Post 1:
Let's talk about the elephant in the room, calories. They are everywhere and are daunting to any dieter or anyone looking to stay healthy. You need only look on the back of a food label to frighten yourself away from a certain food or drink. However, the most basic understanding of calories is essential. They are energy! Calories are measurements of energy that food provides. If you consume more energy than you expend, you gain weight. If you do just the opposite, you lose weight. Calories are given from three different sources (Carbohydrates, Protein, Fat). Each gram of each one contains a certain amount of calories. One gram of protein contains 4 calories. One gram of carbohydrates contains 4 calories. One gram of fat contains 9 calories. The most essential element of nutrition is that a healthy amount of each should be obtained daily. However, what is defined as a "healthy" amount differs from person to person. Overall, a person consuming 2000 calories a day should try for these goals: 65 grams of protein, less than 50 grams of fat, and 350 grams of carbohydrates. One may ask why I advise more protein and less fat than the nutrition guides on most foods. It is simple. Any type of exercise will usually require more protein intake to rebuild muscles. Also, fat is useful but is not always 100% essential. Fat can be used as a reserve storage for energy but most people will rarely need to rely on this reserve of fat when going about the day. Carbohydrates are essential. They provide energy for any activity and help to heal the body. In general, don't fret about calories but don't forget them either!