We all know that we need calories to survive, and we also know they can also make us fat. So it’s kind of like a love/hate relationship, right? But it doesn’t have to be. The more you know about calories, the easier it is to control them instead of letting them control you.

First, let’s start by addressing what a calorie is. A calorie is a unit of energy. It measures how much energy we get from food and drinks and how much energy we spend by exercising. In order to live a healthy life, you need to take in exactly the right amount of calories (energy) that your body needs. Too little or too many over time can stat to effect your health. And in order to loose weight, we must burn more energy (calories) than we take in.

There are many charts out there that will tell you how many calories your body needs to maintain or loose weight.These will be based on your gender, age, level of activity, and your BMI (Body Mass Index). However, these are just estimates. Everybody is different and you need to play around with it a little bit to figure out exactly what works for your body. While you are doing that, try to focus on eating foods that are high is fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. When you hear someone refer to a something as having “empty calories” it means that that food or drink has a high energy level (a lot of calories), but provides no nutritional benefit.

It’s also important to remember that muscle burns more than fat. When you exercise your body burns calories, and it continues to burn calories even after you are done. The more muscle you have (compared to it being fat), the more calories you will burn during exercise and also when at rest. So while counting calories are important, so is adding in a fitness routine. In all of my programs, you are provided with a meal plan based off the amount of recommended calories you should have as well as workouts that fit your level of fitness and will advance with you as you get stronger. To check them out, head here.