3500 calories = 1 pound of FAT!!
So that means for every 3500 calories that you consume and do not burn off, your body gains 1 lb of fat.
Calorie Value per Gram:
Fat/Oil – 9 Calories/Gram
Alcohol – 7 Calories/Gram
Carbs – 4 Calories/Gram
Protein – 4 Calories/Gram
Use the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) to determine your daily approximate caloric needs. BMR is the number of calories your body needs everyday to maintain its basic functions and your current weight. You can determine your BMR with this calorie calculator.
Notice the different calorie numbers associated with activity levels. If you choose to be more active while maintaining the same amount of caloric intake, you will lose weight.
Any amount of calories you cut out from your diet will eventually lead to losing some weight. Remember the general rule of thumb that 3,500 calories = 1 pound of fat. So if you can cut out 500 calories a day (avoid those chocolate chip cookies after lunch), you will lose one pound of fat in a week!
If you need ideas of healthy and tasty stuff to eat, visit our Recipes page. Each recipe has nutritional analysis showing the approximate calorie consumption, fat, protein, etc. Keep in mind that these are healthy meals, but that doesn’t mean you can pig out. 3500 calories will always equal 1 pound of fat, no matter what you eat!
As a note, you should never go below 1,200 calories per day without consulting your doctor. If you are in need of losing a lot of weight, we recommend that you first check in with your doctor before proceeding any diet plan.