The science behind
losing weight
ABBIGAYLE SCHULTZ, NA
Nursing student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
There are many strategies for losing weight, but strategy is
different from science.
You may have heard of the Keto, Mediterranean, and Smoothie
diets, which all have the same goal: weight loss.
There may be differing methods to drop some pounds, but
there is a defi nite bottom line that must be met to make it happen.
According to many scientifi c entities, including the Mayo Clinic,
one pound is equivalent to 3,500 calories.
For example, a person who follows a 2,000-calorie diet would
need to decrease their intake by 500 calories per day or burn an
extra 500 calories per day in order to lose one pound per week. If
this is achieved, you will lose weight.
Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as it sounds, considering everyone
is different.
A younger person will have an easier time losing weight,
compared to someone older, because metabolism slows with age.
Men also frequently have an easier time losing weight than women
because of hormone differences.
If losing weight is diffi cult for you, focus on your metabolism.
The faster it is, the more weight you will lose.
One of the best ways to do this is to eat consistently throughout
the day and drink plenty of water. It is important to always eat
breakfast when you are on a diet. It is also important to work your
muscles. Do some weight bearing activity.
How can you get a defi cit in calories? Try eliminating
unnecessary carbs from your diet ,and eat foods that are high in
fat and keep you fuller longer.
Add some more exercise to your day. If you want something
easy and fun, an hour and a half of gardening should burn around
500 calories. If you are looking to shed some weight during the
winter, 50 minutes of shoveling snow should do the trick.
Reminder: Never decrease your caloric intake too much. Talk to
your doctor or dietician about losing weight and see what is right
for you.
All information above is based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
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