Simple Truths of Weight Loss

According to webmd.com, “Your weight is determined by the number of calories you eat each day minus what your body uses.” If you are consuming more food than you burn then the result will most likely be weight gain. The process of weight loss then becomes a balancing act between nutrition and exercise.

Nutrition. Understanding caloric consumption and the amount of calories within food and beverages are necessary for creating a nutrition plan. Every person is different and so the amount of calories one consumes will be different from another.

The USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states in the following in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010,  “The total number of calories a person needs each day varies depending on a number of factors, includ¬ing the person’s age, gender, height, weight, and level of physical activity. In addition, a desire to lose, maintain, or gain weight affects how many calories should be consumed.” The good news is, there are free resources are becoming more available to help calculate an average caloric intake, depending on the factors above to meet your individual needs. The following app and website are accessible to you get started on your way to a healthier lifestyle:

My Fitness Pal App  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
Super Tracker from USDA https://www.supertracker.usda.gov

Exercise. Participating in regular physical activity helps maintain weight and increases the ability to carry out daily activities. For recommended exercise guidelines view our post by following the link, Recommended Exercises. Remember when creating an exercise plan to start small, simple, and within current fitness level.  Utilize the resources available to you on campus as a BYU-Idaho student; such as the Fitness Center (Hart Gym) or the Wellness Center to give you a baseline of your current fitness level, create goals, and build a personal program.

References:

(2012, June 23). Exercise and weight loss. Retrieved from WebMD website: http://www.webmd.com/diet/exercise-weight-control

The U.S. Departments Of Agriculture (USDA) And Health And Human Services (HHS). (2010, December). Exercise and weight loss. Retrieved from Health.gov website: http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2010.asp