Many fad diets have attempted to set calorie guidelines which are based on "bodyweight & height" (and sometimes they factor in "activity level"). Most weight loss counselors operate using these same types of daily calorie guidelines.
In other words, most weight loss counselors instruct people to follow a specific "daily calorie limit" which is based on their weight & height (and sometimes their activity level is factored in).
For example, some weight loss counselors may tell you to eat 2,000 calories per day if you weigh a certain amount (and if you describe yourself as "active"). But this is a RIDICULOUS way to try and lose weight, and I'll explain why below.
The truth is that it's quite ridiculous to follow a specific calorie limit each day, since every person has a different metabolism level.
You cannot judge your metabolism by your activity level either, since there are plenty of people with higher activity levels but who are overweight nonetheless (due to a slower than normal metabolism).
For example, if you take 2 people who weigh 165 lbs and who have the same activity level each day, then there is no guarantee that their metabolisms will be operating at the same general level. In fact, it's quite possible that one person's metabolism will be nearly twice as fast as the other person's metabolism. Also, another reason why following a specific "daily caloric guideline" is a waste of time.
You see, your body doesn't burn calories on a "per day" basis; your body burns calories on a "per meal" basis. Your body doesn't burn calories based on what time the sun rises and sets, it burns calories throughout the day as you eat them.
This means that following some arbitrary "daily caloric guideline" is not going to make you any thinner, since you must actually learn to spread out your daily food across more than 3 meals per day in order to lose weight fast.
To speed up your metabolism you must eat more often, not less often. You must eat more than 3 meals per day, and you must not follow some arbitrary caloric guideline each day. Also, it's quite easy to figure out how big your food portions need to be when trying to lose weight and it has nothing to do with counting calories.
In fact, people who count calories usually fail at weight loss, and that's because counting calories simply will not work.
Don't be lazy... Be lean.
Who wouldn't want to get in shape and look and feel great? The truth of the matter is that far too often, we let our workout routines do all of the work for us when in truth, we could be burning lots of calories just in the way we live our lives. You'll find that simply by looking into a few ways to increase your daily calorie burn that you can make a substantial difference in how your body looks and feels.
1.Put on some music When you are doing housework or simply just wandering around, put on some headphones and make sure that you are listening to some great music; this can keep you bouncing around more than you think!
2.Be nice! Whenever someone mentions wanting something, get it for them. Offer to go get someone a bottle of watter, or offer to go make copies; remember that small steps add up.
3.Go exploring How well do you really know your neighborhood? Make up some excuses to get out of the house and wander around a little bit.
4.Track yourself Get a pedometer and set a goal; see how long it would take you to walk across the country or the state.
5.Take a class You'll find that starting a new type of exercise, whether it's bellydancing or kickboxing, can keep you eager and interested in getting up and getting around. This can open up a whole new world to you and you may find the exercise course of your dreams.
6.Enlist your friends Do you have any friends who have been talking about losing weight as well? Get them involved and make them come out with you. Don't take no for an answer, you can definitely encourage each other.
7.Make losing weight the secondary goal. Going dancing is a lot of fun, and oh yeah, you burned a lot of calories as well. Take the time to figure out what exercises you are willing to do whether or not there is a pay off and you'll find that you are shedding pounds faster than ever.
8.Start your day off right Kick of your day with a brisk walk. You'll find that getting out the morning can help you burn calories as well as put you in a great frame of mind with which to enjoy your day.
9.Where can I walk? Put it this way, walking to get your groceries, especially if you bring your own bags, is a great way to protect the earth and squeeze in some exercise at the same time. It really is a win-win situation!
10.Stretching in the middle of the day Whenever you think about it, stop, get up and stretch. You'll find that even a little bit of physical activity during the day can make you feel a lot more alert and you'll also be able to burn off some pesky calories this way.
11.Play with your dog When was the last time you really wrestled with your pooch? You'll find that you can burn off a lot of energy and calories just by playing with your pet and not worrying if you get fur all over you. Take the time to make the most of it!
12.Dance a little bit Everyone can move around to music, so take the time every day to put on a song and just dance along to it. You can keep it private if you like, but the calories burned will speak for themselves.
13.Clean It's true, housecleaning will burn calories. You'll find that if you clean to music that you can get a lot done and that there's a lot to be said for a clean house and more calories consumed.
14.Park your car further away When you have the option, park your car at the far end of the parking lot. You'll find that this is a great way to get an innocent little walk in with no one being the wiser.
15.Just move! Whenever you can, do things the hard way. You'll find that by taking the stairs or hefting the cans before you put them away can help you out a lot, so take some time to see where you can insert some movement into your day.
Both Faustin Michaels & Steve Hochman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Faustin Michaels has sinced written about articles on various topics from Abdominal, Lose Weight and Dieting. with our new Online Diet Generator. It creates an 11 Day Menu which allows you to eat more than 3 meals per day -- and it also allows you to eat. Faustin Michaels's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Steve Hochman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Fitness and Marketing. Steve Hochman is the founder and CEO of Next Level Fitness. O.C.'s fastest way for you to get fit.