WHAT IS A CALORIE?

Most dieters comprehend that a chocolate bar has more calories than a stick of celery or a radish. But few people actually know what a calorie is, although the word is bandied about incredibly often by the vast majority of dieters. A calorie is a unit of energy or heat that food produces as your body utilises it as fuel. Put in simple layman’s terms, a calorie is a measurement that tells us how quickly the body burns up food we consume or gets rid of it before it turns into fat.

Here are some tips for making the most of your calories:

DO NOT SKIP THE PROTEIN – Try to eat some protein at every meal. Not only will it help keep you full, it will help you burn calories. Research studies show that protein increases your metabolism (how fast you burn calories). It also helps decrease your appetite because you feel fuller. There are many sources of protein. Try to choose lean meats, eggs, cottage cheese, fish, nuts, and legumes (beans, edamame).

DO NOT DRINK YOUR CALORIES – When you are dieting, there is no more important drink than water. Staying hydrated will help you burn calories. Try to avoid all sugary drinks such as sodas, fruit juices, and sports drinks.

DUMP THE JUNK – Sure, you may cave to a craving every once in a while, but do not make a habit of it. The calories from junk food are also called empty calories. This is because they do not do anything to nourish your body. And they do not keep you full very long, either. It is best if you can just eliminate them.

WATCH YOUR CARBS – Carbohydrates (carbs) come in many forms. They come in two categories: simple and complex. Complex carbs are generally your healthy carbs. They include vegetables, potatoes, and whole grains. Simple carbs are often called refined carbs. They include white bread, white rice, potato chips, sugars, and are often found in processed food (fast food and boxed food). Because fruit contains sugar, it is technically a simple carb—but it is still considered a component of a healthy diet.

SIZE OF JOINTS/ BONES – To determine whether you are small, medium, or larger boned/ jointed, encircle your wrist with your thumb and middle finger. If your middle finger overlaps your thumb, then you are small boned/ jointed (ectomorph). If your middle finger and thumb just touch, you have medium sized bones/ joints (mesomorph). If your finger and thumb do not touch, then you are larger boned/ jointed (endomorph)

THINK BACK – To help determine your body type, think back to your adolescence, a time before age (metabolism slows as you get older, making you more prone to weight gain) and lifestyle transformed your body into what it is today.

PICTURES – Look at some images of the various body types here and see if you identify with any of the body types.

ONE LAST THING … Everyone has the potential to develop a great shape – regardless of his or her dominant body type. Losing inches, especially off your problem areas, can be accomplished through proper exercise and eating habits. If you are a large-framed person, though you will never be willowy, you can be slender and fit, wear a size 8 with room to spare and look super sexy in a bikini.