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Eat Healthy
Energy Balance
You may have already guessed, but your weight is a largely a function of the calories you consume (what you eat) and the calories you use (how much you move).
In general, you use almost half a calorie per pound for every hour of sitting or lying down. This means that without any activity, a 150-pound person burns about 1725 calories so should consume about 1725 calories a day to stay at that same weight. This represents your energy balance.
If you weigh more, the more calories you burn and need each day. Conversely, if you weigh less, you use less and need fewer calories to maintain the balance.
If you want to lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than you use. It takes 3500 calories to lose a pound so to lose a pound a week, you would need to burn 500 more calories each day than you take in by eating less or exercising more or a combination of both.
Don't be fooled into thinking that if you exercise you can eat whatever you want. Most people don't realize that it takes a lot of exercise to burn off a small treat. Choosing your food consciously and carefully can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful weight loss program.
How long does it take to burn off calories from snacks with various kinds of exercise?
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300 calories as found in:
- a plain milk chocolate candy bar
- a slice of apple pie
- a small serving of onion rings
- a plain bagel
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EQUALS:
- Walking 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Biking 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Running 33 minutes
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700 calories as found in:
- a Whopper with cheese
- chips, cheese dip and a burrito
- two slices of pizza
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EQUALS:
- Walking 5 hours and 7 minutes
- Biking 3 hours and 9 minutes
- Running 1 hour and 8 minutes
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Assumes walking at 20 minutes per mile, biking at 6 miles per hour and running at 12 minute miles for a 150 pound individual
