If you’re like most people, you want to know how many calories to eat every day. But what if they told you that it’s not as simple as “eat fewer calories”? Eating fewer calories than your body needs for energy can indeed help you lose weight, but it’s also important to make sure those calories come from healthy foods rather than junk food. So to understand why this matters so much, first explain what a calorie is and then dive into how many of them are needed each day.
What is a calorie?
A calorie is a unit of energy, also referred to as a kilocalorie (kcal) or a kilojoule (kJ). The number of calories in food and drinks can be measured using a tool called a bomb calorimeter, which measures the heat given off when something combusts.
How many calories should you be eating?
If you’ve never tracked your calories before or are wondering how many calories to eat on a particular day, this is the place for you.
There are several ways to figure out how many calories you should eat daily. The simplest way is by using a calculator that considers your age, weight and height (among other things). There are also some more advanced calculators out there that can account for things like activity level and metabolism. It’s important to note that there isn’t just one formula for figuring out what someone needs – different people have different metabolisms and goals! However, if your goal is simply “be healthy,” then it shouldn’t matter too much what exact number comes up on the calorie intake calculator.
Can you eat more calories if you exercise?
The simple answer is yes, you can.
To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume—it’s math! However, this doesn’t mean that eating whatever and exercising are the only ways to lose weight. For example, if your calorie intake is too high for your exercise routine (or vice versa), then your body may gain weight despite being physically active each day. You might also be able to get away with less exercise if your diet supports it—but again, it depends on how many calories are in what and how much exercise you do each day.
Legion Athletics experts say, “To lose weight, you need to eat few calories than you expend over the period of time.”
Are empty calories better than healthy calories?
You may have heard the phrase “empty calories” before. These are defined as calories from food that do not provide nutritional value. For example, soda or candy can be considered empty calories because they offer little to no nutrition and lots of sugar.
The answer is yes—but only if you eat them too often and don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables daily. Your bodies need a balance of healthy calories (those that provide vitamins, minerals and fiber) and empty ones (which do not). That’s why men need to ensure they’re getting enough fruit each week; one serving of fruit contains between 60–80 calories.
Food is a big part of your culture, and there needs to be more clarity about how many calories you should consume. The truth is that the number of calories in any food is less significant than the type of food you’re eating. Healthy foods are better for you than empty ones, so try to focus on eating whole foods rather than processed ones as often as possible!
