How this simple calorie math can help in weight management

etimes.in | Sep 23, 2024, 11.00 AM IST
How this simple calorie math can help in weight management

Losing weight requires a ton of effort. Weight management requires a balanced approach to eating habits and exercise. One of the most important ideas in weight control is understanding how calories work. Your calorie intake is the fundamental variable that can determine whether you gain, lose, or stay the same weight. Throughout the day, you may design your meals, improve your digestion, and lead a healthier lifestyle by following a basic division of calories. Here’s how strategically distributing calories can have a major impact.

How much should you eat in a day?

You require different amounts of calories per day based on your age, gender, height, weight, and degree of exercise. Men normally need between 2,200 and 2,800 calories per day, while women need between 1,800 and 2,200. A calorie deficit is consuming fewer calories than the body burns which is important if you want to reduce weight.

Reducing calories by around 500 per day is recommended to achieve a healthy weight reduction pace of half a kg per week. This deficit can be achieved through a combination of diet and exercise, but the key is to ensure you are still getting enough nutrients to support your body’s functions.
Why these meals are important for weight loss?


Why is it important to reduce calorie intake wisely



Although cutting calories is a good way to maintain weight, eating healthfully also plays a key role. The quality of the calories we consume is just as important as their quantity. Whole grains, vegetables, and proteins are a few examples of these foods. We can reduce their calorie intake by removing high-fat junk food, sugar-filled beverages, and processed snacks.


Enjoy your meal, and stop eating when you're satisfied rather than when you're full. Drinking water before meals does help with decreasing hunger.
How important is your meal timing?
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How important is your meal timing?
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The simple math for calorie-split meals



One effective method for managing your calories throughout the day is the 30-30-20-20 split. This approach divides the total daily calorie intake into 4 sections: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.


Breakfast gives us energy for the rest of the day and speeds up our metabolism, so it should make up about 30% of our daily caloric consumption. Select easier-to-digest foods such as fruits, eggs, and whole grains. Since heavier and oilier foods tend to make you feel tired, eat light in the morning.


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30% for lunch: An additional thirty percent of your daily calories should come from this lunch. To feed your body for the afternoon, choose lean meats, complex carbohydrates, and an abundance of greens. This is when you should eat items high in calories to get you through the day.


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Kickstarting your mornings with lemon water and black salt provides multiple health benefits including detoxification and hydration. This low-calorie drink is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants which aid in weight loss, boost immunity, balance hormones, improve skin clarity, prevent cancer, and help reduce kidney stones while enhancing digestion by reducing bloating and acidity.


20% for dinner: Our digestive system becomes less effective as the day comes to an end. It's recommended to limit dinner to 20% of your day's caloric intake. focus on foods that are simple to digest, such as salads, soups, or grilled veggies paired with lean proteins. Try to eat dinner at least 2 to 3 hours before going to bed to avoid disruptions.