certain bodybuilders understand the importance of bedtime meals, and try to consume several during the evening, waking up once or twice for extra food, believing this will aid muscle growth, but such a technique is harmful to overall results, as consuming one correctly designed bedtime meal is sufficient to allow for muscle gains and proper metabolic function, while waking up for another one or two meals will disrupt proper sleep patterns, which are just as vital for muscle gains and proper metabolism as the meal itself. Waking up for extra food during the evening prevents the body from utilizing calories properly, so for maximum muscle building and fat reduction, aiming for a bedtime meal with controlled carbohydrate intake and sufficient protein once before a lengthy sleep session is the most effective method.
Francesco Castano authors the www.MuscleNOW.com web site, which is a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for muscle building without supplements or drugs. He also owns the www.IncrediBody.com online fitness superstore selling protein powder at the guaranteed lowest prices.
Tags: Before, Building, Consume, Food, Harming, Lifters, Muscle, Results, Weight
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