Calories: not the enemy

100 calorie packs, low- calorie snacks, calorie counter, the list goes on. Everybody is worried to death about these evil little calories and how to get the least amount possible. Yet if asked the majority of folks have no earthly clue as to what a calorie is. If we are going to be so absorbed with watching calories let’s take a moment and figure out exactly what it is we are watching.


According to our friend Mr. Webster a calorie is defined as:

a. a unit equal to the kilocalorie, used to express the heat output of an organism and the fuel or energy value of food.

b. a quantity of food capable of producing such an amount of energy.



So break that down into layman’s terms and a calorie is a unit of energy or fuel for the body that it receives from food. This means that all the food that you eat is made up of calories that are necessary in order to survive the day. You need a certain amount of calories every day in order to lay flat on your back in bed. This number is referred to as your basal metabolic rate (BMR). There are numerous sources that can help you calculate your BMR the most credible of which being your physician. You can also seek out the help of an experienced Fitness Professional or dietician.



Once you figure out how many calories you need to survive add to that any physical activity you do during the day including work, errands, exercise ect. This is the number of calories you will require to get through your day. Now here is the tricky part, eat more than the requirement then you will gain weight, and vice versa. Also it is important to note where the majority of your calories come from. Mypyramid.gov is a great place to get started but generally speaking you want the majority of you calories to come from carbohydrates with the rest split between protein and healthy fats.



Calories are not the enemy here. The wrong kind of calories in improper amounts is the issue. It is worth your time to see exactly what your requirement is and put that up against what you are actually putting in your body. Once you have a better understanding of what you need it makes making good choices much easier. Feel free to contact me with questions at jr.oliver@att.net.