Did you know that weight loss (and weight gain) is simple
mathematics? For example, if you were to eat an extra 100
calories per day you would gain 10 lbs in one year. The good
news is that the opposite holds true too – burn 100 calories
more per day than what you take in and by the end of the year
you can lose 10 lb. But why is it so much harder to lose weight
than to gain it? Because it takes a matter of minutes (sometimes
seconds) to eat 100 calories, but longer to burn it off.
Looking at the big picture of losing say 30 or 40 pounds can
feel daunting, so give yourself a break. That is, break your
goal down into small doable pieces. Accumulate a 100 calorie
deficit per day – burn 100 calories more than you consume – and
you will lose 10 pounds by the end of the year. Double that and
you’ve lost 20! It’s easier than you might think.
First, do you ever eat something just because it’s there? You
can eat a couple hundred calories and not even realize it. The
mayo or dressing on a deli sandwich, the butter served with the
bread basket or a cookie from the office lunch room… before you
know it you’ve eaten 100 calories. Pay attention to condiments
and cheese that are added to most sandwiches. If you can take it
or leave it, leave it. Watch out for snack plates at the office
or home. It’s easy to eat 100 calories or more when you’re not
even hungry. Look at your eating habits to see where you can
carve unwanted items. My motto is, eat when you’re hungry and
make it worth the calories!
Next, look at the calories you put out. Use an accelerometer (a
pager-like device that accurately measures calories burned
during activity) to measure your current level of calorie burn
and then burn more over time. To burn an extra 50-100 calories
park farther away, take the stairs, walk the dog an extra block
and do a few jumping jacks. The key is to measure the calories
so that you can see your success daily and know that what you
are doing is working.
Start measuring calories out and paying attention to “hidden”
calories coming in. You will quickly see how to achieve a 100 or
more calorie deficit per day and easily have a more fit and trim
body next year!