If you want to lose weight but you also love to eat, it can be tough figuring out where the line is between eating what you want and eating just enough so you still lose weight. Understanding the link between calories and weight loss can help you to control your calorie intake and burn enough calories so you can still enjoy some of the foods you love.
Calories
A calorie is a basic measurement of energy. A calorie is defined as the amount of energy it takes to raise 1 g of water 1 degree centigrade, according to MedlinePlus. While that definition may not seem to apply to weight loss, it's actually at the very heart of your desire to lose weight. Food contains energy in the form of calories. When you consume that energy and don't use it up, it gets stored in your body. Depending on the type of foods you eat, that energy may deposit itself as fat throughout your body. Only by burning the same number of calories as you consume can you keep your weight level.
Maximum Daily Calories
Because everyone has a different body composition, there is no set number of calories to consume on a daily basis. That means there is also no one set number of maximum calories to eat every day to lose weight. However, you can find out the approximate number of calories your body needs to sustain itself by using a calorie calculator such as the one found at MayoClinic.com. By entering information such as your height, weight, age, gender and average physical activity level, you can find out approximately how many calories your body needs every day. Using that number, you set a goal to create a calorie deficiency in order to lose weight. For example, if you want to lose 1 pound per week, and your average daily caloric need is 2,000 calories, the maximum number of calories you could eat every day would be 1,500 calories, since it takes 3,500 calories to lose 1 lb.
Calories and Exercise
Of course, figuring out your calorie deficit doesn't take into account any extra exercise you get during the day in addition to your average activity level. For example, if your calorie deficit goal is 1,800 calories, and you exercise and burn 400 calories, you can still create the same calorie deficit if you eat 2,200 calories that day. The more you exercise, the more calories you can eat and still lose weight.
Considerations
You should talk to your doctor before beginning any diet or exercise modification plan. Not only can your doctor help you to customize a weight-loss plan for your needs and advise you on the types of foods that will help maximize your calorie intake, she can also warn you about any physical conditions you may have that will impede your weight loss or restrict your diet.
Warning
It's important when trying to lose weight that you don't go overboard and try to eat too few calories. According to MedlinePlus, men should get at least 1,500 calories per day and women should get at least 1,200 calories a day. Eating fewer calories than that could lead to serious health issues such as malnutrition and heart problems. You should aim for a healthy weight loss of no more than 1 to 2 lbs. per week.
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