Get Moving. It Makes a Difference!

Published:  06/01/2013

Weight gain occurs when a person eats more calories than they need. Everyone needs a certain amount of calories per day. If they eat too many calories above and beyond that then calories are stored as fat.

Work with me and I can calculate how many calories you need daily.

Physical activity is essential when you're trying to lose weight because it can help burn calories. And to maintain weight, it is essential too. We all enjoy eating. And most people need fewer calories than they think they do. An evening meal out can contribute thousands of calories. A one-week vacation’s extra meals and cocktails can add up to many gained pounds.

Additional food intake, whether its chocolate cake as an example, can contribute to stored body fat.  For example 300 calories - the approximate amount in a slice of chocolate cake one would have to do this much extra to not to gain the weight from the extra calories. It can be helpful to understand how much exercise one would have to do to burn the cake or any extra calories:

• Ride a bike for about 22 minutes
• Jog for about 27 minutes
• Swim for about 36 minutes
• Play tennis for about 42 minutes
• Walk for about 45 minutes

And look how doing exercise routinely can help maintain weight. If you do any of the above five times a week, how many pounds lighter will you be in one year than if you did no physical activity at all?

• 5 pounds lighter
• 10 pounds lighter
• 15 pounds lighter
• 20 pounds lighter

Answer: About 20 pounds lighter!