A calorie deficit is the "magic" that makes weight loss possible. It is the difference between the amount of energy you burn and eat; the shortfall of energy caused by eating less and moving more. If your body burns 2,000 calories per day and you only eat 1,500, that extra...
Gaining weight, and more importantly, muscle mass is dependent on eating more calories than you burn. This calorie surplus coupled with a strength training routine is what leads to lean (muscle rather than fat) weight gain. Unfortunately, increasing your calorie intake is not as easy as eating everything in sight....
Losing weight is a straightforward process. As long as you follow a simple rule, failing becomes impossible. As long as the amount of calories you're eating is less than the amount you're burning each day, the weight will come off. Though at times, living by this rule can be difficult,...
There seems to be some confusion on the difference between calorie intake and healthy eating. While closely related, the two concepts are not always the same. Many people wrongly assume limiting calorie intake and forcing weight loss equates to healthy eating habits and sound lifestyle choices. While controlling calorie intake...
A hard gainer is a skinny person (usually male) that has an extra hard time gaining any sort of weight. It seems as though they eat and eat only to find that their weight stays the same. Hard gainers are still human and because of that, gaining weight requires the...
Gaining weight, muscle and strength doesn't have to be a complicated process. You can be successful by combining an appropriate amount of calories with a solid strength training program. Since complaining about genetics will only lead to failure, a much more efficient use of your time is to simply eat...
Counting calories seems like one of the most mundane tasks people do. Why would anyone want to measure food with spoons, cups and scales? Wouldn't all the numbers drive you crazy? Counting calories is one of the best ways to guarantee successful weight control. Weight control is a numbers game....
One of the most important "secrets" to reaching any diet or exercise goal is counting calories. Whenever I tell people to count their calories, I hear complaints about how tedious it is. Some people insist they accurately estimate their calorie intake and don't need to count. Others don't understand the...
Energy balance plays a central role in health because it alone determines body weight. Energy balance is described as the relationship between how many calories you consume and how many you burn. This important relationship has three possible outcomes: gaining, losing or maintaining weight. Because body weight and body fat...
