The Basics Of Weight Loss

By Author: Steven Johnson
Total Articles: 494
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Regardless of what the popular culture makes you believe, weight loss is not as mysterious as it seems. The process is boiled down to simple math as you have to burn more calories than you actually consume. But if it's so simple why there are so many people with excessive weight problems? Sometimes, the process of loosing weight becomes so hard and with no real effect that it makes people think about radical measures like extreme diet, special medications or widely advertised gadgets that promise amazing results in the TV ads. In reality, there's a little secret that can help you achieve the right effect without struggle - make small but gradual changes every day. Don't focus on short-term goals and results, the longer you are going to your weight loss, the better.

The rules of losing weight

In order to lose a pound of excessive weight (which is usually fat) you have to burn about 3500 calories in excess to the amount of calories you usually burn when performing daily activities. That's a big amount of calories and burning it in a single day is of course not the brightest idea to think of. The right way to do ...
... this is to take it step-by-step everyday and performing things that can help you burn this excessive amount of calories over a longer period of time. Here's a step by step overview of how to get the whole thing on track and working for you:

1. Define your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). The BMR represents the amount of calories your body requires for normal everyday functioning. Take it as a minimum requirement for the amount of energy you have to get with food every day. Remember, that it's nearly impossible to calculate the exact number and you will have to adjust and estimate the number within a certain range.

2. Define your level of everyday activity. You can use a special calorie calculator to define how much energy you use while doing ordinary things throughout the day (walking, sitting, lifting weights, etc.). This could be helpful for registering your progress, and you can also wear a heart monitor to keep track of how much energy you are burning at any moment.

3. Monitor the amount of calories you consume with food. There are many sites and applications that help you keep a journal of what you eat and calculate the exact amount of calories consumed with foods and drinks each day. Accuracy is encouraged, and make sure that you have the information on nutritional values when you're eating out.

4. Do the math. Sum up your BMR with the daily activity calorie burn and subtract the amount of food calories. The resulting number will give you a clear idea of where you're going now. If the result is positive you will gain weight as you eat more calories than you actually burn. A negative number is what you need because it means that you are actually loosing weight.

How to achieve results?

You have two variables that you can experiment with (it's hard to adjust your BMR because it's a constant number). You can decrease your everyday calorie consumption with food. Some people use drugs like Acomplia to suppress their appetite and achieve substantial results. Or you can increase your everyday calorie burn by being more physically active (work out, running, swimming, cycling, etc.). The best way of course is combining the two techniques. Many doctors suggest using both Acomplia (or similar appetite suppressants) and increasing physical activity for the best result.

To learn what Steven Johnson has to say about other things and look on the things from his point of view, visit http://www.weightlosspillsonline.org/articles/help.html where he frequently writes on many different subjects that you will find fascinating.